Growth in Executive Powers in Modern Times

In recent times, the powers of the executive have continued to grow both in parliamentary and presidential systems due to a number of reasons, which include:

(i) The executive influence on the making of laws through its power to initiate bills to the legislatureThe legislative branch of government is responsible for making laws within a country. Legislatures are made up of people called legislators who, in democracies, are elected by the country’s population More.

(ii) The executive through delegatory powers and complexity in the work of parliament makes rules and regulations and other statutory instruments to deal with certain specific matters.

(iii) The quasi-judicial powers exercised by the executive have added to the growth of the powers of the executive e.g. power of pardon.

(iv) The executive controls the armed forces and the police. This has added enormous powers to the executive.

(v) Growth of a party-disciplined system, where decisions at party levels, implemented by the executive sometimes erode the powers of the legislature.

(vi) Modern government requires speed in terms of decision-making, especially during emergencies when the person or body appointed by the president performs both legislative and executive functions.

(vii) The president’s power, to vetoA veto is an official power or right to refuse to accept or allow something. It can also be defined as a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In... More acts of parliament, has contributed to an increase in the powers of the president.

(viii) The president’s power to appoint and dismiss ministers, ambassadors and judges has also increased executive powers.