Commons, it can pass any legislation it sees fi t
unless an adverse majority in the Senate refuses
to pass the bill (which very rarely happens
True, a dissatisfi ed voter can vote against a
nowadays). If it loses its majority support in
president, a representative or a senator. But
the House of Commons, it must either make
no matter what the voters do, the situation
way for a government of another party or call
remains essentially the same. The president is
a fresh election. If it simply makes way for
there for four years and remains there no matter
a government of a diff erent party, then that
how often either house produces an adverse
government, as long as it holds its majority in
majority. If, halfway through the president?s
the House of Commons, can pass any legislation
four-year term, the elections for the House and
it sees fi t, and if it loses that majority, then it,
Senate return adverse majorities, the president
in its turn, must either make way for a new
still stays in offi
ce for the remaining two years
government or call a fresh election. In the
with enormous powers. And he or she cannot
United States, president and Congress can be
get rid of an adverse House of Representatives
locked in fruitless combat for years on end.
or Senate by ordering a new election. The
In Canada, the government and the House of
26
Canadian and American Government
ydon
o: Dianne Br
Phot
Congress meets in the Capitol, in Washington, D.C.
Commons cannot be at odds for more than a
party (normally the offi
cial Opposition), or call
few weeks at a time. If they diff er on any matter
an election right away so the people can decide
of importance, then, promptly, there is either a
which party will govern.
new government or a new House of Commons.
An American president can be blocked by one
Presidential-congressional government is
house or both for years on end. A Canadian
neither responsible nor responsive. No matter
prime minister, blocked by the House of
how often either house votes against the
Commons, must either make way for a new
president?s measures, there he or she stays. The
prime minister, or allow the people to elect
president can veto bills passed by both houses,
a new House of Commons that will settle the
but cannot appeal to the people by calling an
matter, one way or another, within two or three
election to give him or her a Congress that will
months. That is real responsibility.
support him or her. Parliamentary-cabinet
government, by contrast, is both responsible
A third basic diff erence between our system and
and responsive. If the House of Commons
the Americans? is that custom, usage, practice
votes want of confi dence in a cabinet, that
and ?convention? play a far larger part in our
cabinet must step down and make way for
Constitution than in theirs. For example, the
a new government formed by an opposition
president of the United States is included in the
Canadian and American Government
27
