The Manual of Official Procedure of the Government of Canada: An Expose

MacDonald, Nicholas A.; Bowden, James

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2347528

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…Second, and relatedly, the manuals tend to be more comprehensive. They detail a range of executive activities, going beyond cabinet procedures to “describe general principles and constitutional conventions of the parliamentary system and the basic roles and functions of its main components” (MacDonald & Bowden, 2011: p. 37). But whereas the NZ Manual is regularly updated, vi the UK Manual has not been revised since 2011, even though some of its provisions are now redundant (Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs (PACAC), 2018: Section 44).…”

Section: Origins and Evolution Of Cabinet Rulebooksmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These rulebooks ostensibly describe how the cabinet operates and the standards by which its conduct should be judged, formalizing practices and principles that had previously been left to convention. Though non‐justiciable, the rulebooks could be said to “exert moral suasion on political actors and clarify their roles” (MacDonald & Bowden, 2011: p. 398). They can channel expectations, behavior, and outcomes in some directions instead of others (Carey, 2000), constraining but also providing “actors with creative leeway” to pursue their goals (Sheingate, 2010: p. 168).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The prime minister's constitution: Cabinet rulebooks in Westminster democracies

2022

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The transformation of governance in Westminster democracies is well documented. However, one aspect of their change that has not received much attention is the creation and publication of cabinet rulebooks. The few studies of cabinet rulebooks have focused on their potential constitutional implications, leaving unclear how their emergence fits within the broader development of Westminster governance. We address this gap in the literature by examining cabinet rulebooks in five Westminster democracies: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. We analyze their features and emergence, and then set out a framework to analyze their potential effects on cabinet dynamics. We find that the appearance of cabinet rulebooks can be tied to several forces of change in Westminster systems, but most especially the growth of government. Furthermore, we find that these rulebooks project an account of prime ministerial power that is favorable to the prime minister.

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Section: Origins and Evolution Of Cabinet Rulebooksmentioning

confidence: 99%