ABSTRACT
Political conventions have evolved as a gloss on the formal exercise of powers and privileges. They provide political actors, such as the Sovereign or Governor-General, with firm guidelines for their conduct. Some are strict, such as the convention that the Sovereign will not, in ordinary circumstances, act other than on ministerial advice. Others are looser or less certain. Because there is no formal consequence to a departure from convention, political accountability alone remains – however, as with the convention that the Sovereign will not veto a Bill duly passed by the House of Commons and House of Lords, this political accountability is profoundly important. There are other forms of informal limitations on the free exercise of prerogative powers. One of these, which like conventions is probably of political form rather than legally enforceable, is the coronation oaths. Though of a limited scope, this may also impose a limitation of uncertain scope and relevance. Lastly, political accountability derives from the system of ministerial responsibility which has arisen over a period of centuries. This ensures, although the authority for executive power remains the royal prerogative, that ultimate accountability lies, through a system of representative parliamentary Government, with the people.
