Editing Executive (government)

{{Short description|Branch overseeing administration of the state}}
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{{Executive}}
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The '''executive''' branch is the part of government which executes or enforces the law.

== Function ==
The scope of executive power varies greatly depending on the political context in which it emerges, and it can change over time in a given country. In democratic countries, the executive often exercises broad influence over national politics, though limitations are often applied to the executive.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Martinez |first=Jenny S. |date=2006 |title=Inherent Executive Power: A Comparative Perspective |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20455703 |journal=The Yale Law Journal |volume=115 |issue=9 |pages=2480–2511 |doi=10.2307/20455703 |jstor=20455703 |issn=0044-0094 |access-date=2022-12-30 |archive-date=2022-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230180659/https://www.jstor.org/stable/20455703 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[political system]]s based on the [[separation of powers]], government [[authority]] is distributed between several branches to prevent power from being concentrated in the hands of a single person or group. To achieve this, each branch is subject to checks by the other two; in general, the role of the [[legislature]] is to pass laws, which are then enforced by the executive, and interpreted by the [[judiciary]]. The executive can also be the source of certain types of law or law-derived rules, such as a [[decree]] or [[executive order]].

In those that use [[fusion of power]]s, typically [[parliamentary system]]s, such as the [[United Kingdom]], the executive forms the government, and its members generally belong to the political party that controls the legislature. Since the executive requires the support and approval of the legislature, the two bodies are "fused" together, rather than being independent. The principle of [[parliamentary sovereignty]] means powers possessed by the executive are solely dependent on those granted by the legislature, which can also subject its actions to judicial review. However, the executive often has wide-ranging powers stemming from the control of the government [[bureaucracy]], especially in the areas of overall [[Economic policy|economic]] or [[foreign policy]].

==Ministers==
[[File:Vanhasen II hallitus.JPG|thumb|[[Vanhanen II Cabinet]] in a session of [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]] in 2007]]
In [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] systems, the executive is [[Motion of no confidence|responsible]] to the elected legislature, which must maintain the confidence of the legislature or one part of it, if bicameral. In certain circumstances (varying by state), the legislature can express its lack of confidence in the executive, which causes either a change in the governing party or group of parties or a general election. Parliamentary systems have a head of government (who leads the executive, often called [[Minister (government)|ministers]]) normally distinct from the head of state (who continues through governmental and electoral changes). In the [[Westminster system|Westminster type of parliamentary system]], the principle of separation of powers is not as entrenched as in some others. Members of the executive ([[Minister (government)|ministers]]), are also members of the legislature, and hence play an important part in both the writing and enforcing of law. In [[presidential system]]s, the directly elected head of government appoints the ministers. The ministers can be directly elected by the voters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Buchs |first1=Aurélia |last2=Soguel |first2=Nils |date=2022-04-01 |title=Fiscal performance and the re-election of finance ministers–evidence from the Swiss cantons |journal=Public Choice |language=en |volume=191 |issue=1 |pages=31–49 |doi=10.1007/s11127-021-00949-z |s2cid=246371550 |issn=1573-7101|doi-access=free }}</ref>

In this context, the executive consists of a leader or leader of an office or multiple offices.  Specifically, the top leadership roles of the executive branch may include:
* [[head of state]] – often the [[monarch]], the [[President (government title)|president]] or the supreme leader, the chief representative and living symbol of national unity.
** [[head of government]] – often the [[prime minister]], overseeing the [[Administration (government)|administration]] of all affairs of state.
*** [[defence minister]] – overseeing the [[armed forces]], determining military policy, and managing external safety.
*** [[interior minister]] – overseeing the [[police forces]], enforcing the law, and managing internal control.
*** [[foreign minister]] – overseeing the [[diplomatic service]], determining [[foreign policy]] and managing [[foreign relations]].
*** [[finance minister]] – overseeing the treasury, determining [[fiscal policy]] and managing [[national budget]].
*** [[justice minister]] – overseeing criminal prosecutions, corrections, enforcement of court orders.

==Presidents and ministers==
In a [[presidential system]], the leader of the executive is both the head of state and government.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Executive Branch|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-executive-branch/|website=The White House|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120171257/https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-executive-branch/|url-status=live}}</ref> In some cases, such as [[South Korea]], there is a Prime Minister who assists the President, but who is not the head of government but is the second in the chain.

In a [[parliamentary system]], a [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]] [[minister (government)|minister]] responsible to the [[legislature]] is the head of government, while the head of state is usually a largely ceremonial monarch or president.<ref>{{cite web|title=Executive Branch of Government in Canada|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/House/compendium/web-content/c_d_executivebranchgovernmentcanada-e.htm|website=Parliament of Canada|access-date=4 July 2015|archive-date=2 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502144022/http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/House/compendium/web-content/c_d_executivebranchgovernmentcanada-e.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Constitution]]
* [[Diarchy]]
* [[Legal reform]]
* [[Rule according to higher law]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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{{Civil service}}
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{{Separation of powers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Executive (Government)}}
[[Category:Constitutional law]]
[[Category:Separation of powers]]
[[Category:Public law]]
[[Category:Executive branches of government| ]]