minister can still ask for a fresh election at any
decided has the best chance. This new prime
time, although, as already stated, there may be
minister will, of course, hold offi
ce only until
circumstances in which he or she would not get
the majority party has chosen a new leader in a
it. There can be, and have been, Parliaments
national or provincial convention. This leader
and legislatures that have lasted for less than a
will then be called on to form a government.
year. In jurisdictions without legislated election
dates, the maximum time without an election is
The cabinet consists of a varying number of
fi ve years.
ministers. The national cabinet has ranged
from 13 to more than 40 members, and
The cabinet has no ?term.? Every cabinet lasts
provincial cabinets from about 10 to over 30.
from the moment the prime minister is sworn
Most of the ministers have ?portfolios? (that
in till he or she resigns, dies or is dismissed.
is, they are in charge of particular departments
For example, Sir John A. Macdonald was Prime
? Finance, National Defence, Environment,
Minister from 1878 until he died in 1891, right
Health, etc.), and are responsible, answerable
through the elections of 1882, 1887 and 1891, all
and accountable to the House of Commons or
of which he won. Sir Wilfrid Laurier was Prime
the legislature for their particular departments.
Minister from 1896 to 1911, right through the
On occasion there can be ministers without
elections of 1900, 1904 and 1908, all of which
portfolio. There may also be ?ministers of
he won. He resigned after being defeated in the
state,? who may assist cabinet ministers with
election of 1911. The same thing has happened
particular responsibilities or sections of their
in several provinces. An American president or
departments, or may be responsible for policy-
state governor, re-elected, has to be sworn in
oriented bodies known as ?ministries of state.?
all over again. A Canadian prime minister or
(These assisting ministers, sometimes called
premier does not.
?secretaries of state,? should not be confused
with historically important departmental
If a prime minister dies or resigns, the cabinet
ministers once known as the Secretary of
comes to an end. If this prime minister?s party
State for Canada and the Secretary of State
still has a majority in the Commons or the
for External Aff airs.) Ministers of state and
legislature, then the Governor General or
secretaries of state are not always members of
lieutenant-governor must fi nd a new prime
the cabinet.
Parliamentary Government
5
How Canadians Govern Themselves
The ministers collectively are answerable to the
House of Commons or the legislature for the
policy and conduct of the cabinet as a whole.
If a minister does not agree with a particular
policy or action of the government, he or she
must either accept the policy or action and, if
necessary, defend it, or resign from the cabinet.
This is known as ?the collective responsibility
of the cabinet,? and is a fundamental principle
of our form of government.
The cabinet is responsible for most legislation.
