Government Structcture Flashcards
Understand the structure of the zambia government (16 cards)
What are the three arms of government?
The legislature, judiciary and executive.
What does the separation of powers entail?
The separation of powers entails the separation of the three arms of government; legislature, judiciary and executive.
What is the executive?
The Executive is the branch of government that is responsible for the daily administration of enforcing the laws, formulating and implementing policies in the country.
What is the composition of the executive?
The Executive branch is headed by the Republican President, and includes the Cabinet, Government line ministries and public service departments.
What are the functions of the executive?
Some of the functions of the Executive
Enforce the law that is made by parliament through the various law enforcement agencies such as the Zambia Police (ZP), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) among others.
Formulate and implement government policies and programmes through various line ministries and other spending agencies such as: Youth Empowerment Policy under the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Child development, Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry etc.
Provide services such as health, education, state security etc.
Carry out delegated legislative functions such as issuing of Statutory Instruments.
What is the legislature?
The Legislative arm of government is responsible for making laws, repeals, amends and providing other oversight roles such as scrutinising government programmes and approving government financial estimates (budget).
What is the composition of the legislature?
.The legislative power of the Republic of Zambia is held by the National Assembly which consists of 156 directly elected members and not more than eight (8) members nominated by the President. It is headed by the speaker.
What are the functions of the legislature?
Some of the functions of the Legislature
Make laws.
Scrutinise government policies and programmes
Scrutinise government expenditure plans by making inputs into the national budget, to approve and monitor the national budget.
Looking closely at the actions of the executive and checking its powers so that the government is responsible and accountable. It does this through:
Ratify appointments made by the President of certain constitutional office holders, for example, the Chief Justice, the Chairperson and Members of the Electoral Commission etching
Reviewing the performance of governmnet ministries and departments
Checking on how government resources are used. By doing this it makes sure to prevent poor administration of public resources for all citizens to benefit.
Questions put to ministers by members of the National Assembly (Members of Parliament-MPs)
Motions submitted by back benchers which give members an opportunity to debate government policy on matters of public concern.
The National Assembly has the power to impeach the President and the Vice – President for violating the Constitution or for gross misconduct.true or false?
True
What is the judiciary?
The Judiciary is the arm of government that is responsible for interpreting the laws made by the legislature. It has the power to adjudicate over legal matters and decide on legal disputes through courts.
What is the composition of the judiciary?
The Judiciary is created by the Constitution and is headed by the Chief Justice.
What are the functions of the judiciary?
Some of the functions of the Judiciary
Interpreting the laws of Zambia
Adjudicating over legal matters
Deciding on legal disputes
Discuss the principle of separation of power?
The principle of separation of powers means that there should be no overlap in the powers and functions of the different arms of government. It sets limits on the work of the Judiciary, the Legislature and the Executive. It provides checks and balances that prevent abuse of power by any of the three arms of government.
No arm of government should interfere with the functions and work of any of the other arms.
No arm of government should be more powerful than the others.
Who appoints the chief justice?
The president
What is the parliament?
A formal conference For the discussion of national affairs.
Or an assembly of representatives of a country.
What is the cabinet?
Research
