Book Description

Although they are central to the democratic process in Canada, surprisingly little has been published about some of the provincial legislatures and those of the Yukon and Northwest territories. In this volume, scholars and legislative staff members provide an overview of the role of provincial and territorial legislatures in governmental processes and in shaping their respective societies.A number of common themes are addressed: the historical development of the individual legislatures; the influence of political culture; the social backgrounds of the members; the structure and effectiveness of the committee system; the influence of political parties and of local customs on members' behaviour; mechanisms for enhancing government accountabiolity; members' services and facilities; and recent reforms.Together these papers offer an accessible and straightforward guide to key political institutions, revealing both the elements they share and those that make each legislature distinctive.