SOCIAL STUDIES 11: GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY IN CANADA

Representative Democracy  Democracy = rule by people  Direct Democracy = all citizens voted and participated in all decisions  Representative Democracy= allow elected reps to make decisions on ppl’s behalf  Canada is classified as a rep democracy

Constitutional Monarchy  Canada has strong ties to Britain  Canada has adopted many British traditions  Constitutional Monarchy: –Recognition of a monarch as head of state –Does not actually rule..not involved in everyday affairs –Governor General represents the monarch

Constitutional Monarchy

Constitutional Monarchy con’t  In Canada, we have a constitution  Constitution –Legal document outlining powers and roles of govt officials –Supreme law of the land –Outlines structure of our government –Canada = constitutional monarchy …not even monarchs are exempt from the law

Canada’s Constitution  Signed by the Queen in 1982  Three main parts (written) –1) description of powers of provincial legislatures –2) Charter of Rights and Freedoms (for all CDNS) –3) Amending Formula (ways constitution may be changed) (7/10 provinces must agree for change to occur)

Federal System  Legislative and governing powers divided between the federal government, responsible for matters of concern to all Canadians, and provincial legislatures, responsible for matters of more local interest.   Canada is made up of ten provinces and three territories.

Levels of Govt in Canada  Three levels of govt  Federal (central) (Ottawa)  Provincial/Territorial (Alberta) (BC)  Municipal (cities) (Vancouver, Richmond)

Responsibilities  Federal (Ottawa)  Foreign policy, immigration, taxation, currency, criminal laws, transportation, defence, Aboriginals, postal  Provincial  Education, health care, provincial taxation, police, workers compensation, housing  Shared  Farming, pension plans, environment  Municipal  Libraries, local police, local schools, building permits, garbage

Parliamentary System  In Canada, powers of government are divided into 3 branches: –1)Executive –2)Legislative –3)Judicial

Legislative  Is the power to make laws  All three levels of government have power to make and amend laws

Executive  Power to make and apply govt. decisions and administer them through civil service  The Prime Minister and his or her Cabinet  In recent years, the Privy Council (PCO) and the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) have gained power at the expense of Cabinet  Controversial: some argue that PMO and PCO have too much power

Judicial  Power to interpret and administer the law  Governments do not have this power  Judiciary is separate from the government (objective) to ensure that govt. acts within boundaries of the Constitution  Judges have the power to strike down laws, but not to make new laws (unlike the U.S. Supreme Court)

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

CANADA’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Executive Branch  Executive branch consists of : –Prime Minister –Governor General –Cabinet –Backbenchers –Shadow Cabinet –Public Service

Prime Minister (PM)  Head of Canadian govt  Leader of cabinet  Leader of party with most representatives in House of Commons  Position dependent on support for his/her party in the House of Commons  PM and government must resign if there is a vote of non-confidence  Duties: –Act as voice of nation –Develop foreign trade and foreign policies –Recommend new judges and senators –Act as spokesperson for his/her party –To select Members of Parliament (MPs) –Advise Governor General when to dissolve parliament so that election may be called. Election occurs after a term (5 yrs)

Current PM  Stephen Harper  Conservative

Governor General  Monarch’s rep  Gives formal assent to a bill before it becomes a law  Ceremonial functions  Ensures that government abides by Constitution  Current G.G. : David Johnston

Cabinet  30 members roughly (can change as the PM wishes)  Selected by PM from majority party in House of Commons  PM tries to ensure that each province is represented  Have no set term  Remain in office until Parliament’s term expires, or PM removes them  As a group, Cabinet ministers decide on government policy (taxes, war involvement)  Cabinet ministers are able to discuss and disagree with each other behind closed doors but once a decision is made public = ministers are to support and agree =  Cabinet ministers are able to discuss and disagree with each other behind closed doors but once a decision is made public = ministers are to support and agree = Cabinet Solidarity  Given a particular portfolio – for example Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance

The Current Cabinet (2010)  The Current Cabinet (2010)

Backbenchers  Members of governing party who are not in Cabinet  Role is to support their party  At times may vote against party  Very little power

1. Speaker 2. Pages 3. Government Members 4. Opposition Members* 5. Prime Minister 6. Leader of the Official Opposition 7. Leader of the Second Largest Party in Opposition 8. Clerk and Table Officers 9. Mace 10. Hansard Reporters 11. Sergeant-at-Arms 12. The Bar 13. Interpreters 14. Press Gallery 15. Public Gallery 16. Official Gallery 17. Leader of the Opposition’s Gallery 18. Members’ Gallery 19. Members’ Gallery 20. Members’ Gallery 21. Speaker’s Gallery 22. Senate Gallery 23. T.V. Cameras 1. Speaker 2. Pages 3. Government Members 4. Opposition Members* 5. Prime Minister 6. Leader of the Official Opposition 7. Leader of the Second Largest Party in Opposition 8. Clerk and Table Officers 9. Mace 10. Hansard Reporters 11. Sergeant-at-Arms 12. The Bar 13. Interpreters 14. Press Gallery 15. Public Gallery 16. Official Gallery 17. Leader of the Opposition’s Gallery 18. Members’ Gallery 19. Members’ Gallery 20. Members’ Gallery 21. Speaker’s Gallery 22. Senate Gallery 23. T.V. Cameras The House of Commons

Shadow Cabinet and Public Service  Shadow Cabinet: MPs from the official opposition  Shadowing a specific minister  Act as critics of current government – i.e. “Health Critic”, or “Finance Critic”  Public Service/Civil Service:  Public servants, permanent employees  Act as a link between citizens and government  Day-to-day functions ex. Gather stats, delivering mail

Legislative Branch  Legislative also called Parliament or Legislature (provincial level)  Role is to debate, make and amend laws  Consists of: –House of Commons (elected, limited term) –Senate (unelected, appointed until age 75)

House of Commons  Also known as “lower house”  Has elected members (MPs)  Elections must occur every 5 yrs  Each MP represents a Riding  Riding = (Canada is divided into areas with population of 100,000)  As population increases, number of seats in House will increase  Currently 308 seats

House of Commons  Party that holds the greatest number of seats in House = government –Majority Government: winning party has more than 50% of all seats –Minority Government: winning party has less than 50% of all seats (must join with another party to form a government)  Second largest party = Official Opposition; their leader is called the Official Leader of the Opposition  Opposition holds the govt. accountable

Speaker of the House  Is an elected MP  Runs day to day business of the house  Maintains order in house  Acts as a referee and controls the debate

Senate  “Upper House”  Independent of House of Commons  Function: to review bills passed by House  Serves as a final check on decisions  Has power to make amendments and send the bill back to the House  Senate rarely rejects a bill passed by the House

Controversy Over Senate  Some Canadians (especially in Western Canada) feel that the Senate is a waste of money and should be abolished or at least reformed  Three issues: –1) No qualifications needed to be Senator – can be anyone the PM chooses –2) No accountability – Senators appointed until 75, no election, can abuse their position –3) Does not represent the interests of the whole country. Most senators derive from Ontario and Quebec.

Possible Solutions  One reform proposal: “Triple E” Senate: –Elected – just like MPs –Equal – better representation for areas outside Ontario and Quebec –Effective – make Senators accountable for their record