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administration (Government departments), with the endorsement of the Executive Council, or as a consequence of proposals emanating from a Select Committee of the Legislative Council.

Dissolution of the Legislative Council

13.

Dealloch might asse

Under the present system the Governor has the power to dissolve the Legislative Council before the expiration of its normal term of three years. Such a power exists in many systems as a means Yof resolving a deadlock between the Executive and the Legislature, in the event of fundamental and irreconcilable dispute over the budget,

in the event of refuse by the leading to the legislature refusing to vote funds, or to agree major legislature government policies or legislation. The power operates to provide an incentive to both executive and legislature to avoid deadlock,

and also as a means to resolve such a deadlock should it occur. The

Council has never been dissolved in this manner, as far as is known,

nor has any situation arisen which might have led to such action

being contemplated.

14.

The same power of dissolution could be given to the Chief

Executive. Alternatively some other mechanism for the resolution of

a deadlock if it occurred, might be

be adopted. There are also mechanisms which can provide for automatic dissolution, eg if

eg if the legislature fails to pass the budget on it being presented to them the second time; or the Chief Executive refuses to sign a law passed by the legislature with a prescribed minimum of votes (eg two thirds

of the total membership of the legislature). There are other possibilities. Whatever system is adopted it should by its nature

provide an incentive to a resolution of disputes, rather than a means by which one side might seek to gain advantage over the

other.

Whatever

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Whatever the mechanism which he is how Firm, there will site ervises for the

within a certain perint

election (1 a

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with the excecutive.

legislature what might be able to work

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