Chapter 5 - The Executive

Question 1

4 Components of Executive

Answer 1

Formal Executive, Political Executive, Permanent Executive, Bureaucracy

Question 2

Difference between Formal, Political, and Permanent Executives

Answer 2

Formal: Symbolic roles (Queen, the crown)
Political: Elected officials (PM+cabinet+, some ministers of state)
Permanent: Appointed senior bureaucrats who advise the political executive, oversee bureaucracy, and implement policy.

Question 3

Types of Accountability and Processes that apply to Political Executive

Answer 3

1. Confidence government
2. Cabinet Solidarity
3. Ministerial Responsibility

Question 4

Major problems with Permanent Executive.

Answer 4

Very cynical view of them, believe they are inefficient. People also fear that they are not accountable to anyone except the ministers.

Question 5

Privy Council

Answer 5

The body of prominent federal politicians and officials that typically advise the governor-general.

Question 6

Cabinet

Answer 6

The leaders of the political executive, consisting of the sitting prime minster and ministers. Ministers of State and associate ministers may attend upon invitation.

Question 7

PMO vs PCO

Answer 7

Prime Minister’s Office consists of the PM’s chief of staff, director of communications, press secretary, caucus adviser. It provides POLITICAL advice.

The Privy Council Office offers POLICY advice and is part of the permanent executive.

Question 8

Presidentialization

Answer 8

The concentration of executive power in the office of the prime minister or premier, at the expense of broader cabinet authority.

Question 9

First Minister Diplomacy

Answer 9

The characterization of Canadian premiers and prime ministers as the primary spokespersons of their government’s interests.

Question 10

Ministers of the Crown

Answer 10

Occupy most of the positions within cabinet, which often also includes House and Senate leaders, and a host of so-called “junior ministers”.

Question 11

Minister of State

Answer 11

A member of the legislative assigned by the first minister to provide support to Cabinet by exerting leadership over a particular policy area.

Question 12

Parliamentary Secretary

Answer 12

A member of the legislature assigned by the first minister to assist a minister in the performance of ministerial duties.

Question 13

Inner Cabinet

Answer 13

Members of the political executive that hold its most important portfolios, including finance, treasury board, and justice.

Question 14

Cabinet Committee

Answer 14

A subgroup of cabinet members assigned to scrutinize a particular set of executive actions. (Different than legislative committees which are created by all parties. Cabinet committees meet and report to the cabinet in private).

Question 15

Three Main Cabinet Committees

Answer 15

1. Agenda and Results
2. Parliamentary Affairs
3. Treasury Board

Question 16

Agenda and Results Committee

Answer 16

Chaired by the PM.
It meets to strategize long-term issues, to develop and maintain a consistent government narrative and message, and to review cabinet recommendations.

Question 17

Parliamentary Affairs

Answer 17

Deals with short-term issues management, including the government’s legislative agenda.

Question 18

Treasury Board

Answer 18

The nucleus of fiscal decisions particularly those dealing with the budget.

Question 19

Clerk of the Privy Council

Answer 19

The highest-ranking public servant in a government’s bureaucracy.

Question 20

Deputy Minister

Answer 20

Reporting to the minister, the highest ranking public servant in a given government department.

Question 21

Central Agencies

Answer 21

Coordinating bodies that steer government business across all departments.

Question 22

Central Agencies

Answer 22

Coordinating bodies that steer government business across all departments.

1. PMO
2. PCO
3. Treasury Board Secretariat
4. Department of Finance

Question 23

Privy Council Office

Answer 23

The central agency responsible for coordinating the federal government’s overall implementation of policy.

It is the bureaucratic equivalent of the PMO. It is run by the federal clerk.

Question 24

Treasury Board Secretariat

Answer 24

The central agency responsible for coordinating government spending, as well as human and technical resources.

They employ public servants to support the financial management work of the Treasury Board cabinet committee.

Question 25

Department of Finance

Answer 25

The central agency responsible for setting and monitoring the government’s fiscal and economic policy, including overseeing the budget process.

Question 26

Line Departments

Answer 26

Units responsible for the development and delivery of policy, programs, or services under a particular portfolio. (Do not have authority to direct operations of a department.)

Question 27

ABC

Answer 27

An agency, board, or commission, responsible for delivering a program or service, or producing goods, at arm’s length from government.

Question 28

Government Agency

Answer 28

An arm’s length corporate body operating on behalf of a government.

Question 29

Government Board

Answer 29

A public advisory committee made up of appointed citizens.

Question 30

Government Commission

Answer 30

An agency of government that provides specialized policy expertise and oversight.

Question 31

Royal Commission

Answer 31

A special research investigation of a contentious area of public policy.

Question 32

Democratic Deficit

Answer 32

A disconnect between people’s expectations of how democratic institutions should work and actual performance of those institutions.