We explain what the executive branch is, who makes it up, its functions, powers and other characteristics.
What is executive power?
The executive branch is one of the three public powers that constitute the modern State, along with the legislative and judicial branches. Unlike the others, the executive is the responsible for political leadership and management of the State that is, decision-making and diplomatic work. Thus, it administers and executes the popular will.
The executive branch is one of the most visible and disputed, since different societal projects can be proposed from it. For this reason, the holder is usually considered directly responsible for the successes or failures that the country experiences during his administration, which usually has a pre-established start and end date in accordance with the current constitutional text.
The role of the executive within the States, that is, its leadership, was formerly held by other models of head of State, generally absolute and for life, such as Kings, leaders and other figures who normally came from the military branch and/or or social elites.
Since the fall of the Old Regime and the Absolutist Monarchy, the executive power is always understood to be under the control of the other public powers, in order to reduce the risk of tyrannies.
See also: Forms of government
Characteristics of the executive branch
The executive power corresponds to the daily management of the State at its different levels, that is, deals with political decision making covering the economy, domestic policy, foreign policy, social policies, tax collection, etc.
So, Executive branch positions are elected for a specific period whose beginning and end are determined in advance, and for which one may or may not be re-elected, depending on what the Constitution and the electoral regulations express in this regard. Other positions, however, are expressly designated by elected authorities, such as the president.
On the other hand, each position is usually one-person that is, held by a specific person at a time, who can be replaced at the end of their work or as an emergency replacement. This usually entails important responsibilities, for which the person must then respond to the State itself.
Who makes up the executive branch?
Starting with the head of the government itself, that is, by the President or Prime Minister the executive branch is made up of the visible head of the State, in addition to representing it, together with the diplomatic corps that you designate, abroad.
Usually the president is elected by vote (direct or indirect) and comes from local political parties, although he can also be an independent actor. Presidential elections are usually political events of utmost importance in the social, political and economic life of countries.
Next to him will be governors, mayors, mayors or regional and local officials similar, who are the representatives of the same public power at a much more particular geographical level. They are elected in the same way.
It also includes the entire ministerial train, which makes up the government cabinet headed in some cases by the vice president. However, the exact structure of the executive branch, like that of the other powers, will always be determined by the legal system of the country, that is, by the Constitution.
Functions and powers of the executive branch
In general, the executive branch has two essential functions:
- Political function. It consists of leading society as a whole along the path that best allows it to satisfy its historical needs, making the pertinent decisions to negotiate unprecedented situations in the most convenient way: international treaties, irregular situations, commercial exchanges, etc.
- Administrative function. It consists of managing and managing the State so that it fulfills in the most efficient way possible its tasks contemplated in the Constitution, for which it is essential to orchestrate the ministries, municipalities, governorates, companies and public organizations, etc.
The executive branch in Mexico
Mexico, like most countries in the region, is governed through a presidential democracy. Therefore, at the head of the executive power is a president elected in free, secret and direct votes for a period of six years, without the possibility of re-election.
According to article 89 of the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States, the functions of the president are:
- Promulgate and execute the laws approved by Congress, and direct the administrative sphere;
- Appoint some officials of the federal public administration;
- Direct the foreign policy of the State;
- Conduct public administration and promote laws or decrees before Congress.
On the other hand, the 32 States (including Mexico City, governed by its own Head of Government) that make up the Mexican federation also elect their own governor.
The governor of each State is the head of the local public administration and has his own cabinet with various secretariats, agencies and directorates, just as the President has ministries and other entities that have authority in the entire Mexican territory.
Other public powers
Apart from the executive, the other powers of the state are:
- Legislative power. Consisting of the parliament (assembly, congress, etc.) and its members elected by popular will, whether they are deputies only or deputies and senators, it is the entity in charge of drafting, approving, modifying or repealing the laws that govern society, as well as manage the national budget and control it.
- Judicial power. Made up of the judges who make up, in turn, the different courts of the hierarchical organization of the State, it is responsible for ensuring compliance with the law in society, both on the part of the other two public powers, as well as the citizens of foot. Therefore, it has the power to interpret the constitutional text in its original spirit, and is also the only one of the three public powers that is not freely elected by the electorate.
References
- “Executive branch” on Wikipedia.
- “Executive power” (video) on Canal Encuentro.
- “Executive power” (video) on CNTV Infantil.
- “Executive power in Mexico” in Lawi.
- “Executive (Government)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
