DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE ARMS IN A DEMOCRACY

1) THE EXECUTIVE ARM 

DEFINITION: 

The Executive arm of government in a democracy is the branch of government responsible for implementing, executing and enforcing of the laws of the land.

It is headed at the Federal level by the President (or Prime Minister in some systems), along with Ministers and other Federal Government appointtees.

At the State level, the Executive arm is headed by Governors, Commissioners and other State Government appointees, Mayors, and State civil/public servants.

At the local government level, it is headed by the Local Council Chairman, Secretary to Local Government, Supervisory Councilors and Council staff who are civil servants.

FUNCTION OF THE EXECUTIVE ARM

It's major duty is to carry out the day-to-day administration and makes sure policies, programs and laws passed by the Legislature are put into action through proper and meticulous execution and or implementation for the overall development and benefit of the populace.

They do this through citing of projects, social and public-related programs like road construction, education, agricultural programs, healthcare delivery, Urban and environmental upgrades and renewal, social investments policies, etc.

In summary, the Executive arm run the Government Ministries, command the Armed Forces, assent to the National, State and Local Government Council budgets and implement the content of such budgets.

2) THE LEGISLATIVE ARM

DEFINITION:

The Legislative arm which is also referred to as The Legislature, is the branch or arm of government responsible for the making of all the laws that is used in the good governance of the land. It means that all the activities of the Executive arm is determined by the outcome of the total functions of the Legislature in any Country, State and Local Government Council.

The Legislative arm which is also known as the Legislature could also be referred to as the Parliament, Congress, National and or State Assembly. At the Local Council level, it is simply referred to as The Legislative Arm of the Local Council. 

These respective Legislative Houses in it's different category are made up of elected representatives or members called different names depending on the level at which they operate.

At the Federal level, especially where there is a bi-camera Legislative system parading two Legislative Houses as it is in Nigeria, it is jointly called The National Assembly made up of The Senate which is the upper chamber and the Federal House of Representative which is the Lower House. 

The Senate as it is the case in Nigeria, is occupied by Distinguished Senators, while the Federal House of Representative is occupied by Honourable House Members.

In some other countries like Britain, the Legislative practice there is uni-Camera system parading just one Legislative House and the elected members there are called Members of Parliaments (MP), (or House Members).

At the State level like it is in Delta State, the Legislature is called State House of Assembly located at Asaba, the State Capital. 

The elected personnel occupying the House are simply called Honourable Members of the House with a Speaker as their Head. 

In Delta State, we have 29 Honourable Members in the State Assembly for now with each member representing a State Constituency.

At the Local Government Council level, the Legislative arm is occupied by Elected Councilors with each Councilor representing an Electoral Ward in the LGA.

FUNCTIONS:

The duty of the Legislature all over the world, including Nigeria, is chiefly to make laws for the good governance of the Federal, State and Local Government Area as the case may be. 

In addition to that, the 2 other major functions of the Legislature is to lobby for projects and finally to do oversight functions through meticulous supervision of policies, projects and programs being implemented by the Executive arm of government in the respective levels.

 In carrying out it's functions, the members of the Legislature often draft, debate and pass laws; approve budgets; and check or supervise the Executive arm through oversight duties.

Other ancillary functions of the Legislature is to represent his/her Constituency in the respective Government circles, represent the constituents at the office and official levels, meet the needs and some requirements of the constituents (as much as he/she can), etc. 

And these functions today in Delta State in general and Ika South Local Government Area in particular, our elected Legislative officers made up of the Honourable House Member at the State and the elected Councilors in the local government area are dutifully and constitutionally carrying them out to the best of their capacity and for the good of their constituents in particular and their respective constituencies in general.

In short, The Legislature drafts, debate and pass the laws and further evaluate the extent of implementation of such laws, while the Executive puts those laws into action for the good of the people.

While the Executive is, by law, accountable to the Legislature and the people that elected them into office, the Legislature itself is accountable to the people, the electorate for whom the government at all levels exists.