Political Science 2246E Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Informa, Performance Measurement, Collective Responsibility
6 Nov 2016
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First, the historical and constitutional context in which parliament developed its relations with the bureaucracy is discussed. Second, a number of interrelated functions of parliament are identified: the senate is not, as its harshest critics suggest, a completely useless institution. The senate has conducted valuable reviews of the ongoing policies, programs and operations of departments and non- departmental bodies: under the fused cabinet-parliamentary model, the cabinet is a part of parliament. Some provinces have experienced long periods of one party rule; legislative sessions are typically shorter; cabinets often represent a more domineering presence in provincial legislatures. The constitution consists of both legal rules and political conventions. Both sets of provisions are meant to be binding upon politicians and public servants. Constitutions promote the rule of law by setting forth the parameters of public power, describing the relationships that ought to exist among the various institutions of government.
