CHP 4 - The Crown and Its Servants

Question 1

Constitutional Monarchy

Answer 1

A form of government where the head of state is the King or Queen.

Question 2

Queen of Canada

Answer 2

The constitutional monarchy for Canada, also shared with the other commonwealth nations. This is Queen Elizabeth II.

Question 3

Head of State

Answer 3

The highest-ranking constitutional position in the state. In Canada, that is the Queen

Question 4

Guardian of Responsible Government

Answer 4

A role fulfilled by the Governor General, they are responsible for making sure the conventions of responsible government are followed and ensures the smooth sailing of the government as a whole.

Question 5

Queen’s Privy Council for Canada

Answer 5

Section 11 of the CA, 1867
A council with the right to ‘advise’ the Governor General in the exercise of his or her powers. The privy councillors are servants of the Crown.

However under the rules of RG, the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada is a very powerful body for it virtually controls all those powers granted by the Constitution to the Crown or the GG

Question 6

Parliamentary Secretaries

Answer 6

A person which will answer questions in the House on behalf of a minister and generally serves as a kind of assistant or even apprentice to the minister.

Question 7

Collective Responsibility

Answer 7

The idea that cabinet must function as a team to develop, implement, and take responsibility for public policy.

Question 8

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

Answer 8

Responsible for monitoring the general political situation and giving the prime minister political advice

Question 9

Ministers of State

Answer 9

These are ministers that do not head a ministry themselves, but have responsibility for a specific area of policy within a ministry headed by someone else.

Question 10

Treasure Board

Answer 10

A cabinet committee that oversees personnel, administrative and expenditure (money) management

Question 11

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

Answer 11

Responsible for monitoring the general political situation and giving the prime minister political advice. Mostly comprised of political activists rather than civil servants.

Question 12

Privy Council Office (PCO)

Answer 12

Serves as a secretariat to the cabinet and is responsible to the Prime Minister. They are responsible for providing policy advice and is usually comprised of dedicated civil servants.

Question 13

Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 13

A principle where the minister who heads each department must be accountable to the House of Commons for the conduct of each and every civil servant working in that department.

Question 14

Line Departments

Answer 14

A civil service that entails ministries like Transportation, Health, or Foreign Affairs which provide services to the general public. They are the larger of the two civil service groups.

Question 15

Central Agencies

Answer 15

Bodies which engage in the coordination of government policy, rather than in the delivery of particular services to the public.

Question 16

Ministerial Responsibility

Answer 16

Ministers of their departments are accountable to the House, and while they may not be personally accountable for the actions of those under them, they are politically accountable for any negative consequences that their department endures under their supervision.