Category Archives: Comparative

The State of the Union Address and Loyal Opposition in the United States

Posted on 2012/01/30 by J.W.J. Bowden

The State of the Union Is The Equivalent of the Sovereign’s State Opening of Parliament “[The President of the United States] shall from time to time give the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their … Continue reading →

Posted in Loyal Opposition, Parliamentarism v Presidentialism, Separation of Powers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Right-Wing Monarchists and Left-Wing Republicans: The Inevitable Partisan Politicization of the Crown in Canada?

Posted on 2011/12/30 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction Constitutional monarchies benefit from the separation between the Head of State and Head of Government: under responsible government, (what Paul Benoit considers “the doctrine of royal infallibility”[1]) Ministers of the Crown are responsible for acts of the Crown and … Continue reading →

Posted in Monarchism v Republicanism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Adoption of the Maple Leaf May Have Saved Constitutional Monarchy

Posted on 2011/12/28 by J.W.J. Bowden

After the acrimonious Great Flag Debate, the Parliament of Canada adopted the current Canadian flag, the Maple Leaf, and first flew it on 15 February 1965. The Maple Leaf replaced the Canadian Red Ensign as our unofficial national flag and … Continue reading →

Posted in Monarchism v Republicanism | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Constitutional Crisis in Papua New Guinea: Codification Causes Confusion

Posted on 2011/12/21 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction I have published this account somewhat belatedly; however, regardless of the current state of the constitutional crisis in Papua New Guinea, it brings some fundamental underlying principles of Westminster parliamentarism to light and provides an excellent case study in … Continue reading →

Posted in Appointment of PM, Codification of Convention, Constructive Non-Confidence, Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Fixed-Date Elections, Officialization of Convention, Prime Minister's Powers, Reform | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Restoration of the Personal Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England

Posted on 2011/11/14 by J.W.J. Bowden

Alex Salmond, the current First Minister of Scotland, and his Scottish National Party won a parliamentary majority earlier this year – a significant first for the new Scottish Parliament and its mixed member proportional electoral system. The Scottish National Party … Continue reading →

Posted in Appointment of PM, Constructive Non-Confidence, Dissolution, Fixed-Date Elections, The Personal Union | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments