Tag Archives: Manual of Official Procedure of the Government of Canada

No Discretion: On Royal Assent and the Governor General

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

Introduction Under our system of responsible government, the Sovereign or Governor General exercises his prerogative powers on the advice of the Crown-in-Council, and his constitutional powers relating to Parliament on the advice of the Prime Minister alone. Responsible government means … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Governor's Discretion, Officialization of Convention, Royal Assent | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Constitutional Scholarship or Political Activism? The Role of the Academy Following the Coalition-Prorogation Crisis of 2008

Posted on 2011/11/28 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction The line between academia and scholarship on the one hand and punditry and activism on the other has become increasingly blurred in Canada, especially in the wake of the coalition-prorogation crisis of December 2008. Recent works like Democratizing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles and Books, Crown (Powers and Office), Governor's Discretion, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Origins of Centralizing Executive Authority in the Prime Minister

Posted on 2011/11/27 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction The scholarly consensus on cabinet government in Canada argues that from Prime Minister Trudeau’s first government (1968 to 1979, the 20th Ministry) onward, the powers of the prime minister have become more centralized relative to both those of cabinet … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Governor's Discretion, Officialization of Convention, Prime Minister's Powers, Prorogation | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments