MacLennan The Executive Ceremony & Leadership Chapter 6

MacLennan 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 19 th century, political parties began to emerge.

MacLennan 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 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 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 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 Central Agencies The Cabinet is assisted by four central coordinating agencies: 1. The Prime Minister’s Office 2. the Privy Council Office (now includes the Federal-Provincial Relations Office) 3. the Treasury Board 4. the Department of Finance

MacLennan 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 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 PCO staffed by career bureaucrats offer ministers objective advice, policy alternatives ministers make final decisions

MacLennan 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 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 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 Department of Finance Concerns The department’s major concerns are: taxation policy I. economic development II. fiscal policy and economic analysis III. international trade