Governor General
Representing the Crown in CanadaCanada's Parliament consists of three parts: the Crown represented by the Governor General, an appointed Senate and an elected House of Commons. One of the Governor General's most important responsibilities is to ensure that Canada always has a Prime Minister. The Governor General also gives Royal Assent to bills passed by the House of Commons and the Senate, reads the Speech from the Throne, signs State documents, summons, opens and ends sessions of Parliament, and dissolves Parliament for an election. The Governor General also presides over the swearing-in of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of Canada and cabinet ministers. The Governor General almost always acts on the advice of the prime minister, but has the right to be consulted, to encourage, to advise, and to meet regularly with the Prime Minister and senior government officials. There are rare occasions when the Governor General does not agree with his or her ministers. The most famous example occurred when Governor General Lord Byng refused Prime Minister Mackenzie King's request to dissolve Parliament in 1926. Related Information: |
