In terms of the
constitution, the executive authority of a province is vested in the premier. The premier appoints an
Executive Council made up of ten members of the provincial legislature; they are known as
Members of the Executive Council (MECs). The MECs are effectively
ministers and the Executive Council a
cabinet at the provincial level. The premier has the warrant to appoint and dismiss MECs at his/her own discretion. The premier and the Executive Council are responsible for implementing provincial legislation, along with any national legislation assigned to the province. They set provincial policy and manage the departments of the provincial government; their actions are subject to the national constitution. In order for an act of the provincial legislature to become law, the premier must sign it. If he/she believes that the act is unconstitutional, it can be referred back to the legislature for reconsideration. If the premier and the legislature cannot agree, the act must be referred to the
Constitutional Court for a final decision. The premier is also
ex officio a member of the
National Council of Provinces, the upper house of
Parliament, as one of the special delegates from the province. ==List==