CHAPTER 14 – POLITICAL EXECUTIVES AND LEADERSHIP
- Irreducible core of government
- Executive is the source of political leadership
ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE
Who’s who in the executive
- Executive → the branch of government that is responsible for the execution or
implementation of policy and laws
- Division of government
o Legislatures make law – they enact legislation
o Executives implement law – they execute law
o Judiciaries interpret law – they adjudicate on the meaning of law
- Executive’s responsibilities tend to be substantially broader
- 2 categories
o 1. Distinction is drawn between political and bureaucratic executive
▪ Between politicians and civil servants
o 2. Various levels of status and responsibility have been identified within
executives
▪ Pyramidal, organized according to clear leadership structure
- Parliamentary systems – political executive comprises elected politicians
o Their job is to make policy in accordance with ideological priorities of their
party
o The political/bureaucratic distinction is often blurred in Australia, Canada,
India and the UK
o USA – president is the only elected politician in the executive
▪ Cabinet members are just appointed
- Parliamentary executive → typically composed of a prime minister and cabinet, that
is drawn from, and accountable to the parliament, and is formed through
parliamentary elections
- Presidential executive → headed by a separately elected president, who enjoys
political and constitutional independence form the parliament
- 2 roles
o 1. Head of state as a formal authority with largely symbolic importance
o 2. Head of government who carries policy-making responsibilities
o USA, France, Russia → wearing two hats
o Parliamentary systems – the roles are usually separate with a prime minister
- Range of secretaries – developing and implementing policies in specific areas
- Cabinets – responsibilities from sharing of policy-making power to offering advice
- Enforcement agencies – police force or armed forces – quasi-governmental bodies
(quangos)
- Cabinet → a group of senior ministers that meets formally and regularly, and is
chaired by the chief executive, cabinets may make policy or be consultative
, Functions of political executives
- The task is to provide leadership, commanding heights
Ceremonial leadership
- ‘standing’ for the state, state authority in personal form
- Acting as a symbol
- State occasions, foreign visits, international conferences, ratification of treaties and
legislation
- Usually for non-executive presidents or constitutional monarchs
- Significant for 2 reasons
o 1. Provides focus for unity and political loyalty → help building legitimacy
o 2. Allows those at the top to portray themselves as national leaders
- Head of state → the personal embodiment of the state’s power and authority
Policy-making leadership
- Direct and control the policy process
- Expanded during 20th century
- Control of state’s external relationships in interdependent world
- Initiating legislative programs
- But the political executive is not always dominating the policy process – there are
other political parties and interest groups
Popular leadership
- Crucial to the character and stability of the regime as a whole
- Mobilizing support and ensuring the compliance and cooperation of the general
public
- Explains the widespread use of regular and competitive elections
Bureaucratic leadership
- Task of overseeing the implementation of policy means that the political executive
has major bureaucratic and administrative responsibilities
o Top management
- There are doubts about the effectiveness
o Staffed by politicians – lack of competence, managerial experience and
administrative knowledge
o Particular government departments can develop their own interests with
powerful client groups
o Bureaucracy as a whole can develop interests different of those of the
political executive
Crisis leadership
- Ability to take a swift and decisive action
- Near-dictatorial powers in times of war
- Irreducible core of government
- Executive is the source of political leadership
ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE
Who’s who in the executive
- Executive → the branch of government that is responsible for the execution or
implementation of policy and laws
- Division of government
o Legislatures make law – they enact legislation
o Executives implement law – they execute law
o Judiciaries interpret law – they adjudicate on the meaning of law
- Executive’s responsibilities tend to be substantially broader
- 2 categories
o 1. Distinction is drawn between political and bureaucratic executive
▪ Between politicians and civil servants
o 2. Various levels of status and responsibility have been identified within
executives
▪ Pyramidal, organized according to clear leadership structure
- Parliamentary systems – political executive comprises elected politicians
o Their job is to make policy in accordance with ideological priorities of their
party
o The political/bureaucratic distinction is often blurred in Australia, Canada,
India and the UK
o USA – president is the only elected politician in the executive
▪ Cabinet members are just appointed
- Parliamentary executive → typically composed of a prime minister and cabinet, that
is drawn from, and accountable to the parliament, and is formed through
parliamentary elections
- Presidential executive → headed by a separately elected president, who enjoys
political and constitutional independence form the parliament
- 2 roles
o 1. Head of state as a formal authority with largely symbolic importance
o 2. Head of government who carries policy-making responsibilities
o USA, France, Russia → wearing two hats
o Parliamentary systems – the roles are usually separate with a prime minister
- Range of secretaries – developing and implementing policies in specific areas
- Cabinets – responsibilities from sharing of policy-making power to offering advice
- Enforcement agencies – police force or armed forces – quasi-governmental bodies
(quangos)
- Cabinet → a group of senior ministers that meets formally and regularly, and is
chaired by the chief executive, cabinets may make policy or be consultative
, Functions of political executives
- The task is to provide leadership, commanding heights
Ceremonial leadership
- ‘standing’ for the state, state authority in personal form
- Acting as a symbol
- State occasions, foreign visits, international conferences, ratification of treaties and
legislation
- Usually for non-executive presidents or constitutional monarchs
- Significant for 2 reasons
o 1. Provides focus for unity and political loyalty → help building legitimacy
o 2. Allows those at the top to portray themselves as national leaders
- Head of state → the personal embodiment of the state’s power and authority
Policy-making leadership
- Direct and control the policy process
- Expanded during 20th century
- Control of state’s external relationships in interdependent world
- Initiating legislative programs
- But the political executive is not always dominating the policy process – there are
other political parties and interest groups
Popular leadership
- Crucial to the character and stability of the regime as a whole
- Mobilizing support and ensuring the compliance and cooperation of the general
public
- Explains the widespread use of regular and competitive elections
Bureaucratic leadership
- Task of overseeing the implementation of policy means that the political executive
has major bureaucratic and administrative responsibilities
o Top management
- There are doubts about the effectiveness
o Staffed by politicians – lack of competence, managerial experience and
administrative knowledge
o Particular government departments can develop their own interests with
powerful client groups
o Bureaucracy as a whole can develop interests different of those of the
political executive
Crisis leadership
- Ability to take a swift and decisive action
- Near-dictatorial powers in times of war
