Executive (government)The executive is the part of the government that executes or enforces the law and policy of a government. It is typically organized as a branch of government, though in other systems of government like absolute monarchies the executive serves as the organ of a unified state apparatus centered on a singular constitutional authority (ie, the monarch).
Head of statePublic persona of a sovereign stateThis article is about the type of political position. For other uses, see Head of state (other).A head of state is the public persona of a sovereign state. The name given to the office of head of state depends on the country's form of government and any separation of powers; the powers of the office in each country range from being also the head of government to being little more than a ceremonialfigurehead.
Separation of powersThe separation of powers principle functionally differentiates several types of state power (usually legislation, adjudication, and execution) and requires these operations of government to be conceptually and institutionally distinct and clearly articulated, thereby maintaining the integrity of each branch.
President (government title)President is a common title for the head of state in most republics. The role of a president can vary depending on the country, with some serving as the head of government, a ceremonial figurehead, or some other distinction. The functions exercised by a president vary according to the form of government. In parliamentary republics, they are usually, but not always, limited to those of the head of state and are a largely ceremonial role.Responsible governmentResponsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive branch) in Westminster democracies are responsible to parliament rather than to the monarch, or, in a colonial context, to the imperial government, and in a republican context, to the president.Dissolution of parliamentThe dissolution of a legislative assembly (or parliament) is the simultaneous termination of service of all of its members, in anticipation that a successive legislative assembly will reconvene later with possibly different members. In a democracy, the new assembly is chosen by a general election.Head of governmentThe head of government serves as the highest official in the executive branch of a state. The head of government usually handles the day to day affairs of the state, and leads the ministers who control the government. In many democratic systems the head of state is also the head of government. In non democratic systems the head of government is usually established via military intervention.LegislatureA legislature (UK: , US: ) is a deliberative assembly that holds the legal authority to make law and exercise political oversight within a political entity such as a state, nation, or city. Legislatures are among the principal institutions of state, typically contrasted with the executive and judicial institutions.
ElectionAn election is a group decision-making process whereby a portion or all of a population or group votes to choose an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office or other position of responsibility. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government, such as cities or towns.
Constitution of the United StatesSupreme law of the United States
GovernmentA government is the system or group of people which lead a state. As such, it is responsible for directing the only entity whose use of force is socially acceptable. Governments have come in many forms, whether dominated by one person (autocracy), a small ruling class (oligarchy), or the masses (democracy).
CitizenshipCitizenship is a membership in the political community of and allegiance to a sovereign state. Though citizenship is often conflated with nationality in today's English-speaking world, international law does not usually use the term citizenship to refer to nationality; these two notions are conceptually different dimensions of collective membership.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.