Responsible government

Responsible government is a constitutional convention requiring ministers to retain the confidence of the elected legislature and answer to it. It makes the executive politically accountable to elected representatives.

Parliamentary confidence: The support of a legislature that a parliamentary government needs to remain in office. Ministers must retain this support to continue governing.
Constitutional convention: An established political practice regarded as binding, though not enforced as law by courts. Responsible government operates principally through this kind of constitutional rule.
Canadian parliamentary system: Canada's constitutional system, in which the prime minister and cabinet govern while retaining House of Commons confidence. Canada applies the convention federally and across its provincial governments.
Presidential system: A constitutional system in which a separately elected president leads the executive for a fixed term. Unlike responsible government, presidential tenure does not normally depend on legislative confidence.
Confidence motion: A legislative motion that tests whether a government retains the support of the house. Its defeat can require ministers to resign or seek an election.
Glorious Revolution: The 1688–1689 overthrow of James II and establishment of a constitutional monarchy in England. Its settlement strengthened Parliament's authority over the Crown and ministers.
Westminster system: A parliamentary system modeled on the United Kingdom, with an executive drawn from and accountable to the legislature. Responsible government is a defining convention within this institutional family.
Semi-presidential system: A system combining a popularly elected president with a prime minister responsible to the legislature. It divides executive authority between offices with different accountability bases.
Collective ministerial responsibility: The convention that ministers publicly support cabinet decisions or leave government. It links cabinet solidarity to accountability before the legislature.
Robert Walpole: British statesman often regarded as the first prime minister, serving from 1721 to 1742. His tenure helped establish a ministry accountable to the House of Commons.

Linked from 31 pages