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Bagehot, the Crown and the Canadian Constitution*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

David E. Smith
David E. Smith
Affiliation:
University of Saskatchewan
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Abstract

Through his writings, Walter Bagehot gave order and meaning to the institutions of parliamentary government. The English Constitution (1867) acknowledges the Crown as centrepiece but relegates it to the category of symbol. Institutions, Bagehot said, were “dignified” or “efficient” according to their constitutional function, and the Crown was the apotheosis of a dignified element. By contrast, the author argues that the Crown is an integral part of a practical form of government in Canada, and advances as proof three areas of Crown influence: representation, information and participation. The discussion concludes by noting the relevance of the Crown for the study of Canadian federalism.

Résumé

Dans ses écrits, Walter Bagehot a donnà de l'ordre et du sens aux institutions du gouvernement parlementaire. The English Constitution (1867) reconnaît la Couronne comme centre de cette forme de gouvernement tout en la reléguant au rang de symbole. Les institutions, selon Bagehot, se caractérisent soit par la « dignité » soit par l' « efficacité »; il voit dans la Couronne le comble de la dignité. Nous soutenons, au contraire, que la Couronne est partie intégrante d'une forme pratique de gouvernement. En éléments de preuve, trois sphères d'influence de la Couronne sont considérés: la représentation, l'information et la participation. La conclusion de cet article réitère toute l'importance de la Couronne pour l'étude du fédéralisme canadien.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 619 - 635
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1995

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