- Definition
Responsible government means that the people in charge of the country are accountable to the citizens through their elected representatives. If the government makes decisions the people don't like, the people can vote for new leaders.
In Canada, if the Prime Minister and cabinet lose a major vote in the House of Commons, they must resign or call an election.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Responsible government is like having a team captain who has to listen to the team's ideas and can be replaced if the team loses faith in them.
Ask your child: If a leader makes a rule the team hates, what should happen?
Common mix-up: Many think 'responsible' just means the government should be trustworthy. It specifically means the government must answer to the people's elected representatives and can be voted out by them.
Examples
- Members of Parliament asking the government tough questions during Question Period is a way to ensure responsibility.
- The rebellions of 1837-38 were partly fought to win responsible government from the British-appointed governors.
responsible government* is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
