ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the structure and roles of the institutions of central government – the Crown, Privy Council, Prime Minister, Cabinet, ministers and government departments – are examined. In Chapter 11, the concept of responsible government is introduced, and the fundamentally important concept of ministerial responsibility is discussed. If government is to be conducted under the law, and in line with the principles of democracy and constitutionalism, it is of the utmost importance that those holding power should be accountable to citizens through their elected legislature. The responsibility of ministers of the Crown is thus fundamental to the constitution, and the more so in the absence of an authoritative constitutional document which defines the scope and limits of ministerial power. Note that the procedural means by which parliament scrutinises government action is considered in Chapter 16.
