Structure of Structure of GovernmentGovernment

Federal and ProvincialFederal and Provincial

Parliament of CanadaParliament of Canada Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts:Canada’s Parliament consists of three parts:

The QueenThe Queen The SenateThe Senate The House of CommonsThe House of Commons

They work together to make the laws for our country.They work together to make the laws for our country. The The executive branchexecutive branch consists of the Queen, the consists of the Queen, the

Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the departments of government. They implement the laws.government. They implement the laws.

The The legislative branchlegislative branch makes the laws. makes the laws. And the And the judicial branchjudicial branch — which is not part of — which is not part of

Parliament — applies the laws.Parliament — applies the laws.

Parliament of CanadaParliament of Canada

The QueenThe Queen Canada is a constitutional monarchy. This Canada is a constitutional monarchy. This

means that the laws governing Canada means that the laws governing Canada recognize the Queen as the formal Head recognize the Queen as the formal Head of State. All federal laws are made in the of State. All federal laws are made in the Queen’s name. She also performs many Queen’s name. She also performs many important ceremonial duties when visiting important ceremonial duties when visiting Canada.Canada.

The Governor GeneralThe Governor General The Governor General is the Queen’s representative in Canada. The Governor General is the Queen’s representative in Canada.

The Queen appoints the Governor General on the advice of the The Queen appoints the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Governor General usually serves for five years. Prime Minister. The Governor General usually serves for five years.

One of the most important roles of the Governor General is to One of the most important roles of the Governor General is to ensure that Canada always has a Prime Minister. For example, if no ensure that Canada always has a Prime Minister. For example, if no party had a clear majority after an election, or if the Prime Minister party had a clear majority after an election, or if the Prime Minister were to die in office, the Governor General would have to choose a were to die in office, the Governor General would have to choose a successor.successor.

The Governor General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and The Governor General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The duties of the Governor General include the following: Cabinet. The duties of the Governor General include the following: summoning, opening and ending sessions of Parliament; reading summoning, opening and ending sessions of Parliament; reading the Speech from the Throne; giving Royal Assent to bills; signing the Speech from the Throne; giving Royal Assent to bills; signing state documents; and dissolving Parliament for an election.state documents; and dissolving Parliament for an election.

The SenateThe Senate The Senate studies, amends and either rejects or approves bills The Senate studies, amends and either rejects or approves bills

passed by the House of Commons. It can also introduce its own passed by the House of Commons. It can also introduce its own bills, except those to spend public money or impose taxes, which bills, except those to spend public money or impose taxes, which must be introduced in the House of Commons. No bill can become must be introduced in the House of Commons. No bill can become law until it has been passed by the Senate. Senators also study law until it has been passed by the Senate. Senators also study major social, legal and economic issues through their committee major social, legal and economic issues through their committee work.work.

One of the duties of the Senate is to represent the interests of One of the duties of the Senate is to represent the interests of Canada’s regions, provinces, territories and minority groups. Seats Canada’s regions, provinces, territories and minority groups. Seats in the Senate are distributed to give each major region of the in the Senate are distributed to give each major region of the country equal representation.country equal representation.

The Senate has 105 members. Senators are appointed by the The Senate has 105 members. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and hold office until age 75.hold office until age 75.

Distribution of Senate SeatsDistribution of Senate Seats

The House of CommonsThe House of Commons The House of Commons is the major law-making body in The House of Commons is the major law-making body in

Parliament. In the Commons Chamber, Members devote most of Parliament. In the Commons Chamber, Members devote most of their time to debating and voting on bills. The Chamber is also a their time to debating and voting on bills. The Chamber is also a place where Members represent constituents’ views, discuss place where Members represent constituents’ views, discuss

national issues and call on the government to explain its actions.national issues and call on the government to explain its actions. How do you become a Member of Parliament (MP)? By running in a How do you become a Member of Parliament (MP)? By running in a

federal election, which is held about every four years. In each of the federal election, which is held about every four years. In each of the country’s 308 constituencies, or ridings, the candidate who gets the country’s 308 constituencies, or ridings, the candidate who gets the most votes is elected to the House of Commons, even if he or she most votes is elected to the House of Commons, even if he or she gets less than half of the total votes. gets less than half of the total votes.

Seats in the House of Commons are distributed roughly in Seats in the House of Commons are distributed roughly in proportion to the population of each province and territory. In proportion to the population of each province and territory. In general, the more people in a province or territory, the more general, the more people in a province or territory, the more Members it has in the House of Commons. Every province or Members it has in the House of Commons. Every province or territory must have at least as many Members in the Commons as it territory must have at least as many Members in the Commons as it has in the Senate.has in the Senate.

The House of Commons & The House of Commons & Distribution of SeatsDistribution of Seats

How A Bill Becomes A LawHow A Bill Becomes A Law

Who’s Who in the House of Who’s Who in the House of Parliament?Parliament?

1. Speaker2. Pages3. Government Members4. Opposition Members*5. Prime Minister6. Leader of the Official Opposition7. Leader of the Second Largest Party in Opposition8. Clerk and Table Officers9. Mace10. Hansard Reporters11. Sergeant-at-Arms12. The Bar

13. Interpreters14. Press Gallery15. Public Gallery16. Official Gallery17. Leader of the Opposition’s Gallery18. Members’ Gallery19. Members’ Gallery20. Members’ Gallery21. Speaker’s Gallery22. Senate Gallery23. T.V. Cameras

* Depending on the number of MPs elected from each political party, government Members may be seated on the opposite side of the Chamber with opposition Members (or vice versa).

The SpeakerThe Speaker

After each general election, the Members of the House After each general election, the Members of the House of Commons elect a Speaker from among MPs by secret of Commons elect a Speaker from among MPs by secret ballot. The Speaker presides over the House of ballot. The Speaker presides over the House of Commons and ensures that everyone respects its rules Commons and ensures that everyone respects its rules and traditions. The Speaker must be impartial and apply and traditions. The Speaker must be impartial and apply the rules to all Members equally. the rules to all Members equally.

The Speaker represents the Commons in dealings with The Speaker represents the Commons in dealings with the Senate and the Crown. The Speaker is also the Senate and the Crown. The Speaker is also responsible for the administration of the House and its responsible for the administration of the House and its staff and has many diplomatic and social duties.staff and has many diplomatic and social duties.

The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is the leader of the party in The Prime Minister is the leader of the party in power and is the Head of Government.power and is the Head of Government.

A Prime Minister’s duties include presiding over A Prime Minister’s duties include presiding over Cabinet meetings, meeting official foreign Cabinet meetings, meeting official foreign delegations to Ottawa and answering questions delegations to Ottawa and answering questions in the House of Commons.in the House of Commons.

Since the Prime Minister is usually a Member of Since the Prime Minister is usually a Member of Parliament (two Prime Ministers who held office Parliament (two Prime Ministers who held office in the 1890s were Senators), he or she also in the 1890s were Senators), he or she also spends time helping constituents.spends time helping constituents.

The CabinetThe Cabinet

The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet Ministers, and The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet Ministers, and the Governor General formally appoints them. Most are the Governor General formally appoints them. Most are MPs, and there is always at least one representative MPs, and there is always at least one representative from the Senate. The Prime Minister and Cabinet meet from the Senate. The Prime Minister and Cabinet meet regularly to discuss and decide on important issues regularly to discuss and decide on important issues affecting Canada. These issues concern government affecting Canada. These issues concern government spending, ideas for bills, and new policies, programs and spending, ideas for bills, and new policies, programs and services. Most Cabinet Ministers are in charge of a services. Most Cabinet Ministers are in charge of a government department and they report on their government department and they report on their department’s activities to Parliament. department’s activities to Parliament.

The Cabinet Cont’dThe Cabinet Cont’d A key feature of Cabinet is the concept of A key feature of Cabinet is the concept of collective collective

responsibilityresponsibility, which means that all Ministers share , which means that all Ministers share responsibility for the administration of government and responsibility for the administration of government and for the government’s policies. They must all support a for the government’s policies. They must all support a Cabinet decision. They may not agree with it, but they Cabinet decision. They may not agree with it, but they have to support it in public. If a Minister cannot support a have to support it in public. If a Minister cannot support a decision, he or she must resign from Cabinet. decision, he or she must resign from Cabinet.

Another important feature of our parliamentary system is Another important feature of our parliamentary system is responsible governmentresponsible government. This means that the . This means that the government must have the support of the majority of government must have the support of the majority of Members in the House of Commons to stay in power. In Members in the House of Commons to stay in power. In the British tradition, if the government loses a vote on a the British tradition, if the government loses a vote on a major measure, or on any motion of non-confidence, it is major measure, or on any motion of non-confidence, it is expected to resign or to ask the Governor General to call expected to resign or to ask the Governor General to call a general election.a general election.

The Official OppositionThe Official Opposition The role of the Official Opposition is to challenge The role of the Official Opposition is to challenge

government policies, hold the government accountable government policies, hold the government accountable for its actions and give voters an alternative in the next for its actions and give voters an alternative in the next election. Generally, the Leader of the Opposition is the election. Generally, the Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the party with the second largest membership leader of the party with the second largest membership in the Commons. This person leads opposition debates in the Commons. This person leads opposition debates and suggests changes to government legislation or and suggests changes to government legislation or alternative proposals. Each opposition party in the alternative proposals. Each opposition party in the Commons has its own leader and appoints critics from Commons has its own leader and appoints critics from among its members. Each critic handles a certain among its members. Each critic handles a certain subject, such as health or defence. They present their subject, such as health or defence. They present their party’s policies on the subject and comment on party’s policies on the subject and comment on government policies.government policies.

Provincial GovernmentsProvincial Governments

Provincial governments are very similar to the Provincial governments are very similar to the federal government, with some small changes:federal government, with some small changes: The leader of the government is called the Premier The leader of the government is called the Premier

(except in Quebec)(except in Quebec) The legislature is The legislature is unicameralunicameral (has only one house) (has only one house)

and goes by different names in different provinces. and goes by different names in different provinces. (There is no equivalent to the Senate.)(There is no equivalent to the Senate.)

The Queen is represented by the Lieutenant-The Queen is represented by the Lieutenant-GovernorGovernor

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch

Canada has a unified judicial system.Canada has a unified judicial system. The top court is the Supreme Court of Canada. The top court is the Supreme Court of Canada. Rulings of the Supreme Court may not be appealed, they Rulings of the Supreme Court may not be appealed, they

are final.are final. The Supreme court may provide references to the The Supreme court may provide references to the

government on the constitutionality of a proposed law.government on the constitutionality of a proposed law.

The Judicial Branch Cont’dThe Judicial Branch Cont’d

The provinces run most of the courts in the country.The provinces run most of the courts in the country. Each province has several layers of courts which a case Each province has several layers of courts which a case

can move through.can move through. In Ontario, the courts lowest to highest are:In Ontario, the courts lowest to highest are:

Provincial Courts (small criminal cases, traffic, small Provincial Courts (small criminal cases, traffic, small claims etc.)claims etc.)

Ontario Superior CourtOntario Superior Court Ontario Court of AppealsOntario Court of Appeals

All judges are appointed by the P.M. until retirement (age All judges are appointed by the P.M. until retirement (age 75)75)