What is the difference between representative government and responsible government

In one party states where there is only one officially-recognized political party , there is no real choice between candidates and programmes. In states with representative governments , the executive is either subordinate and therefore responsible to the legislature or coordinate with it.

Where the executive is subordinate to the legislature , as in Britain , the executive holds office so long as it retains the confidence of the legislature. Here, the executive is responsible or answerable to the legislature for all its actions. In Britain , the executive is chosen by the people, subordinate to the legislature and responsible to the parliament. MAIR, Peter. The changing circumstances in which parties compete in contemporary democracies, coupled with the changing circumstances in which governments now govern, have led to a widening of the traditional gap between representative and responsible government.

Although it is generally seen as desirable that parties in government are both representative and responsible, these two characteristics are now becoming increasingly incompatible. Prudence and consistency in government, as well as accountability, require conformity to external constraints and legacies.

This means more than just answering to public opinion. It is the method by which Canada achieved independence from Britain without revolution. Before the arrival of responsible government in British North America , colonial governors followed the advice and policies of ministers in Britain. Their abuse of power was causing unrest among the colonists.

The introduction of this system in British North America gave the colonists control of their own affairs. Canadians gradually gained control of their own political concerns. They achieved self-direction without revolution.

At first, only a small group of privileged men and property owners could vote for the elected assemblies. The franchise , or right to vote , was expanded slowly. In , women received the right to vote in federal elections. By , all Canadian women had the right to vote provincially. In , Indigenous peoples in Canada won the right to vote in federal elections without giving up their treaty rights. The idea of responsible government in British North America was taken up in the s. It was championed by admirers of the British model.

Their goal was to keep the colonies securely within the British empire. They also wanted to reduce the power and influence of the small groups of local elites that controlled the colonial governments. Their abuse of power was causing unrest among many of the colonists. Radical reformers preferred American-style political systems. They, and later Lord Elgin , believed that an organized party system was vital to good governance.

This required leaders to hold elected seats in the legislature and answer directly to it. Howe in Nova Scotia, along with Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine in the Province of Canada , built strong, moderate reform parties to gain responsible government. The western provinces developed responsible governments as they were created and joined Canada after Confederation.