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.

André Binette and Rob Nicholson on Motard & Taillon’s Legal Challenge to the Succession Law

Posted on 2013/06/11 by J.W.J. Bowden

CTV News André Binette, the lawyer representing Professors Motard and Taillon, appeared on CTV News on 11 June 2013 to discuss their application challenging the constitutionality of Canada’s succession law. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/royal-succession-laws-challenged-in-bid-to-renew-constitutional-debate-1.1320560 Binette pointed out that this case will ultimately rest … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporation Sole, Crown (Powers and Office), Succession (Sovereign) | 9 Comments

Who Made This Statement About Government Formation in Minority Parliaments?

Posted on 2013/06/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

“Whichever party gets the most votes and the most seats, if not an absolute majority, has the first right to seek to govern, either on its own or by reaching out to other parties.” I hope that the Canadian media … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Crown (Powers and Office), Formation of Governments | 3 Comments

Professors of Law Motard & Taillon Challenge Canada’s Succession Law

Posted on 2013/06/07 by J.W.J. Bowden

Patrick Taillon and Genevieve Motard, Professors of Law at Laval University, have filed a motion to institute proceedings of declaratory judgement in the Quebec Superior Court against the succession law that Parliament hastily rushed through in March 2013. Taillon and … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporation Sole, Crown (Powers and Office), Succession (Sovereign) | 11 Comments

My Presentation on Fixed-Elections Laws at the Canadian Political Science Association

Posted on 2013/06/05 by J.W.J. Bowden

I am enjoying my stay in Victoria this week for the Canadian Political Science Association’s Annual Conference, though visiting British Columbia reminds me of how living in Alaska felt: like you’re permanently late and behind schedule, because everything important in … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Conventions, Fixed-Date Elections, Officialization of Convention, Reform | 6 Comments

The Confidence Convention in Ontario: How the Standing Orders Kept the Wynne Government in Power

Posted on 2013/05/23 by J.W.J. Bowden

I’d like to thank James Anderson for publishing a slightly abridged version of this column on National News Watch. Introduction Proponents of democratic reform in Canada focus their efforts at the federal level and have overlooked Canada’s most populous province. … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Reform | 6 Comments