Executive Branch of Kerala Government

State Executive consists of Governor, Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and Advocate General. Articles 153 to 167 of Part IV deal with the State Executive Branch. State Executive is divided into two as Political Executives and Permanent Executives. The non-official branch that heads the executive branch is called the Political Executive Branch. The Political Executives are elected through elections. The Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers are Political Executives. The officials who assist the Political Executives are called the Permanent Executives. They remain in office until they reach the age of retirement. The Permanent Executives is selected through competitive examinations. The employees of permanent executive range from the last grade employee to the highest serving IAS and IPS.

Governor

The Governor is the constitutional head of the state. Articles 153 to 162 of the Constitution of India deal with the Governor. The Governor has powers and duties similar to those of the President at the central level. The official residence of the Governor of Kerala is the Raj Bhavan. Raj Bhavan is located in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. 

Chief Minister

The chief minister is the real executive and is the head of the government of a state. The position of the chief minister at the state level is analogous to the position of the prime minister at the centre. He can any time recommend the governor for the dissolution of the state legislative assembly. He announces the government policies on legislative assembly. The office of Chief Minister and Council of ministers are located at Secretariat.

Council of Ministers

There shall be a council of ministers with the chief minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions. The state council of ministers formulates the policies for state administration. Kerala Council of Ministers, are elected legislative members, who are appointed as ministers by the Kerala Governor to form the executive branch of the state government. Each Secretariat department is headed by a Minister from Council of Ministers. On the Chief Minister's recommendation, the Governor divides up the government's business among the ministers. The rules established by the Governor in the exercise of the authority granted by Article 166 of the Indian Constitution and the directives issued thereunder regulate economic transactions. The "Rules of business of the Government of Kerala" and "The Kerala Government Secretariat Instructions" are the names of these regulations and guidelines.

Advocate General

The Advocate General is the first law officer of a State. His office and functions are comparable to that of the Attorney General of India. He is appointed by the Governor and holds the office during his pleasure. His remunerations are also determined by the Governor. To be appointed to the office of the Advocate General, he/she must be qualified to be a Judge of the High Court. He has the right to attend and speak in the proceedings of either houses of the state legislature without any right to vote. He has the right of audience in any court in the state. He enjoys all the privileges and immunities that are available to a member of the state legislature.