Meaning of the Executive: 

The executive is the second most important organ of the government. Its main function is the implementation of the laws made by the legislature. The word ‘executive’, in general, includes political executives and the permanent executive. For example, the President, the Prime Minister, his council of ministers and those administrative officers who are related to the fulfillment of the state’s desire. Its narrow meaning is confined to its political executive. It makes policies, makes plans, and executes laws. In Britain, the King, the Prime Minister and his council of the ministers, and in India, the President, the Prime Minister and his council of ministers form the political executive.

Main Functions of The Executive: 

1. Political functions: 

The main political functions of the executive are: 

• Appointment of ambassadors to other countries 
• To send delegates to international conferences 
• Meeting the foreign ambassadors, managing the relations and political and economic agreements with other countries.

2. Administrative functions: 

The main function of the executive is the compliance of law and to maintain peace. Different departments of the administration comply with the laws related their department. The head of the department is a minister. The compliance of the law, in fact, is the duty of the bureaucracy, whose appointment is made by the state public service commission. 

3. Legislative functions: 

The executive in one way or the other is always associated with the legislature in making the laws. In Parliamentary democracies, the executive calls the session of the Parliament and decides present period of the session. The legislature grants the acceptability of the law. But to present a bill for passing it and to prevent a bill from becoming an act is the function of the executive. 

4. Functions related with Defense: 

The defense and safety of the country is the function of the executive. The executive performs the functions through the armed forces. In democratic countries, head of the state (the president) is the supreme commander of the armed forces. The principles regarding the composition and discipline of the armed forces are made by the executive. 

5. Judicial functions: 

The appointment of the judges of judiciary is made by the head of the executive (the president), although the consent of the parliament in essential. In some countries, the head of the executive has the right to reduce the punishment of a criminal. He can also grant pardon to criminal and can commute capital punishment. 

6. Economic functions: 

As per principle, the legislature grants all the income and expenditure, but in practice, this in the responsibility of the executive. In India and Britain, the executive presents the money-bills in the parliament and get them passed. In U.S.A. the budget is prepared under the direction and instruction of the President, but the Congress gets it passed. 

7. Other functions: 

1. Making plans for economic development 

2. To award degrees and titles to famous personalities of the country 

3. To grant citizenship to the citizens of foreign countries 

4. To grant economic aid for special services 

5. To make available opportunities of education and public health 

6. To promote industries in public sector.