The executive branch in a country administers or executes law by implementing it through different actors and their action—ministry or regulator. To do so, the executive undertakes this through the creation of secondary texts. There is great variation among the set-up of executive branches in different countries and the way in which they conduct their functions. Some of the specificities of the set up in a particular country may be discerned through the Constitution or basic law of the country and how the separation of powers among the three branches of government is detailed. In most countries, the executive branch performs an extraordinary amount of work and is likely the branch that any individual interacts with the most in their lives.
Example: Activities could range from issuing driving licenses or passports to overseeing social welfare programs, like the social safety net and food fortification programs in many countries.
Other terms with the same meaning and function: Executive branch.
See also legislature, judiciary, legal system, minister, ministry, regulatory agency, secondary texts, standards, standard setting, standard implementation, decree, guidelines, rules and regulations in the primer on public law and regulation.
Adapted from Bryan A. Garner (eds), Black’s law Dictionary, 11th ed., 2019, West Group, ISBN: 978-1539229759