The scope of executive power varies greatly depending on the political context in which it emerges, and it can change over time in a given country. They are usually laid out in aconstitution In democratic countries, the executive often exercises broad influence over national politics, though limitations are often applied to the executive.[1]
In those that havefusion of powers, typicallyparliamentary systems, such as theUnited Kingdom, the executive is often referred to as the 'government', and its members generally belong to the political party that controls the legislature. Since the executive requires the support and approval of the legislature, the two bodies are "fused" together, rather than being independent. The principle ofparliamentary sovereignty means powers possessed by the executive are solely dependent on those granted by the legislature, which can also subject its actions to judicial review. However, the executive often has wide-ranging powers stemming from the control of the governmentbureaucracy, especially in the areas of overalleconomic orforeign policy.
Inparliamentary systems, the executive isresponsible to the elected legislature, and must maintain the confidence of the legislature, or one part of it, if bicameral. In certain circumstances (varying by state), the legislature can express its lack of confidence in the executive, which causes either a change in the governing party or group of parties or a general election.
Parliamentary systems have a head of government (who leads the executive, often calledministers) normally distinct from the head of state (who continues through governmental and electoral changes). In theWestminster type of parliamentary system, the principle of separation of powers is not as entrenched as in some others.
Members of the executive (ministers) are also members of the legislature, and hence play an important part in both the writing and enforcing of law. Inpresidential systems, the directly elected head of government appoints the ministers. Ministers can be directly elected by voters, such as in Switzerland at the cantonal (state) level.[3]
In apresidential system, the leader of the executive is both the head of state and government.[4] In some cases, such asSouth Korea, there is a Prime Minister who assists the President, but who is not the head of government but is the second in the chain.
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