Category Archives: Responsible Government

Alexander Hamilton Recommended Responsible Government in 1788

Posted on 2012/11/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

Alexander Hamilton’s “executive packet” of The Federalist Papers (67-77) provides learned historical and comparative analyses of the Constitution of 1787 relative to the British system and to the systems of government in the several American states. Hamilton’s strong grasp of … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence Convention, History of British North America, Origins, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“In Vogue to Prorogue?” CBC’s At-Issue Panel on Prorogation

Posted on 2012/10/20 by J.W.J. Bowden

On 18 October 2012, Peter Mansbridge, Andrew Coyne, Chantal Hebert, and Bruce Anderson discussed McGuinty’s prorogation on CBC’s At-Issue Panel, from about 7 minutes to 10 minutes in the video. The panellists also discussed the Harper government’s second omnibus budget … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers, Prorogation, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

McGuinty Has Every Right to Prorogue

Posted on 2012/10/17 by J.W.J. Bowden

Column in the Ottawa Citizen In our ongoing scholarship on the prerogative power of prorogation, Nick MacDonald and I submitted a column to the Ottawa Citizen defending the constitutionality and political legitimacy of McGuinty’s tactical prorogation. This study compares McGuinty’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers, Prorogation, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

The Parti Quebecois’ Contempt for the Constitution: Limiting the Premier to Two Consecutive “Mandates” in Office

Posted on 2012/08/22 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction Quebec Premier Jean Charest advised the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the 39th National Assembly on 1 August 2012 so that Quebeckers cast their ballots on 4 September 2012.[1] Charest’s Liberals face Pauline Marois’ Parti Québécois (PQ) and Francois Legault’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Appointment of PM, Coalition Government, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Fixed-Date Elections, Formation of Governments, Governor's Discretion, Parliamentary Privilege, Reaffirmation of, Reform, Responsible Government, Succession (Prime Minister) | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Prorogation Should Remain a Prime Ministerial Power

Posted on 2012/07/02 by J.W.J. Bowden

Commanding Confidence is a Binary Proposition: Either the Government Has It, Or It Does Not R. Michael Warren (a former deputy minister in the civil service of Ontario and therefore former practitioner) argued that Primer McGuinty should have advised the … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers, Prorogation, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments