What Is the Difference between a Governance Proposal and an Executive Action in a DAO?

A governance proposal is a formal request for change, typically a vote on a concept, parameter change, or fund allocation. If passed, it usually leads to an executive action.

An executive action is the direct, on-chain execution of the code change or transaction mandated by the successful proposal. The proposal is the 'what' (the decision), and the executive action is the 'how' (the implementation).