How is the government of the Province of Canada structured under the responsible Government of 1849?

• A. The government was held accountable by voters, who could choose to keep the current government or vote in a new one
• B. Under the Responsible Government, the government was chosen by the Crown with no voter input
• C. There was a fully elected democracy with equal powers
• D. The government was controlled by appointed councils without elections

Answer: (B)

Under responsible government, the executive must have the support of the elected assembly. Voters elect members to the Legislative Assembly, and the leader who can command a majority in that assembly becomes premier and forms a cabinet. The governor (the Crown’s representative) appoints the premier and cabinet, but does so on the advice of the assembly, and the cabinet remains in office only while it retains the assembly’s confidence. If the government loses that confidence, it must resign and elections or a new leadership arrangement follow. This structure gives voters real influence through elections—through the assembly—rather than the government being chosen by the Crown with no input. The idea isn’t that there are no elections or that power is entirely in appointed councils, or that power is fully equal and direct to voters.