C-003 Ministerial Responsibilities Act, 2017 (M.R.A. 2017)

Ministerial Responsibilities Act, 2017

Section

1 Responsibility of Cabinet

2 Cabinet Reports

3 Retention of Records

4 Attorney General

5 Ministry of Communications

6 Deputy Premier

7 Ministry of Finance

8 Ministry of Heritage

9 Transfer of Office

10 Cabinet Ministers

Deputy Ministers

Committees

11 Amendments

12 Commencement

An Act Determining the Responsibilities, the Duties, the Terms of Office, and Other Matters Pertaining to Cabinet Ministers of the Seaton Youth Government.

WHEREAS the Premier requires a Cabinet in order to carry out the wishes of the Legislative Assembly.

THEREFORE, the W. L. Seaton Administration, by and with the advice and consent of the Seaton Youth Government, enacts as follows:

Responsibility of Cabinet

1

(1) Cabinet Ministers shall be responsible to the Legislative Assembly for the activities of their ministries while the Assembly is in Session.

(2) Following the Prorogation of the House, Cabinet Ministers shall be responsible to the Premier.

Cabinet Reports

2 Cabinet Ministers shall make written reports to the Premier at such times as the Premier may require.

Retention of Records

3 Every Cabinet Minister, House Leader or person appointed by the Premier shall be responsible for the maintenance of a file of all important papers pertaining to the person’s Ministries.

Attorney General

4

(1) There shall be a Ministry of the Attorney General, whose head shall be called the Attorney General.

(2) The Seaton Youth Government Act and the Ministerial Responsibilities Act shall be under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General, in consultation with the Premier.

(3) The Attorney General shall be responsible for the composition of Government-sponsored legislation.

(4) The Attorney General shall scrutinize all Private Members’ Resolutions before they are forwarded to the Speaker for approval.

(5) The Attorney General shall submit to the Senate all government sponsored legislation passed at the Session within one week of the said legislation being given Royal Assent.

Ministry of Communications

5

(1) There shall be a Ministry of Communications whose head shall be called the Minister of Communications.

(2) The Minister of Communications shall be responsible for coordinating a publication regarding the current state and actions of Seaton Youth Government.

(3) This publication shall be

(a) created and published every second month of the Minister’s term of office,

(b) distributed in the most cost-efficient way, as decided by the Minister of Communications in consultation with the Minister of Finance,

(c) distributed to

(i) Members,

(ii) House Servants, and

(iii) any interested party willing to pay their distribution costs.

(4) The Minister of Communications shall be responsible for the Seaton Youth Government World Wide Web home page, to include the following:

(a) information about Seaton Youth Government including

(i) the history and purpose of the organization,

(ii) a description of upcoming Seaton Youth Government events,

(iii) the current issue of the Seaton Youth Government publication, and

(iv) all legislation passed by the House;

(b) e-mail links to consenting Members of Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet of Seaton Youth Government;

(c) e-mail links to all consenting Members of Seaton Youth Government.

Deputy Premier

6

(1) There shall be a Ministry of the Deputy Premier, whose head shall be called the Deputy Premier.

(2) The Deputy Premier shall assist the Premier in fulfilling his or her specified duties as laid out in the Ministerial Responsibilities Act and the Seaton Youth Government Act.

(3) In the event of circumstances which prohibit the Premier from fulfilling his or her duties, the Deputy Premier shall act in his or her place until such time as the Premier resumes his or her duties or forfeits his or her position so that an election can take place as provided for in the Seaton Youth Government Act.

Ministry of Finance

7

(1) There shall be a Ministry of Finance, whose head shall be called the Minister of Finance.

(2) The Minister of Finance shall be responsible for the presentation of written financial statements of Seaton Youth Government funds held in trust to the members of Cabinet upon request.

(3) The Minister of Finance shall be responsible for any fundraising activities.

(4) The Minister of Finance shall be responsible for a written explanation at the Session of fundraising procedures should an explanation be requested by the House.

(5) Until such time as a Minister of Finance is appointed, the Deputy Premier shall perform the duties of Minister of Finance

In the case that no person is appointed Minister of Finance, the Ministry of Finance shall be the responsibility of the Deputy Premier.

Ministry of Heritage

8

(1) There shall be a Ministry of Heritage, whose head shall be called the Minister of Heritage.

(2) The Minister of Heritage shall be responsible for the collection and maintenance of historical documents and other data concerning the Seaton Youth Government which must be housed in both a physical and digital form.

(3) The Minister of Heritage shall table a report at the first sitting of each Session outlining the state of the archives.

(4) This report shall

(a) outline any developments in the Seaton Youth Government Archives, and

(b) provide relevant historical facts and trivia.

(5) The Minister of Heritage shall be responsible for taking a photograph of all participants at Session and a group photo at Session.

Transfer of Office

9

(1) There shall be a written Continuity Report prepared by the outgoing House Leaders and Cabinet Ministers.

(2) These Reports shall

(a) contain a detailed account of their policy and administration,

(b) include recommendations for their successors,

(c) be submitted to the Premier of the upcoming Parliament by January 1st.

Cabinet Ministers

Deputy Ministers

10

(1) Cabinet Ministers shall have the option of appointing a Deputy Minister of their choosing, at any time deemed necessary (with the approval of the premier)

Cabinet Ministers to Consult

(2) Cabinet Ministers shall carry out the provisions of their Ministries in consultation with Cabinet and Senate.

Amendment

11 This Act may only be amended by an Act of Parliament.

Commencement

12 This Act shall come into effect September 30, 2017

**CARRIED**

**RATIFIED**