Real executive
Also called: De facto executive · Topic: Union Executive: President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 6 "The Parliamentary System: Legislature and Executive"; Class 11, Ch 4 "Executive"
Meaning
The real executive is the person or group that actually uses executive power and takes the decisions. It is also called the de facto executive (the executive "in fact"). In India, these are the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, who stay in office only while they command a majority in the Lok Sabha. Under Art. 74, they "aid and advise" the President, and the President must act on that advice. Under Art. 75(3), they answer as one body to the Lok Sabha.
Example
The Union budget is laid in the President's name, and the President appoints ministers and Governors. In practice, the Cabinet led by the PM makes these decisions. The President only signs them.
Don't confuse with
- Nominal executive: the President, in whose name power is used but who acts on advice.
- Permanent executive: civil servants, who carry out the real executive's decisions. They are not elected and do not answer to the Lok Sabha.
Related concepts
- Presidential system
- Parliamentary system
- Semi-presidential executive
- Executive presidency of Sri Lanka
- Nominal executive