Responsible Government

Definition

Responsible government is a system of parliamentary democracy where the executive branch is accountable to the elected legislative branch. It ensures that the government is responsive to the will of the people and can be held accountable for its actions and decisions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In a responsible government system, the executive branch (cabinet and prime minister) is collectively responsible to the elected legislative branch (parliament).
2. The prime minister and cabinet can be removed from office if they lose the confidence of the legislative branch, ensuring their accountability to the people.
3. Responsible government promotes transparency and public scrutiny of government actions through mechanisms like question period, parliamentary committees, and the media.
4. The doctrine of responsible government emerged in the 19th century as a way to limit the power of the monarch and give more control to the elected representatives.
5. Responsible government is a key feature of many parliamentary democracies, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Review Questions

• Explain how the principle of responsible government ensures the executive branch is accountable to the legislative branch.
  • In a responsible government system, the executive branch, led by the prime minister and cabinet, is collectively responsible to the elected legislative branch (parliament). This means that the executive must maintain the confidence of the legislative branch in order to remain in power. If the legislative branch withdraws its confidence in the executive, the government can be forced to resign or call new elections. This accountability mechanism ensures that the executive is responsive to the will of the people's elected representatives.
• Describe how the separation of powers and checks and balances are implemented in a responsible government system.
  • Responsible government systems typically feature a separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The executive branch (cabinet and prime minister) is drawn from and accountable to the legislative branch, while the judicial branch remains independent. This separation of powers, along with mechanisms like parliamentary committees, question period, and the media, create a system of checks and balances that prevent the concentration of power and promote government accountability. The legislative branch can hold the executive accountable through its ability to remove the government from power, while the judiciary can review the legality of government actions.
• Analyze the historical context and significance of the emergence of responsible government in the 19th century.
  • The doctrine of responsible government emerged in the 19th century as a way to limit the power of the monarch and give more control to the elected representatives of the people. Prior to this, the executive branch (the monarch and their appointed ministers) was not accountable to the legislative branch, leading to concerns about the concentration of power and a lack of public accountability. The development of responsible government was a key step in the evolution of parliamentary democracy, as it ensured that the government was responsive to the will of the people and could be held accountable for its actions. This principle has become a hallmark of many modern parliamentary democracies, as it promotes transparency, public scrutiny, and the peaceful transfer of power based on the consent of the governed.

Related terms

Parliamentary System: A system of government where the executive branch is drawn from and accountable to the legislative branch, typically with a prime minister as the head of government.

Separation of Powers: The division of government into distinct branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) to prevent the concentration of power and promote checks and balances.

Accountability: The principle that those in positions of power must be answerable for their actions and decisions to the people or their representatives.