The Executive

Refers to the whole branch of the

political system in charge of the
execution of state policies, and the
determination of general rules.
All government officials except those
acting in legislative and judicial
capacity.
In its narrow sense, it refers to heads
of government, heads of state and
members of the cabinet.

Types of Executives

1.

Nominal and Real Executives

Nominal executive is the head of the
executive only in theory, i.e., the head of
state.
In reality, the head of government is the real
executive.

Types of Executives

2. Parliamentary and Presidential

Executives
In parliamentary executive, power is
vested in the office of the PM who is
the leader of the majority party in the
legislature.
In presidential executive, power lies in
the office of the president who is
directly elected by the people.

Types of Executives

Parliamentary Executives [+ve]:

Cooperation
between
executive
and
legislature.
Ministries are in constant touch with the
legislature.
Government cannot be despotic
Parliamentary Executives [-ve]:
Life of the executive post is uncertain.
Government
always
adopt
policies
beneficial to its party and supporters.

Types of Executives

Presidential Executives [+ve]:

Free from legislative control.
Certainty of tenure makes political
system more efficient.
Presidential Executives [-ve]:
Deadlocks between executive and
legislature.
Possibility of dictatorship.

Types of Executives

3. Single and Plural/Collegial Executives

Single executive is where the executive
power is vested on one person.
Advantages:
Unity and integrity in the system.
Decision-making is easy and prompt.
Disadvantage:
Probability of despotism.

Types of Executives

Plural/Collegial
Executive
means
that
executive power is vested in a council of
members with roughly equal status. E.g.:
Switzerland, executive is a commission of 7
persons, Bundesrat.
Advantage:
Avoids tyranny through checks and
balances.
Disadvantage:
Slow decision-making process.

Methods of Choosing
the Executive
Hereditary principle

1.
Familial succession.
Free from party politics,
Competency of the person?
2. Direct popular election.
Top executive directly elected by voters.
Essentially
democratic;
political
socialization.
Ordinary voters may not be able to select
the right person; country could be divided
into hostile camps.

Methods of Choosing
the Executive

3. Election by Electoral College

Electoral college of persons qualified to
choose the executive.
Intelligent selection.
College votes along party lines.
4. Election by Legislature
Better selections; minimizes problems
associated
with
direct
elections;
establishes close cooperation between
legislature and executive.

Methods of Choosing
the Executive

Legislators are not free from party

politics; independent authority vs.
party lines; interference with
legislative functions.
5. Nominated Executive
Exists in the colonies of great
powers, e.g., Canada, Australia.

Functions of the
Executive

1. Internal Administration
Ensures law and order; implements
policies, taxation, and budget;
appoints ministers.
2. External Administration
Send and receive diplomats;
recognize a new state; establish or
withdraw diplomatic relations;
determine and implement foreign
policy; negotiate treaties.

Functions of the
Executive

3. Military Functions
Chief of Staff; secure territorial
integrity of the state.
4. Legislative Functions
Promulgates decrees; initiate
legislative bills; assent or veto bills.
5. Judicial Functions
Appoint judges; granting pardons
and amnesty.

Functions of the
Executive

6.

Other Functions
Services and licensing functions.
Symbol of unity.
The center of functional
leadership in all political systems.

Executive Leadership

Parliamentary
supremacy
has
gradually faded away and has been
replaced by executive leadership.
In a parliamentary system, it initiates,
guides and pilot legislation.
In the presidential system, the
president is the leader of the party,
chief legislator and symbolic head to
the public.

Executive Leadership

Executive leadership is strong because:

1. Delegated legislation
2. Authority to apply laws according to
situation
3. Extension of social services leads to
administrative adjudication
4. Emergency situation
5. Growth of political parties.

Executive in a
Communist
System

Key
characteristiceverything
is
initiated by the party.
The politburo of the Communist Party
is the actual power behind the
executive.
A fusion of power between the
executive and legislature, but power
remains in the hands of one or very
few person.

Executive in an
Islamic Political

System

Ulul Amr, Amir, elected among the most

respectable and most pious persons.
Amir, or Khalifah, accountable to Shura.
The concept of Khilafah has three
interactive compositions:
Khalifah over himself
Khalifah towards others
Khalifah governs under the command
of Allah.

Executive in an Islamic
Political System
Characteristics of Khalifah:

A true Muslim prepared

in all spiritual and

physical faculties
Knowledge to make judgment
Must follow the rules of Allah
Competent
Duties:
To enforce Shari`ah
To eradicate taghut
Convey the teachings of Islam to the people
Lead a strong Islamic nation economically,
politically and socially.


Laswell in his book Politics: Who gets what argues that
most politicians start out mentally unbalanced. That they
have unusual needs for power and dominance, which is
why they go into politics. Normal people may find politics
uninteresting. Plato also suggests even sane people
who people too powerful in high office go crazy.
Can president be replaced overnight if he becomes
insane or disable or suffers from mental
disability?
Discuss. (5 marks)