THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH (CSEC Social Studies)

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH (CSEC Social Studies)

THE DECISION-MAKING BRANCH

The Executive arm of government is also called the ADMINISTRATION. This is because its primary role is to administer laws passed by parliament and approved by the Head of State. All decisions about the running of the country are taken by the executive which also implements policies and programmes through the civil service.

WHAT DOES THE EXECUTIVE DO?

• Proposes new laws and taxes or changes to existing laws and taxes

• Produces policies and programmes

• Implements approved policies and programmes

WHO IS INCLUDED IN THE EXECUTIVE?

• The Prime Minister

• The Cabinet

• The Civil Service/Public Service

THE ROLE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

• Decides who should be included in the cabinet (he/she is the CEO)

• Assigns and re-assigns [shuffles] cabinet portfolios to members (called ministers)

• Head of government - leads the cabinet in the formulation of policies

• When necessary, recommends the appointment and/or dismissal of the governor-general to the monarch

• Advises the governor-general when to dissolve parliament

• Decides on the election date

Multiple Choice

What does CEO mean?

• Chairman Executive Official

• Chief Executive Officer

• Chief Executive Official

Fill in the Blank

A portfolio is also called a

Multiple Choice

The Prime Minister selects senators

• True

• False

Multiple Select

The PM does which of the following

• Removes ministers who are not performing well

• Appoints and dismisses the governor-general

• coordinates the work of the ministries

• All of the above

THE ROLE OF THE CABINET

• Meets with the Prime Minister weekly to formulate policies that aim to improve the lives of citizens and develop the country

• Each member is in-charge a portfolio called a ministry. Each ministry is supposed to implement the policies and programmes decided on by the cabinet.

• Minsters are expected to perform efficiently and honestly

• All members take responsibility for cabinet decisions even if not all members agree with a decision. This is called collective responsibility

• Ministers make reports to parliament to account for the work they have done, are doing and intend to do

Multiple Choice

Cabinet meetings are held in secret

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Cabinet decisions are shared with the public via press briefings

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The cabinet has decided that face-to-face school will only be held twice per week and inline school should be held twice per week. The Minister of Education disagrees and has written to newspapers voicing his disagreement. This is a breach of

• confidence

• individual responsibility

• separation of powers

• collective responsibility

Multiple Choice

Parliament makes presentations to cabinet to give account of the work it is doing

• True

• False

THE CIVIL SERVICE

• Comprised of people who are NOT elected.

• A civil/public servant is a person employed to a government department or ministry

• The permanent secretary is the most senior civil servant in a ministry. His/her role is to advise the minister on policy

• The civil service then, is a diverse group of individuals with various skillsets. Their role is to administer the country and implement the decisions made by cabinet.

Multiple Choice

All the following are examples of civil service departments of government EXCEPT:

Multiple Choice

Which of the following does NOT employ civil servants?

Multiple Choice

The Prime Minister does NOT

• set the date of general elections

• hire and fire members of the civil service

• decide on the size and composition of the cabinet

• give account to parliament