POL 2101 Lecture Notes - Fico, Bencher, Responsible Government

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 2101
• Professor: Andre Lecours

Document Summary

Only the house of commons, not the senate can ask the question of confidence and make the government fall. It makes law with a contribution from the senate, the governor general and the executive. Most bills originate from the executive but there is a fusion of the two branches. So, in the house, government sits prime minister and cabinet sit and introduce government bills. In canada much more straight forward with majorities because of party discipline what the executive wants to do will get done - Can be opposition in the senate but because they are unelected they have little democratic legitimacy tend not to veto legislation from house of commons. There can be external influences public policy announced can incite pressures from the public, corporations, etc. but the prime minister has democratic legitimacy to impose his policies and has a democratic mandate to do so.