The Westminster Approach to Prorogation, Dissolution and Fixed Date Elections

• Autores: Bruce M. Hicks
• Localización: Canadian parliamentary review, ISSN 0229-2548, Vol. 35, Nº. 2, 2012, págs. 20-27
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The Queen has various reserve powers, or personal prerogatives, including prorogation, dissolution and summoning of parliament, and dismissing and appointing a prime minister. The use of these powers is pursuant to unwritten constitutional conventions and are, in theory, the same for all Commonwealth countries that have retained the Queen as head of state. Yet in practice they operate differently � far more democratically � in England, where the Queen is present, than in Canada, where a governor general has been appointed to represent the Queen and manage these powers on Her behalf. This paper examines the British approach, contrasts it with the Canadian, and shows how Canada could improve its democracy by adopting the British practices