Executive powers

Executive powers

Executive power is difficult to describe—it broadly consists of the power to manage public affairs and to implement the law.

The executive in the UK was originally the monarch. In modern times His Majesty’s Government is carried on by Ministers of the Crown, led by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In addition, executive power is exercised:

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in Scotland by Scottish Ministers
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in Wales by Welsh Ministers
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in Northern Ireland by Northern Ireland Ministers

Public authorities exercise executive functions, within their areas of responsibility.

Although the executive is responsible for developing and implementing policy and drafting laws for Parliament to debate and pass, the civil service does the practical and administrative work of government, managed by the Prime Minister.

This subtopic contains a range of materials on the nature, status and powers of various government departments and public bodies, as well as the civil service.

The executive and the civil service

The duty of civil servants is first and foremost to their minister. In turn, ministers are subject to the convention of individual ministerial responsibility, and are held accountable for the decisions taken on their behalf

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