Understanding Public Sector Organizations and Executive Functions
Public Sector Organizations: An Overview
Public sector organizations encompass the state’s institutions, representing the different powers and government authorities of the executive branch.
Integration of the Public Sector
The integration of the public sector consists of national institutions directed by the central government. These institutions are located at the territorial or regional level, within provinces or municipalities, such as State Departments.
The Executive Branch
The executive branch is led nationally by the head of State (President or Prime Minister), who is responsible for all policies, both positive and negative, within the nation.
The Legislature
The legislature is constituted in the national parliament, including the Senate (or upper House of Lords in Britain) and, in many countries, the lower house (Commons in Britain). Its mission is to study and propose legislation. In Guatemala, this is the Congress.
The Judiciary
The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and all courts within the country. Its mission is to ensure compliance with all rules and to penalize failures to comply, holding accountable all people and natural or legal persons. The Guatemala Supreme Court is the highest judicial body.
Characteristics of Civil Servants
One of the characteristics of civil servants is that they are remunerated through contributions, taxes, or other levies, and they perform tasks specifically assigned to them.
Executive Agency Law
Article 1: Scope of the Law
This law develops the constitutional framework regarding the organization, powers, and functioning of the executive branch.
Article 2: Jurisdiction of the Executive
Within the framework of constitutional and statutory agencies, the executive body is responsible for exercising administrative functions in formulating and implementing government policies. These policies must be coordinated with entities that are part of the decentralized administration.
Article 3: Delegation
The functions of administrative implementation and monitoring of public services can be delegated to committees, associations, and organizations.
Ministries
Article 6: 19 Ministries
The 19 ministries include:
- Agriculture and Livestock and Food (MAGA)
- Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing
- Culture and Sports
- Economics
- Education
- Energy and Mining
- Public Finance
- Governance
- National Defense
- Foreign Affairs
- Public Health and Welfare
- Work and Social Welfare
- Environment and Natural Resources
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA)
Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA) addresses issues concerning the legal regime governing agricultural and livestock production and hydro-biological resources. It aims to improve the population’s food security, agricultural health, and national productive development. MAGA formulates agricultural development policy, proposes and monitors the implementation of clear rules on agriculture, livestock, and plant and animal health. It also defines the overall ministry of environment and natural resources of land policy and national land use and promote the realization of decentralized policy implementation, policy formulation agricultural public services, in coordination with our education formulate environmentally compatible agricultural education policy to promote community participation, develop mechanisms and procedures that contribute to food security of the population.