MacLennan - 2004

The Executive

Ceremony & LeadershipChapter 6

MacLennan - 2004

The Formal Executive Crown – the composite symbol of the

institutions of the state Reigning Monarch – currently Queen

Elizabeth II, personal embodiment of the Crown

Prerogative authority – powers of monarch or their representative that have not been bypassed by constitutional law

MacLennan - 2004

Monarch The Monarch reigns, but does not

govern.

Parliament and the political exec. Govern in the name of the Crown…but…

the powers of Monarch are severely limited.

MacLennan - 2004

Governor General and Lieutenant-Governors

Letters Patent – the prerogative instruments defining the office of the GG

The Sovereign applies these to each GG through a commission of appointment

GG is appointed by Queen on recommendation of the PM and Cabinet.

tenure of office is five to seven years the term “Right Honourable” is assigned

for life and “Excellency” for period in office.

MacLennan - 2004

Political Duties of Gov. Gen The Letters Patent – provide the GG

with all the powers of the Queen in “respect of summoning, proroguing or dissolving the Parliament of Canada.”

only the PM can ask for and obtain a dissolution of Parliament. (see Byng-King case of 1926 when the GG refused)

the GG appoints the Prime Minister

MacLennan - 2004

Lieut.-Governor a Lieut.-Gov. is appointed by the governor-in-

council on the advice of the PM in each province

the Lieut.-Gov. acts on the advice and with the assistance of ministry or Executive Council in their province

they are responsible to the legislature Who is Manitoba’s current Lieut.-Gov?

MacLennan - 2004

The Political Executive The PM is the central figure in Canadian

politics an elected member of Parliament

chosen national leader of the party at a leadership convention

PM must be a member of the House of Commons

has the right to govern based on a popular mandate

MacLennan - 2004

Powers of the PM’s office powerful and prestigious PM and Cabinet control signing of

treaties, international relations, declaration of war…

“power of dissolution” of Parliament can be used to maintain stability of Cabinet

can be a weapon if the gov’t is defeated on a major bill

MacLennan - 2004

more powers of PM PM controls the organization of gov’t by

appointing Cabinet, limiting portfolios, creating Crown corps, Royal Commissions, and so on…

PM chairs the Cabinet controls appointments of all members of

the ministry, eg: secretaries of state… appoints parliamentary secretaries

MacLennan - 2004

the PM and Government the PM and their selected ministers

form the government If the PM and gov’t no longer

receive support, they are replaces, or Parliament is dissolved and an election is called

their power comes from maintaining a plurality of supporters in the H of C

MacLennan - 2004

History of the Cabinet

the modern cabinet originated in Britain in Middle Ages

It began with the Privy Council which was chosen by Monarch to give advice

gradually their powers increased & they began to reflect mood of H of C, not just Monarch’s wishes

during the 19th century, political parties began to emerge.

MacLennan - 2004

Queen’s Privy Council

it became beneficial to draw advisors from a party that could command a majority in the H of C12

the advisors of PC came under the control of the Prime Minister

MacLennan - 2004

at Confederation, the Constitution established the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada to advise the GG. Today it’s ceremonial body appointed by PM for life.

MacLennan - 2004

Cabinet & Ministry

the ministry is all ministers appointed by PM – Former PM J. Chretien appointed 30 to ministry but only 22 to Cabinet

Cabinet is smaller body of most powerful ministers acts in name of Privy Council

MacLennan - 2004

Secretaries of State to Assist – answer to PC but don’t attend Cabinet meetings

Parliamentary secretaries – help ministers (under Chretien, each minister had one)

MacLennan - 2004

Central Agencies The Cabinet is assisted by four

central coordinating agencies:

1. The Prime Minister’s Office2. the Privy Council Office (now

includes the Federal-Provincial Relations Office)

3. the Treasury Board4. the Department of Finance

MacLennan - 2004

The PMO most overtly political central agency personal appointees of the PM largest and most important – rarely

employs public servants drafts Speech from the Throne monitors political developments and

their implications for PM’s career technical, political advice and p.r.

MacLennan - 2004

The PCO

main organization supporting the cabinet and PM (300 officers/support staff)

Clerk of the Privy Council – top position in Canada’s civil service

Clerk coordinates Cabinet activities

MacLennan - 2004

PCO staffed by career bureaucrats offer ministers objective advice,

policy alternatives ministers make final decisions

MacLennan - 2004

The Treasury Board

constitutionally, committee of Privy Council

separate government department headed by cabinet minister and

included five other ministers. One is always the Minister of Finance

reviews expenditures, annual budgets of all government departments

MacLennan - 2004

Treasury Board responsibilities

monitors requests for money, provides an overall budget for PM and cabinet

manages civil service personnel

exerts control over salaries and job classifications across the civil service

MacLennan - 2004

The Department of Finance a regular government department,

but the most politically sensitive chief preoccupation is analyzing

taxation policy looks at the impact of gov’t activity

on the economy provides Cabinet with info on the

performance of the economy

MacLennan - 2004

Department of Finance Concerns

The department’s major concerns are:

taxation policyI. economic developmentII. fiscal policy and economic

analysisIII. international trade