Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal representative of the Canadian monarch and performs the monarch’s constitutional and ceremonial duties within Canada.
Role and responsibilities
The governor general:
- Grants Royal Assent to legislation
- Summons and dissolves Parliament
- Appoints the prime minister and Cabinet
- Serves as commander-in-chief of the Canadian Armed Forces
Appointment
The governor general is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister, typically for a fixed term.
Constitutional significance
Although the role is largely ceremonial, the governor general plays a key role in ensuring continuity and stability in Canada’s constitutional system.