The concept of parliamentary democracy has roots that stretch back thousands of years. The word parliament is derived from the French word parler, which means to speak. The word democracy comes from the Greek word demos, meaning people, and kratia, meaning rule. Therefore, democracy literally means "the people’s rule". This concept dates back about 2,500 years ago to ancient Greece.

Our system of parliamentary democracy developed over many centuries in England and can be traced back to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. This charter attacked the absolute powers of the crown and guaranteed fundamental rights and privileges for citizens. Over time, the Magna Carta was revised, requiring the Monarch to govern with Parliament to gain consent for taxes. Parliament eventually established further rights which would make it even stronger – this became known as parliamentary privilege. In the late 17^th century, a Declaration of Rights was issued by Parliament, affirming the rights of British subjects and establishing Parliament’s supremacy over the Crown.

Responsible Government

Canada’s federal and provincial governments exercise the principle of responsible government. Under this system, the Executive, also called the Cabinet, must maintain the confidence of the House - the elected representatives. A government can lose power if it loses the confidence of the House. This might occur when a vote on a major government bill, such as the budget, is lost. Although this rarely happens, it is more likely when there is a minority government – when the number of seats of the opposition totals more than the seats of the government. 

History of Responsible Government in Canada

In March 1848, a Reform government – it was called The Great Ministry – led by Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin came into power in the United Province of Canada (the territories now known as Ontario and Quebec). Their administration oversaw the introduction of the principle of responsible government in Canada.