GOVERNMENT 607

Rt. Hon. Arthur Meighen, June 29, 1926 — With the enactment of the Ministries and September 25, 1926 Ministers of State Act (Government Organization Rt. Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King, September 25, Act, 1970), five categories of ministers ofthe Crown 1926 — August 6, 1930 may be identified: departmental ministers, ministers with special parliamentary responsibilities, ministers Rt. Hon. Richard Bedford Bennett, August 7, 1930 — without portfolio, and three types of ministers of October 23, 1935 state. Ministers of state for designated purposes may Rt. Hon. William Lyon Mackenzie King, October 23, head a ministry of state created by proclamafion. 1935 — November 15, 1948 They are charged with developing new and compre­ Rt. Hon. Louis Stephen St-Laurent, November 15, hensive policies in areas of particular urgency and 1948 -June 21, 1957 importance and have a mandate determined by the Rt. Hon. John George Dicfenbaker, June 21, 1957 — Governor-in-Council. They may have powers, duties April 22, 1963 and functions and exercise supervision and control of elements of the public service, and may seek Rt. Hon. Lester Bowles Pearson, April 22, 1963 — April 20, 1968 parliamentary appropriations to cover the cost of their staff and operations. Other ministers of state Rt. Hon. Pierre EllioU Trudeau, April 20, 1968 — may be appointed to assist departmental ministers June 4, 1979 with their responsibilities. They may have powers, Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, June 4, 1979 — March 3, 1980 duties and functions delegated to them by the Rt. Hon. Pierre EllioU Trudeau, March 3, 1980 — departmental minister, who retains ultimate legal June 30, 1984 responsibility. Ministers of state of a third group may Rt Hon. John Napier Turner, June 30, 1984 — be appointed under the act to be members of the September 17, 1984 ministry without being assigned to assist a particular minister. All ministers are appointed on the advice of Rt. Hon. Martin Brian Mulroney, September 17, the prime minister by commissions of office issued by 1984 — .... the Governor General under the Great Seal of 19.2,4 The cabinet Canada, to serve and to be accountable to Pariiament The cabinet's primary responsibility is to determine as members of the government and for any responsi­ priorities among the demands expressed by the bility that might be assigned to them by law or people and to define policies to meet those demands. otherwise. The cabinet consists of all the ministers who are In Canada, almost all executive acts of the chosen by the prime minister, generally from among government are carried out in the name of the members of the House of Commons, although some Governor-in-Council. The cabinet, or a committee of cabinet ministers are usually chosen from the Senate ministers acfing as a committee of the Privy Council, including the leader ofthe government in the Senate. makes submissions for approval to the Governor Ministers who are members of Pariiament usually General, who is bound by the constitution in neariy head government departments because the consfitu- all circumstances to accept them. Although some are tion provides that measures for appropriating public routine and require little discussion in cabinet, others funds or imposing taxes must originate in the are of major significance and require extensive Commons. If a senator heads a department, another deliberation, sometimes covering months of meetings minister in the Commons has to speak on his behalf of officials, cabinet committees and the full cabinet. on its affairs. Lists of members of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th The cabinet must consider and approve the policy ministries are published in Appendix 8, Political underiying each piece of proposed legislation. After update. proposed legislation is drafted it must be examined in detail. Between 40 and 60 bills are normally Each cabinet minister usually assumes responsibil­ considered by cabinet during a parliamentary ity for one ofthe departments of government, session. Proposals for reform of large areas of although a minister may hold more than one government organization or administration, and portfolio at the same fime or he may hold one or policy to be adopted in fundamental constitutional more portfolios and one or more acting portfolios. A changes or at a major international conference are minister without portfolio may be invited to join the among the issues which, on occasion, demand this cabinet because the prime minister wishes to have extensive and detailed consideration. him or her in the cabinet without the heavy duties of running a department, or to provide a suitable The cabinet committee system. The nature and balance of regional representafion, or for any other large volume of policy issues to be decided on by reason that the prime minister sees fit. Because of cabinet do not lend themselves to discussion by 30 or Canada's cultural and geographical diversity, the more ministers. Growing demands on the executive prime minister gives close attention to geographic have stimulated delegation of some cabinet functions representation in the cabinet. to its committees.