Theme 10

Question 1

Branches of authority

Answer 1

1. Executive (cabinet)
2. Legislature (parliament)
3. Judiciary (courts of law)

Question 2

Bodies who exercise executive authority

Answer 2

1. President
2. Ministers
3. Cabinet
4. Public servants

Question 3

National executive

Answer 3

Branch that is responsible for exercising day to day governmental authority.

Question 4

National executive authority

Answer 4

The power to execute rules of law at National level throughout the whole territory of the state. Based on a system of parliamentary government.

Question 5

Presidents duties

Answer 5

• Section 83 - Head of state & head of national executive body
• Must uphold, defend and respect Constitution as supreme law.
• Promote unity of the nation.

Question 6

Election of president

Answer 6

• Section 86 read with schedule 3 - Monarchial system means head of state is determined through inheritance or descent.
• Indirectly elected by voters who directly voted for members of NA.
• Members of NA vote for president who must vacate seat in NA.

Question 7

What happens if there’s no outright majority ?

Answer 7

The parties will enter into negotiations in order to form a government of more than one party.

Question 8

Coalition government

Answer 8

Form of government in which political parties cooperate to form a government.

Question 9

Eligibility of presidency

Answer 9

• Elected amongst learners of NA
• Qualifications for NA membership are in section 47

Question 10

Term of office of the SA president

Answer 10

Section 88 - 5 years under normal circumstances.

Question 11

Aim of motion of no confidence

Answer 11

Stripping the president or other members of cabinet from their executive positions when they no longer have political support of legislature.

Question 12

What can the removal procedure and motion of no confidence be described as ?

Answer 12

Removal - quasi judicial
Motion - political

Question 13

Powers of the president

Answer 13

Section 84(2), powers as head of state and head of national executive must be distinguished.

Question 14

Powers as head of national executive

Answer 14

• Explicit power to appoint and implicit power to dismiss
• Act with advice of cabinet
• Section 174 - appoint judges on advice of Judicial Service Commission

Question 15

What are Acts of state ?

Answer 15

Executive actions primarily concerned with foreign relations like recognition or acquisition of foreign states.

Question 16

Which provisions deal with acting president ?

Answer 16

Section 90

Question 17

What are the functions of cabinet ?

Answer 17

Section 85 - Implementing national legislation
• Developing and implementing national policy
• Coordinating state departments
• Preparing and initiating legislation

Question 18

What is cabinet reshuffling ?

Answer 18

When a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet.

Question 19

Code of ethics and code of conduct of cabinet members and deputy ministers

Answer 19

Section 96

Question 20

What is state capture ?

Answer 20

A type of systemic political corruption on which private interests significantly influence a states decision making processes to their own advantage.