Government of Quebec
{{Short description|Political body responsible for the administration of Quebec}}
{{Infobox executive government
|background_color = #24135f
|border = provincial
|government_name = Government of Quebec
|altname =
|nativename = {{langx|fr|Gouvernement du Québec}}
|image = 200px
|image_size =
|image2 =
|image_size2 =
|caption = Logo of the Government of Quebec
|date_established = {{Start date|1867|7|1}}
|s
Province = Quebec
|country = Canada
|leader_title = Premier
François Legault
|appointed = Lieutenant Governor
Manon Jeannotte
|main_organ = Executive Council
|ministers =
|responsible = National Assembly
|budget =
|address = Quebec City
|url = {{URL|https://www.quebec.ca}}
}}
The Government of Quebec ({{langx|fr|Gouvernement du Québec}}, {{IPA|fr|ɡuvɛʁnəmɑ̃ dy kebɛk|pron}}) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Quebec. The term is typically used to refer to the executive of the day (i.e. ministers of the Crown) and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency whom the ministers direct. By virtue of French being the province's official language,{{Cite web |title=- Charter of the French language |url=https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/document/cs/c-11 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca}} the government corporately brands itself as the Gouvernement du Québec.
The current construct was established when the province joined Confederation in 1867. Quebec is a constituent state of Canada, a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy in the Westminster tradition; a Premier—presently François Legault of the Coalition Avenir Québec—is the head of government and is invited by the Crown to form a government after securing the confidence of the National Assembly, typically determined through the election of enough members of the National Assembly (MNAs) of a single political party in an election to provide a majority of seats, forming a governing party or coalition.{{Cite web|title=Westminster Tradition|url=https://www.leg.bc.ca:443/dyl/Pages/Westminster-Tradition.aspx|access-date=2021-03-29|website=www.leg.bc.ca|language=en}} The sovereign is {{Canadian monarch, current|name&title=1}}, Canada's head of state, who is represented provincially in Quebec by the lieutenant governor, presently Manon Jeannotte.
Role of the Crown
{{Main|Monarchy of Canada|Monarchy in Quebec}}
{{See also|Monarchy in the Canadian provinces}}
{{Multiple image
| align = left
| image1 = King Charles III (July 2023).jpg
| caption1 = Charles III is King of Canada, the head of state
| image2 =
| caption2 = Manon Jeannotte is the Lieutenant Governor, representing the monarch in Quebec
| total_width = 220
| direction =
}}
{{Canadian monarch, current|name&title=1}}, as King of Canada is also the King in Right of Quebec. As a Commonwealth realm, the Canadian monarch is shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations.{{refn|{{cite web| url=https://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/jugement_succession_trone.pdf| title=Jugement No. 200-17-018455-139| publisher=Cour supérieure du Québec| via=Le Devoir| date=16 February 2016| access-date=17 February 2016| author=Claude Bouchard| language=fr| pages=16}}{{cite journal| title=Canada's Evolving Crown: From a British Crown to a "Crown of Maples"| last1=Romaniuk| first1=Scott Nicholas| last2=Wasylciw| first2=Joshua K.| journal=American, British and Canadian Studies Journal| date=February 2015| volume=23| issue=1| pages=108–125| doi=10.1515/abcsj-2014-0030| doi-access=free}}{{cite web| url=http://canadiancrown.gc.ca/DAMAssetPub/DAM-CRN-jblDmt-dmdJbl/STAGING/texte-text/crnMpls_1336157759317_eng.pdf?WT.contentAuthority=4.4.4| title=Crown of Maples: Constitutional Monarchy in Canada| publisher=Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada| date=2015| access-date=16 February 2016| author=Department of Canadian Heritage| pages=3| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110140303/http://canadiancrown.gc.ca/DAMAssetPub/DAM-CRN-jblDmt-dmdJbl/STAGING/texte-text/crnMpls_1336157759317_eng.pdf?WT.contentAuthority=4.4.4| archive-date=10 November 2012| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}{{cite web| url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/Canada/TheQueensroleinCanada.aspx| title=Queen and Canada| publisher=The Royal Household| access-date=16 February 2016| archive-date=20 February 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220102227/http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/Canada/TheQueensroleinCanada.aspx| url-status=dead}}{{cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1444999464289| title=The Queen of Canada| publisher=Government of Canada| access-date=16 February 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224135322/http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1444999464289| archive-date=24 February 2016| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}}} Within Canada, the monarch exercises power individually on behalf of the federal government, and the 10 provinces.
= Lieutenant governor =
{{Main|Lieutenant Governor of Quebec}}
While the powers of the Crown are vested in the monarch, they are exercised by the lieutenant governor, {{Canadian monarch, current|genderp=1}} personal representative, typically on the binding advice of the premier and Executive Council.
In Canada, lieutenant governor is appointed by the governor general, on the advice of the prime minister of Canada.{{refn|{{cite journal| url=http://www.revparl.ca/35/2/35n2_12e_Hicks.pdf| title=The Westminster Approach to Prorogation, Dissolution and Fixed Date Elections| last=Hicks| first=Bruce| journal=Canadian Parliamentary Review| year=2012| volume=35| issue=2| page=20}}{{Citation |last=MacLeod |first=Kevin S. |title=A Crown of Maples |url=http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/fr-rf/crnCdn/crn_mpls-eng.pdf |year=2008 |edition=1 |place=Ottawa |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |isbn=978-0-662-46012-1 |access-date=June 21, 2009 |page=36 |author-link=Kevin S. MacLeod}}{{cite web| url=http://speech.gc.ca/en/content/faq#Q3| title=Why does the Governor General give the Speech?| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| date=4 December 2015| access-date=17 December 2015| author=Government of Canada| archive-date=26 April 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426135912/http://speech.gc.ca/en/content/faq#Q3| url-status=dead}}}} Thus, it is typically the lieutenant governor whom the premier and ministers advise, in exercising much of the royal prerogative.
While the advice of the premier and Executive Council is typically binding on the lieutenant governor, there are occasions when the lieutenant governor has refused advice. This usually occurs if the premier does not clearly command the confidence of the elected National Assembly.
= King-in-Council =
The executive power vested in the Crown is exercised "in-Council", meaning on the advice of the Executive Council; conventionally, this is the Cabinet, which is chaired by the premier and comprises ministers of the Crown. The term Government of Quebec, or more formally, Her Majesty's Government (term) refers to the activities of the {{Canadian monarch, current|title=1}}-in-Council. The day-to-day operation and activities of the Government of Quebec are performed by the provincial departments and agencies, staffed by the non-partisan public service and directed by the elected government.
Premier and Executive Council
File:François Legault (portraitcrop).jpg is Premier of Quebec]]{{Main|Premier of Quebec|Executive Council of Quebec}}
The premier of Quebec ({{Langx|fr|premier ministre du Québec|links=no|lit=prime minister of Quebec}}) is the primary minister of the Crown. The premier acts as the head of government for the province, chairs and selects the membership of the Cabinet, and advises the Crown on the exercise of executive power and much of the royal prerogative. As premiers hold office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the elected Nation Assembly, they typically sit as a MNA and lead the largest party or a coalition in the Assembly. Premiers hold office until resignation or removal by the lieutenant governor after either a motion of no confidence or defeat in a general election.{{Harvnb|Brooks|2007|p=235}} Among Canadian premiers, the Quebec premier is unique, in that new sessions begin with the Opening Speech by the premier,{{cite web |last=National Assembly of Quebec |title=Parliament and Government |url=http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/Assemblee/parl_gouv.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223055420/http://www.assnat.qc.ca/eng/Assemblee/parl_gouv.html |archive-date=February 23, 2010 |publisher=Éditeur officiel du Québec}} rather than a speech from the throne by the lieutenant governor, as is the case federally as well.
In Canada, the Cabinet ({{Langx|fr|Conseil des ministres|links=no|lit=council of ministers}}) of each provincial and territorial government is known as an Executive Council ({{Langx|fr|Conseil exécutif}}).
François Legault has served as Premier since October 18, 2018, after the Coalition Avenir Québec won a majority government following the 2018 election.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
=Works cited=
- {{Cite book |last=Brooks |first=Stephen |url=https://archive.org/details/canadiandemocrac0006broo |title=Canadian Democracy: An Introduction |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-543103-2 |edition=5 |location=Don Mills}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Canada topic|Government of}}
{{Politics of Quebec}}
{{Authority control}}