Theory question 109
Colonial Administration(a) Distinguish between a Secretary of State for the Colonies and a Governor-General in the British Colonial administration.
(b) Highlight five functions of the Governor-General in the British West Africa shortly after independence.
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(a) The Secretary of State for the Colonies was a British cabinet minister in London, answerable to Parliament, who made and supervised colonial policy for all colonies; the Governor (later Governor-General) was the Crown's representative and chief executive inside a particular colony, who carried out that policy locally and reported to the Secretary of State.
(b) Any five (as ceremonial head of state representing the Queen): appointed the Prime Minister (leader of the majority party) and, on his advice, ministers; gave assent to bills; summoned, prorogued and dissolved parliament on advice; exercised the prerogative of mercy; appointed judges and senior officials on advice; formally commanded the armed forces; received foreign envoys and performed ceremonial functions; read the speech from the throne.
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