framkvæmdavaldinu

Framkvæmdavaldið is the branch of government responsible for implementing laws and running the state’s daily administration. It is distinct from the legislative power that makes laws and the judiciary that interprets them. The structure of executive power varies by constitutional design: in parliamentary systems the government, led by a prime minister and ministers, must maintain the confidence of the legislature and can be removed by a vote of no confidence; in presidential systems the president is typically both head of state and head of government, with the legislature separate from the executive; in semi-presidential systems authority is shared.

Key functions include policy formulation, execution of laws, administration of public services, and management of foreign affairs and defense. The executive proposes budgets, issues regulations, and oversees state agencies. It is constrained by the constitution, statutory limits, and oversight mechanisms such as legislative scrutiny, budgetary control, and, in some jurisdictions, constitutional courts.

In Iceland, framkvæmdavaldið is exercised by the government—the Prime Minister and the Cabinet—responsible for day-to-day governance and law enforcement. The President is head of state with largely ceremonial duties. The Government must enjoy the confidence of Alþingi, and can be replaced by a new administration through political processes. The President performs formal duties such as signing laws and appointing the Prime Minister, while everyday governance is carried out by the elected government.