The Politics and Goverment of New Brunswick New Brunswick has a parliamentary form of government. The lieutenant governor, the nominal head of government, is appointed, usually for five years, by the federal government.
Actual power is held by the premier, who typically leads the strongest party in the legislature.
The unicameral Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick consists of 58 members popularly elected for a maximum of five years, subject to earlier dissolution. The highest court in the province, the Court of Appeal, consists of a chief justice and five other judges. The Court of Queen's Bench includes a trial division, with a total of 20 judges, and a family division, with 8 judges. Minor cases are tried in provincial courts, with judges who are appointed by the provincial government. Since 1967 counties have been replaced by the provincial government as the principal agent of local administration.