Meaning and Types of Executive

Executive is the organ of government that initiates and implements government policies and laws. It carries out government policies and programs, not only to carry out the law but take action on matters most covered by the law. e.g. The President, Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, etc.

Types of Executive:

Types of Executive include:  

(i) Collegiate/Plural Executive.
(ii) Bicephalous/Dual Executive.
(iii) Monocephalous/Single Executive. 

Collegiate/Plural Executive:

Collegiate/Plural Executive is the type of Executive where two or more individuals equally share Executive power or the type where Executive power is vested in a committee e.g. The Federal Council in Switzerland. The President and Vice President are elected among the council members on a rotation basis annually.

In the British Parliamentary system, there is a collegial executive, the cabinet, which usually has just over twenty members and is the ultimate source of authority for governmental decisions.

Bicephalous/Dual Executive:

In Bicephalous/Dual Executive, the Executive is headed by two different persons; the Head of State and Head of Government (President/Monarch and Prime Minister) e.g. parliamentary system of government operates this.

Monocephallous/Single Executive:

Monocephallous/Single Executive allows a single head. All Executive power is vested in one person e.g. President in the Presidential system of government.