Author Archives: J.W.J. Bowden

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About J.W.J. Bowden

My area of academic expertise lies in Canadian political institutions, especially the Crown, political executive, and conventions of Responsible Government; since 2011, I have made a valuable contribution to the scholarship by having been published and cited extensively. I’m also a contributing editor to the Dorchester Review and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law.

Some Thoughts on Censorship

Posted on 2017/01/20 by J.W.J. Bowden

Two years ago, I posted a photo of a coffee mug that bore a text with whose premise I disagree. I found it humourous, but I disagreed with it. I suppose that an activist type might claim to have been … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | 3 Comments

Toronto’s City Hall Perfectly Represents Toronto Itself

Posted on 2017/01/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

A few years ago, I took the train from Ottawa to Toronto. For whatever reason, I became transfixed at this portrait of Toronto’s city hall mounted to the front of the passenger car. I started at it for a minute … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour | 4 Comments

Collective Ministerial Responsibility and Censure in Australia

Posted on 2017/01/09 by J.W.J. Bowden

One of my Australian readers commented on the previous post and linked to House of Representatives Practice, the Australian equivalent of O’Brien and Bosc’s tome, and its commentary on the censure of an individual minister. Prime Minister and other Ministers From time … Continue reading →

Posted in Censure or Impeachment of Ministers, Individual vs Collective Ministerial Responsibility, Parliamentary Privilege, Responsible Government | 3 Comments

On Collective Ministerial Responsibility and Impeachment

Posted on 2017/01/04 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction: Ian Brodie’s Article in The Dorchester Review Ian Brodie, one of Stephen Harper’s former chiefs of staff who served him both as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and as Prime Minister, contributed an interesting article to the most recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles and Books, Censure or Impeachment of Ministers, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Dorchester Review, History of British North America, Individual vs Collective Ministerial Responsibility, Parliament, Parliamentary Privilege, Responsible Government, Reviews, Separation of Powers | 6 Comments

1841 or 1848: When Did Responsible Government Begin?

Posted on 2017/01/03 by J.W.J. Bowden

The latest issue of The Dorchester Review contains my first little foray into this question of when Responsible Government began;  I hope to expand this initial contribution into a larger project. For now, you can read my initial findings here. The idea came … Continue reading →

Posted in Dorchester Review, History of British North America, Individual vs Collective Ministerial Responsibility, Origins, Responsible Government | 4 Comments