1. What is Government? Government is the word used to describe the group of people who make the laws in a country, province or town.

2. There are many different systems of government in the world. Monarchy is when the people are ruled by and king or queen. Monarchy is when the people are ruled by and king or queen.

3. Dictatorship is when one person has all the power. Dictators tell people what to do, often using the police and army to enforce their wishes. Dictatorship is when one person has all the power. Dictators tell people what to do, often using the police and army to enforce their wishes.

4. Anarchy is when there is no system of government in place. It is every person out for themselves – doing what they want to do, when they do it. Anarchy is when there is no system of government in place. It is every person out for themselves – doing what they want to do, when they do it.

5. What kind of government does Canada have? Canada is governed by a Democracy. This means that the people vote for a person to represent them and their interests and opinions in the government. Canada is governed by a Democracy. This means that the people vote for a person to represent them and their interests and opinions in the government.

6. A Constitutional Monarchy is where a Monarch existed and the people started to vote for their own people to represent them, but kept the Monarch on as a figurehead. A Constitutional Monarchy is where a Monarch existed and the people started to vote for their own people to represent them, but kept the Monarch on as a figurehead. As well as being a democracy, Canada is also considered a Constitutional Monarchy. As well as being a democracy, Canada is also considered a Constitutional Monarchy. Canada used to be a colony of Great Britain. When Canada became its own country in 1867, we kept the British Monarch Canada used to be a colony of Great Britain. When Canada became its own country in 1867, we kept the British Monarch as our own.

7. Canada’s current Monarch is… Queen Elizabeth II

8. Check up! What system of government does Canada have? What is a constitutional monarchy? Who is our current monarch?

9. Even though the Queen is just a figurehead, she is still the head of the government. The Queen Governor General Executive Branch The Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers Legislative Branch The Senate House of Commons Judicial Branch Supreme Court Federal Court Provincial Courts

10. Under the Queen is the Governor General. She is the Queen’s representative in Canada. All laws must be approved by her before they are passed. Under the Queen is the Governor General. She is the Queen’s representative in Canada. All laws must be approved by her before they are passed. The current Governor General is Michaëlle Jean.

11. Within the Executive Branch is the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Within the Executive Branch is the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Cabinet is made up of Members of Parliament who are chosen by the Prime Minister to be in charge of certain areas of the government, like fisheries, or health care, or agriculture. The Cabinet is made up of Members of Parliament who are chosen by the Prime Minister to be in charge of certain areas of the government, like fisheries, or health care, or agriculture. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons.

12. Within the Legislative Branch, there is the Senate and the House of Commons. Within the Legislative Branch, there is the Senate and the House of Commons. The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected by the citizens of Canada. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are also Members of Parliament (MPs). The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected by the citizens of Canada. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet are also Members of Parliament (MPs). The Senate is made up of Senators who are appointed by the Prime Minister. Once a Senator is appointed, they have the job until they quit, die or have to retire at 75.

13. The Judicial Branch is made up of the Supreme Court, the Federal Court of Canada and the Provincial Courts of Canada. The Judicial Branch is made up of the Supreme Court, the Federal Court of Canada and the Provincial Courts of Canada.

14. Check up! Who is the head of Canada’s government? Who makes up the Executive Branch? How is the Prime Minister chosen? Who is the Queen’s representative in Canada? Who is the cabinet? Who makes up the legislative branch? True or False – the Prime Minister and cabinet are also MPs?

15. On October 14 th, Canada will be having its 40 th General Election. Citizens across Canada will have the opportunity to vote for the Member of Parliament who will represent them in the House of Commons. Citizens across Canada will have the opportunity to vote for the Member of Parliament who will represent them in the House of Commons.

16. Canada is divided up into Ridings or Constituencies. Canada is divided up into Ridings or Constituencies. Each riding has its own Member of Parliament. Each riding has its own Member of Parliament. A city could have many ridings within it, while many towns and villages could all be in the same riding. A city could have many ridings within it, while many towns and villages could all be in the same riding. These ridings are based on population, not on area.

17. This map shows how many ridings are in each province. This map shows how many ridings are in each province.

18. Almost all Members of Parliament belong to a Political Party. Almost all Members of Parliament belong to a Political Party. Political parties are people who join together because they share the same views and ideas on how the country should be governed. Political parties are people who join together because they share the same views and ideas on how the country should be governed.

19. There are many political parties in Canada. Registered Political Parties Registered Political Parties Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada Bloc Québécois Bloc Québécois Bloc Québécois Bloc Québécois Canadian Action Party Canadian Action Party Canadian Action Party Canadian Action Party Christian Heritage Party of Canada Christian Heritage Party of Canada Christian Heritage Party of Canada Christian Heritage Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Communist Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada First Peoples National Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Green Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Libertarian Party of Canada Marijuana Party Marijuana Party Marijuana Party Marijuana Party Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada New Democratic Party New Democratic Party New Democratic Party New Democratic Party Newfoundland and Labrador First Party Newfoundland and Labrador First Party Newfoundland and Labrador First Party Newfoundland and Labrador First Party People's Political Power Party of Canada People's Political Power Party of Canada People's Political Power Party of Canada People's Political Power Party of Canada Progressive Canadian Party Progressive Canadian Party Progressive Canadian Party Progressive Canadian Party Western Block Party Western Block Party Western Block Party Western Block Party Work Less Party Work Less Party Work Less Party Work Less Party

20. But the main political parties are: The Bloc Quebecois The Conservative Party of Canada The Liberal Party of Canada The New Democratic Party

21. Voters usually vote for the candidate in their riding who belongs to the political party that they support. Voters usually vote for the candidate in their riding who belongs to the political party that they support. The leader of the political party who has the most elected Members of Parliament becomes Prime Minster. The leader of the political party who has the most elected Members of Parliament becomes Prime Minster. If the candidate gets the most votes in their riding, then they will go to Ottawa to represent that riding as a Member of Parliament. If the candidate gets the most votes in their riding, then they will go to Ottawa to represent that riding as a Member of Parliament.

22. Jack Layton – New Democratic Party Stephane Dion – Liberals Stephen Harper – Conservatives Gilles Duceppe – Bloc Quebecois The leaders of the main political parties are:

23. Check up! What is a riding? How are ridings decided? What is a political party? What are the four main political parties in Canada?

24. Oakbank is in the riding of Provencher. Oakbank is in the riding of Provencher.

25. Janine Gibson – Green Party of Canada Shirley Hiebert- Liberal Party of Canada Ross Martin – New Democratic Party David Reimer – Christian Heritage Party of Canada Vic Toews – Conservative Party of Canada The following are the candidates running for Member of Parliament in the riding of Provencher.

26. On October 10 th, every student in grade six at Springfield Middle School will have the opportunity to participate in Student Vote – a program organized by Elections Canada. On October 10 th, every student in grade six at Springfield Middle School will have the opportunity to participate in Student Vote – a program organized by Elections Canada.

27. Using ballots created by Elections Canada, our election will give grade six students the experience of voting in a real democratic election. Using ballots created by Elections Canada, our election will give grade six students the experience of voting in a real democratic election. The results from our election will be sent in and combined with other schools from across Canada and announced along with the actual results the day after the election, October 15th.

28. The End