quiz 1: the executive branch

executive branch comprised of

king, Governor General, kings privy council

constitutional power of the executive

propose legislation and administer resources

• legislature passes these statutes

where does sovereignty come from

the crown, not the people like the usa or parliament as we may think

prerogative powers

powers not previously seized by parliament

prime ministers

1. policymaking

2. parliamentary leader / head of govt

3. party leader

4. patronage

5. public face

whos conducting the policymaking

• cabinet maker and cabinet chair and advisor to the governor general

what does policymaking include for the prime minister

organize government (number of departments, number of cabinet positions, appoint cabinet positions with no oversight)

in policymaking, appointments are made to

Governor General but prime minister chooses

parliamentary leaders

• ‘fusion of powers’

  • fusion of executive and legislative powers

• sit in House of Commons, determine when and what bills get introduced

parliamentary leaders have control

control over legislative process

patronage

political appointments and direct government resources to projects and initiatives

the merits myth

The merit myth is the belief that success is based solely on individual ability and effort, which obscures how social inequalities shape opportunities and outcomes.

factors determining cabinet appointments

• territorial

• electoral

• intraparty

• education

• previous experience

• social characteristics

territorial: interstate federalism

• conventional wisdom: cabinet is a federal committee of provincial partisan kingpins

• better odds of being appointed when the party has fewer seats in your region

electoral district factors

• higher margin of victory in the district

• urbanness - city MPs have access to regional media

intraparty politics

contestants in a previous leadership contests are more likely appointed to cabinet

first appointed woman to federal cabinet

ellen fairlcough in 1957

first black person appointed

lincoln alexander 1979

first racialized woman

hedy fry 1997

cabinet principles responsibility to

• the monarch

• each other (solidarity and secrecy)

• House of Commons

who is cabinet formally appointed by

monarch representative; Governor General

the monarch/governor appoints

the prime minister and ministers. the monarch acts on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet

cabinet solidarity

all ministers must publicly support cabinet decisions even if they privately disagreed

• if a minister cant support a cabinet decision they should resign

cabinet secrecy

discussions inside cabinet that are confidential

• important bc it allows ministers to debate freely

cabinet is responsible to

House of Commons; the government must maintain confidence of tha majority of MPs

minister

acts as the head of their department setting policy direction and priorities

• A minister must answer for mistakes or misconduct in their department, even if they didn’t personally do it.

ministers are accountable to

parliament for their actions

Who handles administration in a department, and who handles political leadership?

senior civil servants (like deputy ministers) handle administration; the minister provides political leadership.

Where does a minister represent their department?

In Cabinet, in Parliament, and to the public/media.

delegated legislation

laws or rules made by ministers or executive under authority

collective ministerial responsibility

all cabinet ministers must publicly support cabinet decisions

hat is the central argument of the court government thesis in Canada

Effective power has shifted away from Cabinet and is concentrated around the Prime Minister and close advisors at the centre of government

What did public debate in Canada focus on since the 1960s instead of internal government machinery?

Formal constitutional changes rather than how power actually operates inside government.

Under which Prime Minister did court government take root in Ottawa?

pierre trudeau

What are the two key institutions at the “centre of government”

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Privy Council Office (PCO)

disadvantage of court government

weakens cabinet government

mass media

a file that receives media attention becomes political → prime minister and close advisors will want to oversee its development

how did court government produced

when governing power in Canada has shifted away from Cabinet toward the prime minister and central agencies

court government— a system where decision-making is concentrated in a small circle around the prime minister rather than exercised collectively by Cabinet.

formal mission of the privy council office

to support the prime minister and cabinet by acting as a gatekeeper; reshaping or blocks departmental proposals before they reach cabinet

why is the pco not considered neutral

its influence reflects the priorities of the prime minister not independent coordination

savoies central claim

canadian prime ministers control every meaningful lever of executive power. no other political actor comes closer. the pm is not just first among equals, it is in a different league entirely

• not cabinet but by prime minister and his advisors and agencies

Savoie claims transition planning is run by

• Transition planning is run by PCO, not Cabinet

• The only actor with authority is the prime minister-designate

savoie believes policy decisions

are made before cabinet meets

mandate letters

Define ministerial priorities before collective discussion

• Signal whether a minister is expected to:

  • Maintain the status quo (“don’t rock the boat”), or

  • Drive specific policy initiatives

mandate letters come from

the prime minister, not cabinet

westminster model of parliament

• responsible

• constitutional monarchy

• bicameral legislature

• custom and convention

• executive dominance

in a responsible government, executive is accountable to

the legislature

responsible government involves the

confidence rule:

The Prime Minister and Cabinet must maintain the confidence of the elected House of Commons. They can’t govern if the majority of representatives don’t support them.

1. if government loses a confidence vote, it must either:

   1. resign

   2. ask Governor General to call an election

in responsible government, there is a

Fusion of powers

Unlike the U.S. system, the executive (PM + Cabinet) comes from the legislature. Ministers are almost always Members of Parliament.

constitutional monarchy

the monarch rules but some powers/almost all have been delegated to some other portion of the constitution

bicameral legislature

2 houses in parliament:

1. house of commons

2. senate

custom and convention

• rules we follow almost all the time but dont have status of law

• prime minister isnt mentioned in constitution. this and the entire party system was adopted from the UK

• plays significant role in crown of the executive

executive dominance

the government is part of both legislative and executive branch. if they hold majority government they can do almost anything

the crown

repository of all executive powers of the state and supreme authority for government

constitution act 1867

• Created Canada (Confederation)

Brought together Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in 1867.

• Set up the structure of government

constitution act 1867 structure of government

– Parliament (House of Commons + Senate + Crown)

– The Prime Minister & Cabinet (executive)

– The courts (judicial system)

• federalism

letters patent

Issued by the King in 1947, it delegates most of the monarch’s powers in Canada to the Governor General

• the GG can:

  – Appoint the Prime Minister

  – Summon, prorogue, and dissolve Parliament

  – Give Royal Assent to laws

  – Act as Commander-in-Chief (ceremonially)

letters patent concerns

Governor General

royal prerogative

• powers that have not been granted to the political executive

• some are unwritten based on custom and convention

royal prerogative is vulnerable to

• parliamentary restriction (power to negotiate treaties, power to declare war, power to appoint ambassadors)

head of state

the crown

• part of peoples trust

• political functions

• the peoples trust

• legal functions and residual powers

Governor General and functions

represent the crown / head of state. not head of state

• appoints senators, federal judges, summon parliament and dissolve it through election

  • prime minister does these things but acts on the advice of governor generals

• dissolve government / prorogation

• non partisan

• advisory function

• prevent abuse of power

  • personal discretion

prorogation

parliament ends without going to an election

court government

A shift toward centralized power around the Prime Minister, where key decisions are made by the PM and close advisors rather than full Cabinet.

How has Cabinet’s role changed under court government?

Cabinet is less a forum for real debate and more a body that approves decisions already shaped elsewhere.

What does “less Cabinet consultation” mean?

Ministers have less influence on shaping policy and are expected to support decisions rather than collectively develop them.

central agencies

Key coordinating bodies like the Privy Council Office (PCO), Treasury Board Secretariat, and Department of Finance

What role does the Privy Council Office (PCO) play?

It supports the PM and Cabinet, coordinates policy, and helps shape what issues and options reach decision-makers

How does the Treasury Board Secretariat influence policy?

It controls spending approvals and management rules, giving it major influence over which policies are feasible.

Why is the Department of Finance powerful?

It shapes budget priorities and economic policy, affecting what the government can afford to do.