Category Archives: Crown (Powers and Office)

The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act’s Complexities Could Save Prime Minister May

Posted on 2018/07/09 by J.W.J. Bowden

Two of the most prominent cabinet ministers, and those most heavily implicated in Brexit negotiations, have resigned from Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet, and her ministry could fall. However, the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act complicates matters and could even offer the beleaguered … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Fixed-Date Elections, Reform | 12 Comments

Premier Gallant and the Early Dissolution That Wasn’t

Posted on 2017/10/28 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction  On Friday, 20 October 2017, CBC journalist Jacques Poitras reported on a strange, ambiguous press release  from the Liberal Premier of New Brunswick, Brian Gallant, and speculated what it might mean. The original press release said that the Premier … Continue reading →

Posted in Dissolution, Fixed-Date Elections | 2 Comments

Clark’s Resignation, Horgan’s Appointment, and Responsible Government In British Columbia

Posted on 2017/06/30 by J.W.J. Bowden

The Vote in the Legislative Assembly At around 5:30 Pacific Daylight Time on 29 June 2017, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia carried New Democratic Party leader John Horgan’s motion of non-confidence and thereby defeated the Clark Ministry, by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Dissolution, Formation of Governments | 4 Comments

Some Discretion: On Dissolution and the Lieutenant Governor

Posted on 2017/06/29 by J.W.J. Bowden

  Here are the general principles at play in dissolving legislatures and appointing premiers if Premier Clark’s ministry loses the confidence of the legislative assembly today.

Posted in Appointment of PM, Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Formation of Governments, Lieutenant Governors | 1 Comment

What The Conservative-DUP Agreement Says about Votes of Confidence Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act

Posted on 2017/06/26 by J.W.J. Bowden

The Conservative and Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party have finally hammered out a supply agreement that would give May’s minority government a parliamentary majority. You can read it here: Confidence and Supply Agreement between the Conservative Party and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence Convention, Fixed-Date Elections, Formation of Governments | 2 Comments