Guide:How the Government Works, Part 1. Executive Branch

**Click Here to Go to the Next Guide: "#4 - How the Government Works, Part 2. Administrative Branch" →****This is the third guide in the series of ten, this guide details how the primary branch of government works, visit the Guide page to view the others**
The Executive Branch (often abbreviated EB) is probably the most widely known institution in the Triumvirate. When someone says Triumvirate the thing people most closely associate it with is the "Executive Branch". That is because, like in the United States, the Executive Branch most distinguishes itself historically. The Executive Branch of the Universal Triumvirate (which is established in article 2 and 3 of the Constitution) is considered the central branch of government, the other branches could not work without it because it is the intellectual command center of the union. The branch was designed with careful thought by Zerouh who set up the original branch of himself, Ehtya, and Ascencia (hence why those three are called the "Founding Executives". It has the job of being the most educated branch and institution in the Triumvirate government, serving as the idea base and decision maker for the union.

The Executive Branch is composed of several elite individuals called Executives. Each Executive is a master in a specific area in the Triumvirate such as commerce (the Head of Commerce and Industry), diplomacy (the Chief Ambassador), law (the Chief Attorney), and even education (the Head of Education). Each position has a different role to play and many of them lead Departments (institutions of government managing various parts of the Triumvirate such as the Department of Commerce or the Department of Justice). The Executives are not subject to term limits because the Triumvirate's founder, Zerouh, believed this would restrict their creative and intellectual freedom. In a way the Executive Branch is similar to the United States Cabinet, all experts in their various areas who together advise the Triumvirate on decisions. A key difference is that in the Triumvirate they all work together to make decisions. You can find a list of all positions in the Executive Branch on this page.

There are also Executives called "Senators" who, unlike the other Executive positions, are not elected by the branch itself but are instead elected by the general public. They serve as public representatives in the Executive Branch, entitled to all of the same rights and powers of other Executives, but not having the same duties or election process. There are currently two Senators.

The unofficial head of the Executive Branch is the Major Executive, who is slightly more powerful than an Executive but less powerful than a full on president. They manage the Executive Branch and perform the duties that no other Executive does. They are also the one with the most access to confidential and defense information which makes them kind of like the commander in chief. In reality though they are extremely restricted by the Executive Branch and all of their decisions are subject to the overruling of the Executive Branch (just like the other Executives). The Minor Executive is like the vice-Major Executive, they step in if the Major Executive is ever incapacitated and unable to act. Both the Major and Minor Executive are subject to term limits and must be elected or re-elected by the Executive Branch every trimester.

The Executive Branch makes decisions via discussion and voting. One of the Executives will table a matter or suggestion before the entire branch and then the branch will discuss it to make it as good and agreeable as possible and, if it's something that needs approved, they will vote on it. Much of the time the ideas tabled to the branch by an Executive are directly from people of the Triumvirate such as yourself. The Executive Branch is the one that passes laws and amendments (more on that in a later guide on the legislative process) and then sends them to the Administrative Branch (the second branch of government covered in the next guide) for approval.

Some key powers of the Executive Branch are these:

1. **Legislating:** the Executive Branch writes and passes laws and amendments to the Constitution and then sends them to the Administrative Branch for approval. This will be covered more in depth in Guide:How the Legislative Process Works.
2. **Management:** the Executive Branch has the ultimate say in the doings of the Departments and agencies, they can overrule the Executive in charge of the department on any decision. The Executive Branch is the ultimate say in most government enforcement and aide affairs.
3. **Election/Nomination:** The Executive Branch elects its own members via two-thirds vote in favor. They also nominate judges and justices (heads of the Judicial Branch) and many agency directors. This is so that they can put experts in important positions.
4. **Power of the Purse:** The Executive Branch has the power to spend the money of the government on things they deem necessary. There is some limit on this as occasionally the Administrative Branch has to approve when it comes to various laws and regulations.
5. **State of the Union:** Each trimester the Major Executive gives the State of the Union, an address to the entire Triumvirate about plans in the future and updates on what has been going on and what will happen in the next trimester.
6. **Pardoning:** The Executive Branch has the power to pardon criminals of punishment.
7. **Impeachment:** The Executive Branch may remove members from office such as their own Executives, judges/justices, and department and agency members. This allows the Triumvirate to get rid of the old and impractical leaders and instate new and effective ones.
8. **Commander in Chief:** Last and possibly most importantly, the Executive Branch is in command of the defense forces of the Triumvirate. Mostly through the Department of Intelligence and the office of the Major Executive the Executive Branch defends and protects the Triumvirate and its members.

You can think of the Executive Branch as kind of like the United States Congress and President combined.

**You have finished the guide on understanding the Executive Branch of the government! Move on to guide #4: Guide:How the Government Works, Part 2. Administrative Branch next to learn more about the Triumvirate**