(a) There are two categories of the executive as follows:
(i) Political executive: They are elected by the people e.g., political leaders (ministers). They take decisions in the policy matters.
(ii) Permanent executive or Civil Services : They are appointed on a long-term basis. Persons working in civil services are called civil servants. They work under political executive and assist them in carrying out the day-to-day administration. They remain in office even when the ruling party changes.
(b) In a democracy the political executive is powerful than the non-political or permanent executive because in a democracy., the will of the people is supreme. The minister is elected by the people and thus empowered to exercise the will of the people on their behalf. Ministers are finally answerable to the people for all the consequences for their decisions. That is why the ministers take the final decisions and are more powerful than the civil servants who give them
expert advice on ail technical matters. The civil servants wo the options about any policy before a minister who takes final decision in the matter keeping in view the welfare of the people.

The Election Commission has wide-ranging powers as mentioned below :
(i) EC takes decisions on every aspect of conduct and control of elections.
(ii) It implements the Code of Conduct and punishes any candidate or party that violates it.
(iii) During the election period, the EC can order the government to follow some
Guideline’s, to prevent use and misuse of governmental power to enhance its chances to win elections, or to transfer some government officials’
(iv) When on election duty, government officers work under the control of the EC and not the government.