canadian & world politics model parliament background information

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Model ParliamentBACKGROUND INFORMATION

Model Parliament

1. Why Study Parliament?

2. The Parliamentary Day

3. Who’s Who in Parliament?

4. How a Bill Becomes Law

Why Study Parliament?

• Before we learn about Parliament and have a model Parliament session, answer some diagnostic questions:– Observe …– Reflect …– Think about …– What if …


Centre Block

West Block

East Block

Langevin Block


Centre Block


Peace Tower


House of Commons Mace


House Chamber


House Speaker’s Chair


Senate Chamber


Senate Speaker’s Chair

Sovereign’s Chair


Library of Parliament

The Parliamentary Day

• Before a regular sitting of Parliament can occur…– Election of the Speaker of the House of Commons– Speech from the Throne


• Election of the Speaker– The Deputy Governor General (who is the Chief

Justice of the Supreme Court) convenes Parliament and calls in the Members of the House of Commons.

– He or she informs the Members of the House that the Governor General does not see fit to open Parliament without a Speaker in place.

– The Members return to the House and, under the direction of the Dean of the House, elects themselves a Speaker by secret ballot.


• Election of the Speaker (con’d)– A Member with an official Government or House role

is ineligible to become Speaker. All remaining Members are candidates for Speaker unless he or she withdraws his or her name from the ballot.

– Each candidate is entitled to make a short speech.– Voting is then done by secret ballot. To become

Speaker, a Member must receive 50% + 1 of the votes cast. If no Member receives a majority of the votes cast, then the Member with the lowest vote count is dropped from the ballot and a subsequent vote is held. This continues until a Member receives a majority of the votes cast.


• Election of the Speaker (con’d)– The winner is escorted to the Speaker's chair by the

Prime Minister and Leader of the Official Opposition.– The newly elected

Speaker, by tradition, feigns reluctance as he is "dragged" to the chair in a practice dating from the days when British Speakers risked execution if the news they reported to the King was displeasing.


• Speech from the Throne– The day following the election of the Speaker of the

House, the Governor General will arrive on Parliament Hill, where he or she will receive a 21 gun salute and will inspect the Honour Guard.

– The Governor General then proceeds to the Senate Chamber where the Senators, Supreme Court Justices, the Diplomatic Corps, former Prime Ministers, and invited guests of the Government await

– The Governor General then summons the Members of the House to the bar of the Senate Chamber.


• Speech from the Throne


• In the House of Commons…– Opening Exercises– Routine Proceedings– Government Orders– MP’s Statements– Question Period– Government Orders– Private Members’ Business– Adjournment Proceedings


• Opening of Sitting– At the Opening of the Sitting, the Speaker reads a

prayer, after which he or she orders that the doors be opened to allow the public to enter the galleries. The daily business then commences.

• Routine Proceedings: Tabling of Documents– At this point, a Minister in the House of Commons

has the opportunity to table a report or document for the House of Commons to consider. This makes the item a public document.


• Routine Proceedings: Introduction of Government Bills– When a bill is introduced, it becomes part of

Parliament's agenda for that session. The text of the bill is printed and distributed, and serves as the focus for the detailed discussions that will follow during second reading and later stages in the legislative process.


• Members' Statements – Members' Statements allow MPs to raise issues

important to them and/or their specific regions. This procedure enables them to be heard and to draw the Government's attention to a problem of local, national or international interest.


• Routine Proceedings: Presentation of Reports from Committees – Committees are assigned to look into specific issues.

They also study bills that are referred to them, normally after second reading, and at this point they present their reports. These reports summarize the opinion of the majority of each committee's members. MPs who are not in agreement may also get the opportunity to voice their opinion.


• Private Members' Business – This part of the day is reserved for the consideration

of business sponsored by an MP, that is, by any parliamentarian who is not part of the Cabinet.

• Routine Proceedings: Presentation of Petitions – Petitions are one way Canadians can make

themselves heard in Parliament. Petitions are taken seriously when large numbers of people support issues and can result in major changes.


• Government Orders: Second Reading, Report Stage or Third Reading of a Government Bill – During second reading, the bill is subjected to a

thorough debate for the first time. The Opposition is able to criticize both the underlying policy that the bill expresses, and its specific purpose. The Government defends it. Speeches alternate between those in favour and those opposed.


• Question Period – Question Period allows the Opposition and

Government backbenchers to ask for information and to question the Government on any matter within federal responsibility that they feel is in the public interest. The importance of Question Period is the fact that any MP, without advance notice, can ask any Minister any question relating to his or her portfolio. It is a means of holding the Government of the day accountable.


• Committee Meetings – Committee consideration of a bill allows

parliamentarians to consider opinions from experts on the subject of the bill. They may also hear from those groups and individuals who will be affected by its provisions. Parliamentarians of both chambers can then propose amendments to the bill that reflect the viewpoints they hear from witnesses, as well as their own conclusions.


• Adjournment Proceedings – After a motion to adjourn the Commons has been

moved, an MP who is not satisfied with the answer he or she received during Question Period can raise the matter during the adjournment debate.

Who’s Who in Parliament?

• There are many “key players” in Parliament who are essential for the government to operate.

• Read the descriptions of some of the key players on the following slides and identify their job title.

• They may be elected politicians or official employees of Parliament.


• I am the head of a group that carefully examines bills and other matters. During our meetings, I must ensure fairness, keep parliamentarians on track and keep order. I must also report back to the House on the work of the group.

• Who am I?

• Committee Chair


• I am an MP who has been chosen by the Prime Minister to be part of his Cabinet. Therefore, in addition to the regular duties of an MP, I have the added responsibility of heading a government department. My busy schedule includes attending Cabinet meetings where we make key government decisions. We also talk about starting up bills we would like to see made into law.

• Who am I?

• Minister


• I am the elected leader of the Canadian people. I select Cabinet Ministers from among my party MPs to head the various government departments. I meet with the leaders of other countries to discuss international matters.

• Who am I?

• Prime Minister

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper


• I am an advisor to the Speaker of the Senate and the Senators, keeper of all Senate documents and supervisor of all Senate staff. I wear a traditional black gown.

• Who am I?

• Clerk of the Senate

Gary O’Brien


• I am guardian of the Mace. I play a ceremonial role in the Commons and my duties are centred on the security of parliamentarians and visitors while they are within the parliamentary precincts.

• Who am I?

• Sergeant-at-Arms

Kevin Vickers


• I preside over the sittings of the Senate, read the motions and put forward the questions to which the Senate must respond with a vote. It is important that I enforce all of the Senate rules. I represent the Senate in Canada and abroad.

• Who am I?

• Speaker of the Senate

The Honourable Noël Kinsella


• I am responsible for presiding over the sittings of the Commons. I must be fair and impartial and maintain order at all times. I also hear points of order and questions of privilege, make rulings based on precedent and practice, and represent the House of Commons in Canada and abroad.

• Who am I?

• Speaker of the House of Commons

The Honourable Andrew Scheer


• I was elected by the people in my riding to hold a seat in the House of Commons. I spend much of my time on Parliament Hill. Also, much of my time is devoted to dealing with the concerns and problems of my constituents. Because of this I regularly return to my riding to keep in close contact.

• Who am I?

• Member of Parliament (MP)


• My party has the second largest number of seats in the House of Commons. As party leader, I meet with my caucus to discuss strategy and alternatives to government policies, speak daily in the House of Commons, and provide Canadians with an alternative to the present Government.

• Who am I?

• Leader of the Official Opposition

The Honourable Thomas Mulcair


• I was chosen by the Prime Minister to serve in the "Upper House" of Parliament. After bills have passed through the House of Commons, they must be sent to our House for approval. It can also work the other way around. Bills may be started in our House, but must later go to the House of Commons for approval.

• Who am I?

• Senator


• I am the chief procedural advisor to the Speaker and MPs. I also have extensive duties related to the overall management of the House of Commons.

• Who am I?

• Clerk of the House

Audrey O’Brien


• I am the senior official to Canada’s Head of State and, in addition to having overall responsibility for all aspects of the management and operations of that office, act as the senior advisor to the Head of State. I am also responsible for all aspects of the vice-regal program.

• Who am I?

• Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor Stephen Wallace


• I am sign bills into law that have been passed by both Houses of Parliament. I also appoint Senators and other government officials on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Finally, I am the Head of Canada’s military.

• Who am I?

• Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces

His Excellency The Right Honourable David Johnston


• I fill in for Canada’s Head of State when he or she is unavailable to sign bills into law, make appointments, or dissolve Parliament.

• Who am I?

• Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and Deputy Governor General

The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin


• I am a floor officer of the Senate and am responsible for security in the Senate Chamber. I also leads the daily Speaker's Parade to and from the Senate Chamber and am responsible for the Page program.

• Who am I?

• Usher of the Black Rod

Kevin MacLeod


• I am the Member of Parliament who has the longest unbroken service in the House, and am not a member of the Cabinet. I preside over the election of the Speaker of the House of Commons.

• Who am I?

• Dean of the House

M. Louis Plamondon

How a Bill Becomes Law

• Fill in the chart at right that describes the steps that are taken for a bill to become law in Canada’s Parliament.

First Reading

Second Reading

Third Reading

Committee Stage

Report Stage

Passed to Senate

Royal Assent

PARLIAMENT

Crown


• First Reading– Introduction

• Second Reading– Debate basic principle of the bill– Propose amendments

• Committee Stage– Details of bill are debated and amended by committee

members (there are several different committees)– Witnesses may be called to provide information


• Report Stage– Any MP may propose amendments, but must be in

writing and in advance– Amendments must not alter the principle of the bill

• Third Reading– Debate basic principle of the bill– Propose amendments or refer back to committee

• Passed to the Senate– Where this entire process is repeated in the other

chamber!


• Royal Assent– Only once both Houses of Parliament have approved

the bill in the same form (if one house changes the bill, it must return to the other house for re-approval)

– Signified by an official ceremony in the Senate OR by written declaration from Rideau Hall or the Supreme Court (the Chief Justice is the Deputy Governor General of Canada)

• Proclamation– Act is published in the Canada Gazette– Comes into force on date published OR when

proclaimed by the “Governor in Council” (the Cabinet)


• The MPs are summoned to the Senate Chamber by the Governor General

• MPs enter only as far as the “bar” of the house


• Governor General nods his or her approval of the bill as it is described to him or her.

• Bill is now an “Act of Parliament” and is law!


www.canadagazette.gc.ca

Or for more information on Canada’s Parliament

www.parl.gc.ca

canadian & world politics model parliament background information

Documents

lawwhy study parliament

open parliament

parliament hill

regular sitting of parliament

model parliament session

house role

house of commonsspeech

elected speaker