The Westminister System

Westminster chain of accountability

parliament checks the executive’s performance and balances its power. this is critical for separation of powers and the chain of accountability is central to the Westminster system of accountability.

explain the west minister chain of accountability

shown in figure 2.7

ministerial responsibility

parliament holds individual ministers (held accountable for portfolio and personal and political conduct/ probity and propriety- the parliament may vote to censure) and the whole government through collective ministerial responsibility that holds government accountable to parliament. HOR can withdraw confidence through a no confidence motion, forcing the government to resign. the upper house has no role. question time, senate estimates

checking finances

executive introduces appropriation s bills into the HOR, and they must be passed through both houses and have royal assent. Parliament monitors by scrutinizing these bills as they go through the legal process.

parliamentary committees

they are powerful and often in the senate. they can inquire into executive schemes and policies, can compel public service witnesses and ministers to answer questions and provide documents. for example, Morrison government robodebt scheme was investigated in parliament leading to court ruling and a major judicial inquiry into the failings of executive policy.

censure

a parliamentary process- a censured minister is expected to resign

portfolio

area of executive responsibility eg. treasury, defense, education

probity

high standard of moral, honest, integrous behavior

propriety

way a person conducts themselves as to a socially accepted behavior