PM

[Amir85]

Heyyyy

im just working on a research paper for my political science class and i need to know more about this topic

opinions and facts would be much appreciated THX!!!!!!!!!!!

TOPIC:does the prime minister of canada wield excessive power in federal politics?

[geoffrey]

At least this one is honest about the homework help.

Your question is so complex that it can't be fairly answered on a political forum such as this.

Too much power? Compared to what? What is the ideal? The ideal is relative, no?

A real Federalist in Canada loves the PMO's stranglehold on the affairs of the nation. A provincial autonomist obviously disagrees. An anarchist would disagree with the strength of the PMO on an entirely different line of thinking. A Hobbesian Leviathan supporter would obviously think the Prime Minister is far too weak.

Pick an ideology and criticise the PMO from that angle, there is no right answer to your question.

Get away from using opinion in your essays, it might work at lower levels but you'll struggle later. It's a fact that certain ideologies will disagree with elements of the PMO system. It is merely an layman's opinion on whether the PMO has too much or too little power.

[gc1765]

In my opinion, yes.

[na85]

At least this one is honest about the homework help.

Your question is so complex that it can't be fairly answered on a political forum such as this.

Too much power? Compared to what? What is the ideal? The ideal is relative, no?

A real Federalist in Canada loves the PMO's stranglehold on the affairs of the nation. A provincial autonomist obviously disagrees. An anarchist would disagree with the strength of the PMO on an entirely different line of thinking. A Hobbesian Leviathan supporter would obviously think the Prime Minister is far too weak.

Pick an ideology and criticise the PMO from that angle, there is no right answer to your question.

Get away from using opinion in your essays, it might work at lower levels but you'll struggle later. It's a fact that certain ideologies will disagree with elements of the PMO system. It is merely an layman's opinion on whether the PMO has too much or too little power.

In my opinion, yes.

Haha, the sheer contrast between these two posts was great.

Silliness aside, geoffrey makes an excellent point. The question is too broad, you're going to want to narrow it down a little. I really can't say one way or the other. Sorry.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

Political power in Canada resides in the Parliament. However all policy is derived from the Prime Ministers Office. While legislation is created and passed by the House of Commons, the day to day operation is in control of the Prime Minister who is able to create or alter policies and practices at will. There is no means of executive oversight in this matter.

The President of the United States does not have as much political power as the Prime Minister does. In my opinion the PMO has far too much power.

[Saturn]

The fact that the PM can take Canada to war when in most democratic countries this cannot be done without the agreement of parliament, IMO gives the PM too much power. Going to war is one of the most important decision a nation can make and IMO allowing the PM to make that decision without the agreement of the House is completely inappropriate. IMO the PM in Canada has far too much power.

[Nocrap]

I agree that it is too complex an issue. I suppose if the Canadian government is working as it should than the House of Commons has the real control. However in the case of the New Conservatives, Harper keeps a pretty tight rein on his MP's so they all pretty much speak with one voice, eliminating 120+ votes. This is why in many ways a minority is best, especially in troubling times, so that one party can't take us down a road that could lead to real trouble. We've seen this with Kyoto, the Cons attempt to deprive Canadians of basic human rights ('Anti-Terrorism' extension), etc. With a majority, a dictatorial PM would definitely have too much power.

[Saturn]

With a majority, a dictatorial PM would definitely have too much power.

The PM has too much power - majority or minority. Whether it is a majority or minority all legislation comes from the PM - the difference is that in a minority this legislation may not get passed. In a minority situation, the majority opposition has little power to pass bills. Most of what the majority opposition passes, the PM can completely ignore if he chooses to. In Canada, the power sits with the PM. Parliament can only make small changes and limit the PM's power a bit (in a minority situation).

[Mad_Michael]

Heyyyy

im just working on a research paper for my political science class and i need to know more about this topic

opinions and facts would be much appreciated THX!!!!!!!!!!!

TOPIC:does the prime minister of canada wield excessive power in federal politics?

Short answer, yes. It is a characteristic of the Westminster model.

[Leafless]

Heyyyy

im just working on a research paper for my political science class and i need to know more about this topic

opinions and facts would be much appreciated THX!!!!!!!!!!!

TOPIC:does the prime minister of canada wield excessive power in federal politics?

Short answer, yes. It is a characteristic of the Westminster model.

Canada is democratically undermined by political cultures.

A Canadian PM has more power than a king.

I not even sure why they refer to Canada as a democratic country, since the only thing democratic about it is we get to elect an MP who is not compelled to represent Canadians regarding important societal concerns in parliament.

Notwithstanding of course includes the politica party the MP represents. But even at that you could be voting for a politcal leader whose platform does not include any of your major issues.

[Mad_Michael]

Canada is democratically undermined by political cultures.

I don't understand this statement.

A Canadian PM has more power than a king.

Fanciful, but not true. A king is above the law. The PM is not.

I not even sure why they refer to Canada as a democratic country, since the only thing democratic about it is we get to elect an MP who is not compelled to represent Canadians regarding important societal concerns in parliament.

Democracy is a fiction. There is not a single democratic nation on this planet.

Picking which member of the elite to rule over you is not democracy.

[g_bambino]

Political power in Canada resides in the Parliament. However all policy is derived from the Prime Ministers Office. While legislation is created and passed by the House of Commons, the day to day operation is in control of the Prime Minister who is able to create or alter policies and practices at will. There is no means of executive oversight in this matter.

The President of the United States does not have as much political power as the Prime Minister does. In my opinion the PMO has far too much power.

No executive oversight? That assertion leaves a lot to be desired. First off, the top of the pyramid is the Monarch, and then right below her, the Governor General. Sure, they do not involve themselves in the day-to-day operations of government, but the ultimate power to check a PM lies with them. As former Senator and constitutional scholar Eugene Forsey said "the Governor General must take all steps necessary to thwart the will of a ruthless prime minister." The US system, which you seem to prefer, could provide no check on the current president acting unconstitutionally on a number of occasions. So, though one might have more influence than the other, I'm not sure, ultimately, who has more power.

Let's not also forget that Cabinet or caucus revolts can bring down a sitting prime minister, as well as the House of Commons itself.

[madmax]

Heyyyy

im just working on a research paper for my political science class and i need to know more about this topic

opinions and facts would be much appreciated THX!!!!!!!!!!!

TOPIC:does the prime minister of canada wield excessive power in federal politics?

Deleted

[Wilber]

If the PM has too much power it is because our elected representatives give it to him. He was after all, elected as an MP, just like the rest of them. If they won't stick up for each other, he has almost unlimited power.

[na85]

A king is above the law.

Not since the Magna Carta

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I don't think a dictatorial PM would be able to do too much. The PM has lots of power, sure. However, he holds less power than a United States President.

The PM is still subject to the whims of the Supreme Court.

[geoffrey]

The PM is still subject to the whims of the Supreme Court.

Only until the next election.

33. (1) Parliament or the legislature of a province may expressly declare in an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding a provision included in section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of this Charter.