executives politics 14
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What is the political executive?
The top tier of government responsible for directing policy, running government departments, and providing political leadership (e.g., presidents, prime ministers, cabinet).
What is the primary function of the political executive?
To govern: make decisions, implement laws, manage state machinery, and ensure day-to-day administration.
What are the two main types of political executive?
Monarchical (hereditary head of state) Republican (elected head of state)
What is a dual executive?
A system where executive power is divided between a head of state and a head of government (e.g., France’s semi-presidential system).
Head of State vs. Head of Government Q: What is the difference?
Head of state: Symbolic, ceremonial, non-partisan role. Head of government: Political leader responsible for running the executive (PM or president).
Political vs Permanent Executive Q: What is the distinction?
Political executive: Elected/appointed ministers; temporary. Permanent executive: Civil servants and bureaucrats; stable and professional.
What is a parliamentary executive?
An executive drawn from and dependent on the support of the legislature; PM is dominant (UK, India).
What characterises a presidential executive?
A directly elected president who holds both head of state and head of government roles, separate from the legislature (USA, Brazil).
What is a semi-presidential executive?
Power is shared between a directly elected president and a PM accountable to parliament (France, Portugal).
What is cabinet government?
A system where executive power is collective, decisions are made through cabinet discussion and consensus.
What is PM government?
Executive power concentrated in the PM, who dominates cabinet, appointments, and policy direction.
What is a technocratic executive?
An executive where decision-making is guided by experts, specialists, and bureaucrats rather than elected politicians.
What is meant by a “presidentialised” executive?
When parliamentary systems begin to resemble presidential ones due to centralized leadership, media prominence, and personalized power.
What is executive dominance?
A condition where the executive has significantly more power than the legislature (common in strong party systems like UK).
What factors strengthen executive power?
Majority control in the legislature Weak or fragmented opposition Strong party discipline Media focus on executive figures Emergency powers
What limits executive power?
Courts (judicial review) Legislatures Constitutions Public opinion Media Intra-party opposition
Executive–Legislative Relations Q: How does the relationship vary across systems?
Parliamentary: Executive is fused with legislature. Presidential: Clear separation; potential gridlock. Hybrid: Power-sharing; possible cohabitation.
What is the cabinet?
The senior group of ministers responsible for major policy decisions, coordinating government departments, and collective responsibility.
What role do ministers play?
They head government departments, make policy decisions, manage budgets, and represent their areas in the legislature.
What is the role of the civil service?
To provide neutral, professional advice, implement policy, manage administration, and ensure continuity of government.
What are executive agencies?
Semi-autonomous bodies created to deliver specific public services with managerial independence (e.g., UK’s Next Steps agencies).
What is collective responsibility?
Ministers must publicly support cabinet decisions or resign; promotes unity and coherence.
What does individual ministerial responsibility mean?
Ministers are accountable for their department’s performance and must answer for mistakes or failures.
Why is policy-making often executive-dominated?
Access to information Control of bureaucracy Time/resources Agenda-setting power Media influence