Question

Why are government functionaries called as executive ?

Answer 1

From the Office Memorandum it is clear that the person who signed the document did not take this decision. He was only executing the policy decision taken by someone else. The Prime Minister played an important role in taking that decision. But he could not have taken that decision if he did not have support from the Lok Sabha. In that sense he was only executing the wishes of the Parliament. Thus, at different levels of any government we find functionaries who take day-to-day decisions but do not exercise supreme power on behalf of the people. All those functionaries are collectively known as the executive. They are called executive because they are in charge of the ‘execution’ of the policies of the government. Thus, when we talk about ‘the government’ we usually mean the executive.

Answer 2

Answer:

All those functionaries are collectively known as the executive. They are called executive because they are in charge of the 'execution' of the policies of the government. Thus, when we talk about 'the government' we usually mean the executive.