Responsible government

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/responsible-government

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the governing framework?Executive power is exercised by ministers who are accountable to the legislature
2. What is the constitutional principle?Governments must retain the confidence of the elected lower house of parliament
3. How do ministers show they are listening to people?Ministers are members of parliament and must appear in parliament to answer questions and explain their work. This is called question time.
4. Why do ministers have to answer questions in parliament?Answering questions keeps leaders honest and lets people see what the government is doing. It helps everyone understand how decisions are made.

Parliamentary Sovereignty: The principle that parliament is the supreme legal authority in a state.
Confidence of the House: The requirement for the government to have the support of a majority in parliament.
Cabinet Government: A system where executive power is held by a cabinet of ministers.