This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 216.239.38.136 (talk) at 13:31, 16 September 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 13:31, 16 September 2006 by 216.239.38.136 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Responsible government is a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments in Westminster democracies are responsible to Parliament (and more specifically to the lower, popularly-representative, house) rather than to the monarch, or, in the colonial context, to the imperial government.
Overview
Responsible government and the principle of parliamentary accountability manifests itself in several ways. Ministers must firstly account to Parliament for their policy decisions and for the performance of their departments. This requirement to make announcements and to answer questions in Parliament means that ministers have to be members of either house of Parliament. Secondly, although ministers are officially appointed by the head of state and can theoretically be dismissed at pleasure, they retain office subject to their holding the confidence of the lower