The governor does not have to prove that the minister is conducting in activities which endangers good governance. The governor exercises reserve powers which are exercised without the approval of any other branch of the government.
If you want to get technical, the Governor in our Westminister system is more of a ceremonial role. Yes, they can exercise reserve powers but they don't do so on their own - they do it through consultation. So yes, reserve powers can be exercised without strict approval but the Governors and Governors-General usually act on advice of the cabinet or perhaps the judiciary.
A Governor doesn't go around sacking ministers or throwing a government out of office simply because they have a strong belief that a responsible government is being endangered.
- Must the governor prove that minister conduct endangers good governance before a dismissal? Or can ministers be dismissed for any reason at the crown's choosing? (a study guide I read was slightly vague on that).
- What does exercise “prerogative of mercy” mean? (saw those words in the same study guide and have no idea).
Thanks. Sorry about all the basic questions. I don't have a legal class until Monday so haven't had a chance to have these cleared up yet.
These aren't basic questions. In fact they are outside the scope of the Study Design.
As for a "prerogative of mercy"... well you don't need to know that. But I did a quick google search for you and it's basically an old right (hence 'prerogative') of the Governors of each state to grant pardons/amnesty (hence 'mercy') to prisoners. I think your study guide was trying to give you some background/history on how reserve powers of the Crown came about but you definitely don't need to know this.