Government of New Ingerland
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This article is part of the series: Politics and government of New Ingerland |
The Government of New Ingerland, commonly referred to as HM Government or His Majesty's Government, is the central government of New Ingerland.
History
Formation
The formal origin of the Government of New Ingerland, and along with it the kingdom itself, can be traced to the New Ingerland Company in London in 1834.
The Government officially came in to existence with the landing of the Company's board of governors in Port Frederick on the 18 February 1836. Alongside the formation of the New Ingerland crown, the Act had also allowed for the formation of the Executive Council, thereby constituting an executive branch, and the Senate, thereby forming the legislature.
Representative government
The coming of representative government, whereby there would be an elected element to the Parliament, was brought about with an amendment to the Constitution of New Ingerland in 1854[1]. The amendment abolished the subscription method of election to the Senate and established a fully-elected House of Assembly for the first time.
Despite being representative, the new constitution did not introduce the idea of responsible government, with the Resident Commissioner of New Ingerland able to act without the advice and consent of the Parliament if he so chose. However, successive Resident Commissioners did allow the Parliament to select from amongst their number a Chief Secretary, who was typically the individual who could command a majority on the floor of the Assembly, and could be therefore counted on to aid the passage of legislation on behalf of the Resident.
Authority and powers
Prime Minister
The Prime Minister, or more formally, the President of the Executive Council, is the Sovereign's first minister of state. At the conclusion of a general election, or at any other time the office falls vacant, it falls within the prerogative of the Sovereign to appoint the person who commands a majority on the floor of the House of Assembly to the office of President and then form a government. By convention, the President also holds the office of Keeper of the Great Seal of New Ingerland.
Cabinet
The Cabinet is a committee of the Executive Council that comprises of all the senior officeholders in the Government who hold a ministerial portfolio over the New Ingerland Civil Service. Under the provisions of the Constitution and the Ministers of the Crown Act[2], these officeholders hold the rank of a Minister of State. It is the Cabinet that makes all the major decisions regarding the policy and political direction of the Government, including the enactment of any secondary legislation. These decisions are then made legally binding before the Sovereign by the Executive Council.
Government entities
The government itself is the primary component of the New Ingerland state sector.
See also
References and notes
- ↑ Whilst it was technically only an amendment to original constitution specified in the schedule of the New Ingerland Act, the amended constitution after 1854 has always been referred to the Second Constitution.
- ↑ Ministers of the Crown Act (Public Act No. 61 of 1984).