25.

Discuss the powers of the Executive in modern democratic political systems. 

The powers are enumerated below:

(i) Administrative: In every country the Head of the State and the Council of Ministers are responsible for the maintenance of law and order and for the running of the administration. The Head of the State, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, makes many important political appointments. The administrators are generally recruited on the basis of competitive examinations. They are promoted, demoted and dismissed under the Civil Service Rules.

(ii) Legislative: Generally law making is the responsibility of the legislature, but in every country the executive has an important role to play in the making of the laws. The executive prepares bills for this purpose and introduces them in the legislature. There is a Parliamentary Government in England, India, Japan, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy and West Germany.

The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister. He has influence on both the organs of the government i.e., Legislature and Executive. The ministers are also important members of the Parliament. Therefore, they too have sufficient influence on the legislature or on the Parliament. In England, India and other Parliamentary countries, the Parliament spends much of its time on the discussion of the bills.

(iii) The executive has not only this much role to play in the framing of the laws, but more than that. That laws passed by the legislature can be vetoed by the President. This is the practice in India and the U.S.A. Besides, the President has the right to issue Ordinances. This practice also exists in India.

The Queen has this right in England, but she can use this right on the recommendations of the Home Secretary. Besides, if there is a rebellion on a large scale in any country, the President has the right to grant general amnesty. This is the practice in India and some other countries. In some countries the President has the right to appoint the judges, as is the practice in India.

(iv) Military: In almost all the countries, constitutionally the President or the Head of the State has many military powers. He is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and has the power to promote, demote and dismiss high military officers. He himself, or with the consent of the Parliament, can declare war or peace.

In the U.S.A., the President can declare war or peace with the consent of the Congress. In Britain and India, this right is exercised generally by the Prime Minister. The Head of the State can declare emergency for the defence of the country.

In India, though this right has been given to the President under the constitution, yet it is used by him on the recommendations of the Prime Minister. For instance, when at the time of the Chinese aggression on October 26, 1962.

(v) Foreign Relations: The executive establishes political relations with foreign countries. Our government has established political or commercial relations with almost all big countries. The President appoints diplomatic representatives in other countries and receives those of foreign countries.

(vi) Financial: Though the legislature controls the national finance, yet the executive prepares the budget and tries to get it passed by the legislature.