Executive Yuan

The Executive Yuan is the executive branch of the government of the Republic of China, known commonly as Taiwan, which formerly ruled mainland China until 1949. It helps run the country by making and enforcing laws and managing daily operations.

The Executive Yuan was founded in 1928. Under the amended constitution, the head of the Executive Yuan is the Premier, who serves as the head of government. The Premier can choose members to join the cabinet to help with different areas of government work.

Meanwhile, the ROC President serves as the head of state under the semi-presidential system. The President can choose the Premier and suggest members for the cabinet. If the Legislative Yuan, which makes laws, votes to remove the Premier, the President has choices: they can either remove the Premier or call for new elections for the Legislative Yuan members.

Organization and structure

The Executive Yuan is led by the Premier. It also includes a Vice Premier, fourteen cabinet ministers, leaders of various groups, and several additional ministers. The President of the Republic of China chooses the Vice Premier, ministers, and leaders based on the Premier's suggestions.

The Executive Yuan was created as part of the government's five main branches. This idea came from the Three Principles of the People by Sun Yat-sen. Over time, its rules have been changed to fit the needs of the government under the Constitution of the Republic of China.

Members

The Executive Yuan has many important people who help run the government. The leader of the Executive Yuan is called the Premier. The Premier is chosen by the President and can pick other leaders to help them.

There are different groups and offices that work under the Executive Yuan. Some of these groups have their own leaders who stay the same, even if the Premier changes.

Independent Organs

Other roles

Organizations no longer under Executive Yuan

Some groups that used to work with the Executive Yuan are no longer part of it. These changes happened over several years.

Here are some of the groups that are no longer under the Executive Yuan:

• Consumer Protection Commission became the Consumer Protection Committee on January 1, 2012
• Aviation Safety Council became its own agency on May 20, 2012, and was later renamed the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board
• National Disaster Prevention and Protection Commission changed to the Office of Disaster Management on February 1, 2010
• National Youth Commission moved to the Ministry of Education as the Youth Development Administration on January 1, 2013
• Sports Affairs Council moved to the Ministry of Education as the Sports Administration on January 1, 2013
• Coast Guard Administration moved to the Ocean Affairs Council on April 28, 2018
• Atomic Energy Council became the Nuclear Safety Commission on September 27, 2023

Some groups stopped working completely:

• Government Information Office ended on May 20, 2012
• Council for Economic Planning and Development ended on January 21, 2014
• Research, Development and Evaluation Commission ended on January 21, 2014
• Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission ended on September 15, 2017

Executive Yuan Council

The Executive Yuan Council, often called "The Cabinet," is the main group that makes big decisions for the government of Taiwan. It includes the premier, who leads the meetings, a vice premier, ministers, and leaders of special commissions. Other important people can join the meetings but do not get to vote.

The Constitution allows this council to review important laws and budgets about serious topics like martial law, amnesty, war, peace, and treaties before they are sent to the Legislative Yuan for final approval.

Relationship with the Legislative Yuan

The Executive Yuan Council shares important duties with the Legislative Yuan. Every year, the Executive Yuan must give the Legislators a policy statement and an administrative report. The Legislative Committee can also call members of the Executive Yuan to answer questions.

If there is a disagreement between the two groups, the Legislative Committee can pass a resolution asking the Executive Yuan to change a policy proposal. The Executive Yuan can ask the Legislators to think about it again. If the Legislative Council still supports the original resolution, the premier must follow it or leave the position. The Executive Yuan can also offer a different budget plan if the one approved by the Legislative Committee seems hard to carry out.

Executive Yuan Building

The Executive Yuan Building was built in 1940 as the new city hall for Taipei. After Taiwan was handed over to the Republic of China in 1945, the city hall moved to another location, and this building became home to the provincial government. In 1957, it became the Executive Yuan building.

Today, the Executive Yuan building is open to visitors. You can reach it on foot from Taipei Main Station or Shandao Temple Station on the Taipei Metro.