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Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. The de facto most senior figure in an executive is referred to as the head of government. The executive may be referred to as the administration, in presidential systems, or simply as the government, in parliamentary systems.

1 Executives under different systems

• In presidential systems executive authority is exercised by a president who is also head of state. The president will not usually be designated by the legislature, and may instead be elected directly or (in the case of the President of the United States) indirectly, by an electoral college. Under presidential systems the legislature and the executive are formally distinct, and it is usually expressly forbidden for the president and other executive officers to be members of the legislature.

• In parliamentary systems executive authority is exercised by a cabinet headed by an official with a title such as prime minister or premier. The prime minister is usually designated by the lower house of the legislature, and the cabinet and prime minister may be removed at any time by a vote of no confidence in the legislature. Under a parliamentary system the head of state is often notionally the head of the executive but is bound, by either law or custom, to always act on the advice of the cabinet or prime minister. Under such systems the distinction between the legislature and executive is necessarily not clear cut, and it is usually an express requirement that members of the executive also hold seats in the legislature.

• In a semi-presidential system executive power is shared between the head of state and a premier.

2 Role of the executive

It is usually the role of the executive to:

• Enforce the law. To achieve this the executive administers the prisons and the police force, and prosecutes criminals in the name of the state.
• Conduct the foreign relations of the state.
• Command the armed forces.
• Appoint state officials, including judges and diplomats.
• Administer government departments and public services.
• Issue executive ordersAn Executive Order is a legally binding edict issued by a member of the executive branch of a government, usually the head of that branch. In other countries, they may be known as decrees. President of the United States In the United States, The president (also known as secondary legislation, ordinancesOrdinance can mean: That which is ordained or decreed by fate or a deity such as Dharma of Buddism A law made by a non-sovereign body such as a city council or a colony. In France, a regulation adopted by the executive in a domain normally reserved for st, edictsAn edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. The Pope and various micronational leaders are the only persons who still issue edicts. Notable Edicts A French edict, of Finance Minister Colbert ( 17th century), was intended to imp or decreesDecree is an order that has the force of law. The word decree is often used as a derogative term for any authoritarian decision. See also rule by decree. France The word decree decret is used as a technical term to describe the executive decisions from th).

Most constitutionsThe Constitution of a given organisation defines its form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules. To view particular constitutions, refer to the list of national constitutions. The term comes from Latin constitutio which referred to any require that certain executive powers may only be exercised in conjunction with the legislature. For example, often the consent of the legislature is required to ratify treaties, appoint important officials, or to declare war. In the United Kingdom, however, the executive is exempt from most such limitations under the royal prerogative.