The post will also examine
the structure, types and functions of the executive as one of the essential
organs of government.
Meaning and Composition of the Executive Organ
The executive is the
organ of government responsible for the governance of a state. It enforces the
law as written by the legislature and interpreted by the judiciary.
It also formulates
and implements public policies in the best interests of its citizens; maintains
law and order; promotes social services; and initiates legislation, among
others. It encompasses all agencies and officials of the government that get involved
in the day-to-day running of the business of government.
The executive is
often described as the most powerful, not necessarily the most important organ
of government. For this reason, those who occupy executive positions may be
tempted to be authoritarian, or at times, predatory simply because they control
and deploy state funds and coercive forces.
In many countries,
the head and members of the executive arm of government are increasingly
assuming importance.
In the first place,
the head of the executive at all level is often regarded as the head, symbol
and personification of government.
The executive is
composed of the followings: The president/head of state or head of government;
vice president; ministers; civil servants; police and the armed forces.
In Nigeria where
there are three levels of government, the chief executive at the level of state
and local government, is the governor (assisted by commissioners) and the
council chairman (assisted by supervisory councilors) respectively.
In a democracy, the head of the executive is elected by popular votes and they, in turn, appoint the ministers, the commissioners or the supervisory councilors, as the case may be, with the approval of the legislature.
Structure of the Executive Organ
The executive branch
of government is broadly divided into two: the members of the cabinet and other
political office holders who hold temporary or tenure appointments, and career
civil or public servants who hold permanent and pensionable positions.
While the former is
in charge of initiating government policies, or deciding the direction of the government
of the day, the latter concern themselves with the implementation of such
approved policies.
In the parlance of
public administration, while the political head is the master of policy, the administrators
are the instruments of policy.
Therefore, the executive
arm can only function effectively if there are cooperation and mutual understanding
between its two segments.
Types of the Executive Organ
1. Nominal and Real
Executives
In a nominal
executive, the monarch or the head of the state has nominal powers; the powers
are exercised by his ministers, as in England, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and
Holland, among others.
In these countries,
for the executive, the constitution assigns many powers to the president and he
exercises these powers. There are real
executives in Nigeria and the United States of America.
2. Single and Plural
Executives
In a single
executive, all executive powers are vested in one individual, e.g., the
President of Nigeria exercises all executive powers.
In a plural executive, the executive powers are in the hands of more than one individual. In Switzerland, for instance, the executive powers are vested in the Council of seven members.
The Chairman of this Council has no additional powers. Thus, all seven members are equally responsible for the administration in that country.
3. Parliamentary and
Presidential Executives
In a parliamentary executive, the Cabinet is responsible to the legislature. This system functions in England, Belgium and Holland, among others.
In a presidential
executive, the President has real executive powers and is not responsible to
the Parliament. He is elected for a fixed term and can only be removed through
impeachment. Presidential executive operates in the United States of America,
Nigeria, Brazil, among others.
However, in between
these two models, there is a French executive model, which can be called a
quasi-parliamentary or quasi- presidential.
In the French model of executive, the President is the real executive but the prime minister and the cabinet are under his control and, at the same time, they are accountable to the Parliament.
So, the French model imbibes some features of both
parliamentary and presidential executives.
4. Hereditary and Elective Executives
When a king or queen
is the Head of the State and when after his or her death, his son or daughter
or, in a case where he or she is issue less, some of his or her near relative
occupies the throne, the system is referred to a hereditary executive.
This type of executive
functions in England, Belgium, Holland, etc.
On the contrary, in countries where the Head of State is elected either by the people or by their representatives, the system is referred to as elective executive. We find this system in Nigeria, the United States of America, Austria, Egypt, etc.
Functions of the Executive Organ
The functions of the
executive are not the same everywhere.
The functions of the
executive depending on the form of the government.
In a democracy, the
functions of the executive devolve primarily in the office of the president in
a presidential system, or the office of the prime minister in a parliamentary
system. In Nigeria, for example, apart from expressly stating the
functions of the President who is the chief executive of the country,
and his vice, the 1999 Constitution did not elaborate on the functions
of the executive as an organ of government.
The President is to,
among other functions determine the general direction of domestic and foreign
policies of the government of the federation and co-ordinate the activities
of the vice president, ministers and the agencies of government in the
discharge of their executive responsibilities.
From this brief explanation,
we can distill the functions of the executive arm of government to
include:
1. Policy Making and
Implementation
The primary function
of the executive is to formulate and decide the policy direction for the state.
In a democratic system, such policies are usually derived from the manifesto
presented to the citizens during the elections and upon which the power was
voted into office.
While in office, it
is the responsibility of the party in government to translate this blueprint into
concrete policies and programmes of the government of the day.
2. Administrative
Functions
In every country,
the Head of the State and the Council of Ministers are responsible for law
enforcement and the maintenance of law and order.
The Head of the
State, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, makes many important
political appointments. The administrators are generally recruited based on
competitive examinations.
They are promoted,
demoted and dismissed under the Civil Service Rules.
3. Legislative
Functions
Although lawmaking
is the responsibility of the legislature, in every state, the executive play
important role in law-making.
The executive
prepares bills for this purpose and introduces them in the legislature.
In parliamentary
government, the leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister. He
influences both the organs of the government i.e., Legislature and Executive.
4. Foreign Relations
The executive
establishes political relations with foreign countries. Our government has
established political or commercial relations with almost all big countries.
The President
appoints diplomatic representatives in other countries and receives those of
foreign countries.
Conclusion
on the Executive:
Meaning, Types and Functions
Although popular
sovereignty which primarily inheres in the elected representatives of the
people who sit in the legislative council, the executive organ of government in
many countries today has become the most powerful organ of government, largely
because it implements policies, and controls the power of the purse and sword.
Hence, as the process
and activities of government become much more complex a sophisticated, those
who control the executive arm have devised numerous ways by which they circumvent
legislative scrutiny or even subvert its oversight functions.
In this article, we
have primarily examined the structure, types and functions of the executive
organ of government.
The article also
noted that though the function of the executive is primarily the implementation
of government policies and programmes, it has become increasingly involved in
certain activities that were previously the exclusive preserve of the two other
organs.
This intrusion by
the executive has become imperative for the organic working of government, and
prompt response to situations that could not be readily or immediately
foreseen.
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