Ruptures and Continuities in the Westminster Model

More than 50 British colonies and former colonies in many parts of the world adopted the Westminster model of parliamentary government when they became Dominions, or when they gained independence.

This conference will address what happened next. The Westminster model was adapted and transformed to fit new realities in diverse political and social conditions, and in some countries it was abandoned altogether. Commonalities can be found among these various developments. But national variations and differences of interpretation provide opportunities for conversation on how the model has worked and how it has failed, and on its significance today for constitutionalism and comparative legal theory.

We will focus on the most striking common features in this constitutional model: a parliament modelled on Parliament in Westminster, and a parliamentary executive (that is, a Prime Minister is appointed by reference to party representation in the parliament; the Prime Minister selects other ministers and can dismiss them; and the whole government is accountable to the parliament).