Chapter 5 - The Executive

Question 1

What are the three forms of the executives?

Answer 1

1. Formal Executive
2. Political Executive
3. Prerogative Authority

Question 2

What is included in the Formal Executive?

Answer 2

• Monarchy, governor-general, lieutenant governors
• Largely ceremonial functions
• Head of state – Queen Elizabeth II
• GG representative of the queen
• Supreme authority vested in the monarch

Question 3

What is included in the Political Executive?

Answer 3

• The Prime Minister and Cabinet
• Political Leadership
• Head of the government
• Act on behalf of the monarch to oversee government activities and who are accountable to the legislature.

Question 4

What is included in the Prerogative Authority?

Answer 4

• powers that are not explicitly granted to the political executive and that remain vested in the crown.
• Grants final say to the head of state on any matter not explicitly addressed in the constitution
• also proroguing parliament, approving orders in council, appointments to royal commissions or declaring war.

Question 5

What is the King-Byng Affair?

Answer 5

Byng refuses Kings request for election to avoid contentious votes.

Question 6

What Happened b\c of the Byng- King Affair?

Answer 6

• Liberals bring down conservative government
• King wins election
• precedent set for weak governor general

Question 7

How much power does the Prime Minister have?

Answer 7

• recommends and advises the governor general
• power is overwhelming
• power is almost absolute

Question 8

What does the Prime Minister’s Appoint?

Answer 8

• cabinet ministers, supreme court judges, governor-general, lieutenant governors, senators, deputy ministers, Ambassadors.

Question 9

What organizations of the government does the Prime Minister responsible for?

Answer 9

• creating new departments
• private/nationalize industries
• prioritize programs/policies

Question 10

What parts of the international relations is the PM responsible for?

Answer 10

• Communication with heads of state/govt.

- Attend summits/ratify treaties

Question 11

What is the Cabinet?

Answer 11

• the principle executive body in Canadian government

Question 12

What is the executive power of Canada?

Answer 12

• there shall be a council to aid and advise in the government of Canada

Question 13

What law or document defines to Cabinet?

Answer 13

• there is no law or document that specifically defines the cabinet or its responsibilities

Question 14

What are the functions of a cabinet minister?

Answer 14

• political leadership
• bureaucratic leadership
• Major decisions - making; advice to the PM
• Representation at cabinet table (region, gender, ethnicity, indigenous)

Question 15

What is the collective cabinet responsibilities?

Answer 15

Cabinet speaks as one and is responsible or accountable as a body to the legislature for all actions and policies of the government.

Question 16

What are the individual ministerial responsibilities?

Answer 16

Cabinet ministers are individually responsible legally, politically, and morally to the legislature for actions and policies within their portfolios, and also responsible collectively to the legislature as the government of the day.