The Executive

Executive Government in Canada

• Current Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments, Premiers & Opposition Leaders
• Governments since Confederation

The Executive Government consists of the Ministry (Cabinet) led by the Prime Minister. The Ministry is derived from the party or parties that command a majority in the House of Commons at the federal level or in the legislative assembly at the provincial level. Constitutionally, the Governor General heads the Executive Government, but in practice the Governor General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Ministry, or Cabinet, consists of all those Members of Parliament chosen by the Prime Minister. They serve as members of the executive arm of Government and administer the various government departments. The Cabinet can be considered the engine-room of government.

The principles of cabinet government are often not well understood in the wider community. There can also be uncertainty about how the Executive Government operates.

Key Term

• Key Term: Executive Government
• Overview of Executive Government Rules and Conventions

The Executive & The Crown

• The Privy Council

The Ministry (Cabinet) In Operation

• Cabinet Secrecy: an explanation of the necessity for secrecy in the operation of the Cabinet.
• Cabinet Committees: Cabinet's Committees are where much of the real work of the government is done.
• Cabinet Shuffles: a cabinet shuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in his or her cabinet.

Ministerial Behaviour

The responsibility of ministers to the Parliament and the people is an important ingredient of the Westminster parliamentary system. The principles of Collective and Individual Ministerial Responsibility govern this chain of accountability. The application of these principles varies considerably depending on the Prime Minister, the political position of the minister in question and public reaction.

• Ministerial Resignations - a complete list of the ministers who have resigned or been dismissed from cabinet.
• Accountable Government: A Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State sets out core principles regarding the role and responsibilities of Ministers in Canada's system of responsible parliamentary government. (PDF document - requires Foxit or Adobe Acrobat Reader)

---

Related Links

• Official Site of the Prime Minister of Canada
• First Among Equals: The Prime Minister in Canadian Life and Politics
• Prime Ministers of Canada: Biographical Information
• The Federal Cabinet
• Cabinet Decision-Making in Canada: Lessons and Practices (PDF)