Although closely linked and inseparable, the two are distinct in the nature of their work, functions and tenure of office, (i) The basic distinction is regarding policy and law. The executive performs political function of formulating law, while the administrators perform ‘administrative’ function of enforcing it. The executive lays down the policy of the government, the permanent public service carry it out in the day-to-day administration of the country.
The executive sees that the laws are properly enforced, but their actual enforcement in daily administration is the primary duty of the public services, (ii) Another distinction is that the executive consists mostly of the representatives, elected, for a certain period of time to their offices, by the people, while the public servants are permanent officials, appointed to their posts under civil service rules of recruitment, promotion and retirement, (iii) The executive is responsible to the legislature, or the people, but the administrative officials are responsible to the heads of their departments, (iv) While the executive heads or ministers are politicians, the administrative officers do not participate in politics.
They keep themselves aloof from politics and serve any political party in power. In spite of these differences, however, the importance and influence of the administration have increased in the modern State so much that it exercises several legislative, judicial and even policy-determining powers. Hence it is now lometimes called the “fourth branch of the government.”