Punjab State Board PSEB 11th Class Political Science Book Solutions Chapter 14 Organs of Government: Executive Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 11 Political Science Chapter 14 Organs of Government: Executive
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Define the term “Executive” and discuss its various forms.
Or
Distinguish between the following:
(а) Single and Plural Executive.
(b) Nominal and Real Executive.
(c) Hereditary and Elected Executive.
Answer:
Executive is that organ of the government, which enforces the will of the state expressed in the form of laws. In this sense, the executive includes all those officials from the head of the State down to the common policeman and clerks who are concerned with the administration of public affairs. It is the second branch of the Government’s machine and exercises wide powers over the people in the country.
There is a tendency to refer to the executive itself as the government, so great is the importance of this organ of government. The executive is entrusted with the execution of the will of the State. The legislature makes laws and the executive is charged with the responsibility of giving effect to these laws. In the narrowest sense the term executive refers only to that small body which exercises supreme authority in the State. According to Gilchrist, “The executive is that branch of government which carries out or executes the will of the people as formulated in law.”
According to Gettell, “In its broadest sense the executive department consists of all government officials except those acting in legislature and judicial capacity. It includes all the agencies of the government that are concerned with the execution of state’s will as expressed in terms of law.” In the widest sense of the term the executive refers to government officials concerned with the execution of State policies and programmes.
The executive has to give effect to laws passed by the legislature and is required to take quick action and prompt decisions. It must work efficiently and hence it is essential that such executive control should be concentrated in the hands of a small body of persons possessing unity, adequate power and sometimes secrecy of the produce.
Different Kinds of Executive. There are various kinds of executive:
1. Real and Nominal Executive:
In the case of real executive the executive powers are actually controlled and exercised by the real executive, as the President of U.S.A. or the Cabinet in England. The President of the U.S.A. is the real effective executive head of the State. The British Cabinet enjoys supreme authority in the country and the Queen simply reigns and does not rule.
In the case of nominal executive the executive powers are vested in the head of the state but in practice those powers are exercised by the prime minister and the cabinet. In India President is a nominal executive. The administration s carried on in his name but not by him. The government officers carry on the administration in the name of the head of the executive.
2. Single and Plural Executive:
The executive is single when the final authority is concentrated in the hands of a single person. In U.S.A. and India the executive is single because , the U.S.A. President and the Indian Prime Minister have a position of ascendancy among their colleagues. The control in plural executive less not with one person but with a council of several persons, for example, in Switzerland, the real executive powers are shared equally by all the ministers. The President of the Council is only one among the equals and not first among the equals.
3. Parliamentary and Presidential Executive:
In a parliamentary type of executive the head of the State is a nominal one and the real authority is vested with the council of ministers. The members of the real executive are the members of the legislature and for their ill actions and policies they are responsible to the legislature. In case the legislature loses confidence over the real executive, the real executive is to resign. In a Presidential-type of Govt, the President is the real effective head of the State. The executive is independent of the control of the legislature. In U.S.A. the President is elected for a fixed term. Neither the President and nor his secretaries are the members of the U.S. Congress.
4. Hereditary and Elective Executive:
The executive of a state may be either hereditary or elective. In England the monarch, who is legally speaking, the chief executive, is a hereditary chief. The value of a hereditary executive is that it is the keeper of national tradition. But hereditary executive is considered to be the legacy of the past and unrelated to a democratic polity. Where executive is elected, the election may take different forms ranging from direct election by the people to indirect election by the legislature.
The principle of direct election by the people is followed in some States of South America and also in the election of State governors in the United States. In India President is elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of the Parliament and elected members of State Legislature Assembly. In U.S.A. President is elected by an electoral college but in practice election has become almost direct.
5. Dictatorial and Constitutional Executive:
If the source of the powers of the executive is the Constitution, the executive is called constitutional. In almost all the democratic countries, there exists a constitutional executive. If the source of the powers of the executive is the physical force and there is no limit to the authority of the executive this type of executive is called Dictatorial executive.
6. Appointive or Nominative Executive:
There can be appointive or nominative executive also. The governors in India and the Governor General in Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc., are the examples of this type of executive.
7. Political and Permanent Executive:
These are two parts of the same executive. The part of the executive which holds office on the basis of its belonging to the majority party in the legislati re is called the Political Executive. The part of the executive which holds office on the basis of its education or qualifications is called the Permanent executive.
Question 2.
Discuss judicial and legislative functions of the executive.
Or
Discuss the main functions of the Executive.
Answer:
The main function of the executive is to enforce the laws and to run the administration of the state. The modem executive is to perform so many functions besides the execution of laws.
Following are the main functions of the executive:
1. Administrative Functions:
The main function of the executive is to direct and supervise the execution of law. To achieve this end, the executive performs various functions such as appointment, transfer and dismissal of heads of the departments and of the subordinate officials. It formulates the general policy of the states and controls the public administration. It maintains law and order in the State. One or more than one department are controlled by a minister and he is responsible for the efficient administration of the department.
Each department enforces the laws which concern its working. The executive is to see that all the laws are properly obeyed and respected and those who break the laws are punished. The object of the punishment is to reform the criminal. The executive also issues decrees, proclamations and white papers. It controls the various departments-industrial, educational, financial—which deal with the various aspects of government policies.
2. Appointments:
All major appointments are made by the Executive. In India, the Executive appoints Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts of the various states, ambassadors, Chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission, Attorney-General, Chiefs of Army, Air Force and Navy, Governors etc. In U.S.A. all major appointments are made by the President with the approval of the Senate. The executive also enjoys the power of removal.
3. Military Functions:
Military functions consist in exercising supreme command over the army, navy and air force. The Indian President is the supreme commander of the armed forces. The executive appoints officers to the armed forces and some countries, it has the right to declare war.
To secure obedience to the laws of the State, to maintain peace and to defend the country against the foreign attack is the responsibility of the executive. Executive is responsible for the preservation of perfect peace and security in the country. It has to keep internal peace, by putting down all those factors which disturb the peace of the country. In some countries the executive has the authority to declare war.
4. Foreign or Diplomatic Relations:
The foreign affairs of the country are also conducted by the executive. It makes treaties with other nations, sends representatives and ambassadors to them, and receives diplomatic representatives from other countries. It enters into trade treaties. It declares war and peace and signs the treaties in that connection. It controls all foreign relations but in certain matters it has to seek the approval of the legislature. It sends representatives to conferences of Big powers. It also corresponds with other countries.
5. Legislative Functions:
In the modern State the executive has a share in law-making. Normally it is the business of the legislature to make laws. Usually it is the executive which recommends what laws the legislature should pass. In U.S.A., the President sends messages to the legislature for making legislature proposals. In States where there is parliamentary form of government, the Cabinet is the part of the legislature and introduces and pilots all bills. If it is the executive which summons, adjourns prorogues and even dissolves the legislature and calls for new elections as in Britain.
The Cabinet in the sphere of law-making guides and directs public policy. In all the democratic countries the executive normally introduces majority of the bills in the legislature. The executive head of the State has usually the power of the veto over laws passed by the legislature. He can issue ordinances which are as valid as other laws. The executive also has the power of delegated legislation.
6. Financial Functions:
In the parliamentary-type of government the budget is introduced by the minister. The budget is prepared by the council of ministers. It is the executive which proposes new taxation, or decreases taxes, abolishes taxes and reduces taxes. The executive demands money from the legislature.
7. Judicial Functions:
The executive organises effective judicial system so that offences against law may be duly punished. The executive appoints judges. The executive head of the State enjoys the power of pardon, amnesty and of commuting punishment. Mercy petitions on behalf of convicted criminals are sometimes made to the executive head who may grant pardons.
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What are the different organs of the government and what are their functions? .
Answer:
There are three organs of the Governments-1. Legislature, 2. Executive, 3. Judiciary. The main function of the Legislature is the formation of laws. Executive runs the government according to these laws. It enforces the law. The main function of judiciary is to settle disputes of the people according to the laws made by legislature. Disputes arising among the people and those arising between the people and the government are all settled by judiciary. It also gives protection to the fundamental rights of the people and the constitution of the country.
Question 2.
What do you understand by Separation of Powers?
Answer:
The theory of the separation of powers means that legislative, executive and judicial powers of government should be distributed among different organs of government and each organ should exercise them separately and independently. The powers of each organs should be limited to its own sphere.
Within its own sphere each organ should be supreme and independent and no organ has any claim or right to encroach upon the work and functions of the other. The legislature should make the laws, the judge should interpret them and the executive enforce them. The theory of separation of powers is famous in the name of French Scholar Montesquieu.
Question 3.
Write short note on Plebiscite.
Answer:
Plebiscite is a device by which certain question is submitted to popular vote. The method of plebiscite is used in case of political questions. Plebiscite was taken on the issue of Goa’a merger with Maharashtra in our country. Pakistan demands that there should be plebiscite on the Kashmir issue, whether the people of Kashmir want remain in India or they want to side with Pakistan. In 1935, it was through the method of plebiscite that Saar was integrated into Germany.
Question 4.
Write short note on Recall:
Answer:
This method gives the power to the voters to recall their representative even before the expiry of his term. They can elect a new representative. This method is applied against those representatives of the people who do not work in the best interests of the public. In most of the countries the representatives of the people are elected for a fixed term and after their election, the voters have no control over them.
The representatives may do whatever they like and the public cannot exercise any control over them. But through the method of recall, a fixed number of voters can manage to recall their representatives. This way the voters control the activities of their representatives. They cannot go against the wishes of the electorate. This system prevails in some States of U.S.A. and Switzerland.
Question 5.
What is Executive?
Answer:
Executive is that organ of the government which enforces the wi-fi of the legislature expressed in the form of laws. The Legislature makes laws and the executive is charged with responsibility of giving effect to these laws. Besides it keeps law and order in the country. It also protects the life and property of the people and maintains internal peace by putting down all those factors that disturb the peace of the country. In fact, it is executive that runs the administration of the country. In other words, it is a government in itself.
Question 6.
Explain four functions of the Executive.
Answer:
Three main functions of the executive are as follow:
1. Administrative Functions:
The main function of the executive is to direct and supervise the execution of law. It formulates the general policy of the state and controls the public administration. It maintains law and order in the State.
2. Military Functions:
Military functions consist in exercising supreme command over the army, navy and air force. The Executive appoints officers to the armed forces and in some countries, it has the right to declare war.
Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What are the different organs of the government and what are their functions?
Answer:
There are three organs of the Governments-1. Legislature, 2. Executive, 3. Judiciary. The main function of the Legislature is the formation of laws. Executive runs the government according to these laws. It enforces the law. The main function of judiciary is to settle disputes of the people according to the laws made by legislature.
Question 2.
What do you understand by Executive?
Answer:
Executive is that organ of the government which enforces the will of the legislature expressed in the form of laws. The Legislature makes laws and the executive is charged with responsibility of giving effect to these laws. Besides it keeps law and order in the country.
Question 3.
Explain two functions of the Executive.
Answer:
Three main functions of the executive are as follow:
1. Administrative Functions:
The main function of the executive is to direct and supervise the execution of law. It formulates the general policy of the state and controls the public administration. It maintains law and order in the State.
2. Military Functions: The Executive appoints officers to the armed forces and in some countries, it has the right to declare war.
One Word to One Sentence Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Name the three organs of government.
Answer:
1. Legislature
2. Executive
3. Judiciary.
Question 2.
Which is the supreme law making body in a state?
Answer:
Parliament is the Supreme Law making body of state.
Question 3.
Give one advantage of direct popular election of the Chief Executive.
Answer:
Direct popular election creats an interest in public affairs on the part of the masses.
Fill in the blank
1. The main functions of the ………….. is to enforce the laws and to the administration.
Answer:
Executive
True or False statement
1. In a Parliamentary form of govt, legislature is superior to the Executive.
Answer:
True
2. Indian President is a real executive.
Answer:
False
Choose The Correct Answer
Question 1.
Which one of the following is the necessary condition for good executive?
(A) Prompt decisions during emergency
(B) Honest performance of duties
(C) No undue delay in administrative affairs
(D) None of the above.
Answer:
(C) No undue delay in administrative affairs
Question 2.
Which one of the following executive the laws:
(A) Judiciary
(B) Executive
(C) Legislature
(D) None of these.
Answer:
(D) None of these.