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substantive law
to hamper , (-.), ,
resignation of the government
dissolution of Parliament
to take over : ( ) ,
LEGISLATURE AND EXECUTIVE COORDINATED BY CONVENTIONS
(1) At all periods in English history it has beennecessary for the legislature and the executive to act in harmony if the government is to be carried on efficiently. It is in order to effect this object that constitutional conventions, which have varied from age to age, have been devised. Today, as in the past, much of the practical working of the constitution depends less upon substantive law enforced by the courts than upon conventional usages founded partly upon the precedents afforded by history and partly upon the needs of the time, which may be said for practical purposes of government to have acquired the force of customary law.
The rules and principles embodied in these conventional usages have been found from experience to be essential to the cooperation of the three parties in whom the legislative and executive functions of government are vested, namely the Crown, the Lords, and the Commons. They are now mainly directed towards ensuring that the government of the country is controlled by a ministry and Cabinet chosen by the electorate, which, while remaining responsible to the electorate and so acting in conformity with public opinion, are not unnecessarily hampered in their action either by lack of funds or by inability to procure the legislation they require. Where the party or combination of parties to which the Cabinet belongs does not control a majority in the House of Commons, this object is not completely attained. In any event, in case of a serious disagreement between the Cabinet and the House of Commons, steps must immediately be taken to restore harmony between the executive and legislature, either by a resignation of the government or by a dissolution of Parliament.
On the other hand the electorate must have the means of choosing a ministry, and for that purpose there must be an Opposition ready to take over the government at a moment's notice. The Opposition must not be hampered in its task of criticising the ministry's conduct and of persuading the electorate that it is better qualified to govern in its stead.
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1) Who or what controls the government of the country?
2) Do Cabinet members always belong to one political party?
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