The Structure of Government
A modern government is like a machine with three distinct parts, or “organs,” that work together to ensuring society functions smoothly. In India, these three organs are the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary.
1. The Legislature (Law-Makers)
The legislature is the organ responsible for making new laws (legislating). It is an assembly of elected representatives.
- Function: Make, update, or remove laws.
- Example: Passing a new law to fight cybercrime.
2. The Executive (Law-Implementers)
The executive is the organ that implements (executes) the laws.
- Composition: Includes the Head of State (President), the Head of Government (Prime Minister/Chief Minister), ministers, and agencies like the police.
- Function: Enforce laws and maintain order.
- Example: The Cyber Police tracking down criminals based on the laws passed by the legislature.
3. The Judiciary (Law-Interpreters)
The judiciary is the system of courts.
- Function: Decides if a law has been broken and determines punishments. It also checks if the Executive’s actions are correct and if the Legislature’s laws are fair.
- Example: A court sentencing a cybercriminal to jail or a fine.
Tip
Separation of Powers: In a good governance system, these three organs are kept separate to provide a system of checks and balances. This prevents any single group from having too much power.
Diagram: Separation of Powers
The following diagram illustrates how the three organs interact and balance each other within the framework of governance.
Comparative Functions Table
The specific roles differ slightly between the National (All India) level and the State level.
| Feature | National Level (Central Govt) | State Level (State Govt) |
|---|---|---|
| Legislature | Parliament: Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha | State Assembly: Vidhan Sabha (some states also have Vidhan Parishad) |
| Executive | Nominal Head: President / Real Head: Prime Minister | Nominal Head: Governor / Real Head: Chief Minister |
| Judiciary | Supreme Court of India | High Courts |
Note
Nominal Head: This means “in name only.” For example, the President of India has high status but the Prime Minister holds the actual executive power.