Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday, 22 November 2016 / No comments
How the executive is controlled
Constitutional controls
One of the ways in which the
Executive of a country is controlled is the constitution of the land. The
powers of the Executive is explicitly stated in the constitution and therefore
any Executive that acts outside the powers conferred on it is in breach of the constitution.
Vetting and approval of Executive nominees
Another control on the powers of the
Executive is that it must receive approval for all international transactions
and treaties before it can become effective. All nominees of the Executive must
be vetted by the parliament and approved by same before a final appointment can
be made.
Power of impeachment
If the Executive conducts itself in a
manner that brings the name of the office into disrepute, he or she could be hauled
before the Legislature and compelled to go through impeachment proceedings. If it
is proven that an act detrimental to the office has been committed, the Executive
would be impeached.
Judicial control
Another control of the Executive is
exercised by the Judiciary. The judiciary has the power to declare null and
void any action of the Executive which violates the constitution of the land or
give an interpretation of the constitution that can limit the powers of the
Executive.
The Media
A truly independent media can keep
the Executive on its toes constantly. If, for example, the Executive introduces
a policy that the people think is inimical to their well being, the media can champion
a crusade for the said policy to abolished or altered.
Periodic elections
In every democratic dispensation,
there is bound to be elections every four or five years. This means the
citizens can vote the Executive out of power if they think their policies do not
inure to their benefit. The Executive, knowing they could lose political power ensures
that they satisfy the needs of the electorates. The fear of losing power serves
as a limitation on the Executive.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. In which six ways can the
functions of the Executive be controlled? [12 marks]
