Laws do not implement themselves. The executive branch is the part of government responsible for carrying out statutes, managing the administration, and conducting day-to-day governance.

In presidential systems the executive is headed by a separately elected president. In parliamentary systems it is headed by a prime minister who depends on legislative confidence. The executive controls the civil service, the military, and the conduct of foreign relations within legal limits. It also proposes budgets and often initiates much of the legislative agenda.

Checks on executive power include legislative oversight, judicial review, fixed terms or confidence votes, and free media. The growth of the administrative state has expanded executive influence, raising recurring debates about accountability and the proper scope of delegated authority. Effective executives combine political direction with respect for legal constraints.

• Branch that implements and administers laws
• Headed by president or prime minister
• Manages bureaucracy and foreign relations
• Subject to legislative and judicial checks