 How effectively does Canada’s federal political system govern? Chapter 1

 The Federal Government in Canada What is the structure of Canada’s federal politcal system?

First: Canada’s Constitution  Canada’s constitution is the law that describes governance in Canada. It sets out the role of the governor general, and the different roles the three branches of government!

Question: Who is our head of state?

Three Branches  Executive  Legislation  Judicial Each branch is responsible for different tasks and operates as a check on each other’s power. The system ensures that no single branch can become too powerful!

The Executive Branch  The executive branch includes the prime minister (PM) and cabinet.  The prime minister is the head of Canada’s government. To become PM, you must be elected as the leader of a political party, then you must be elected as a member of parliament. The party you lead must also win the most seats in the House of Commons (we will talk about this later).  The PM and cabinet run the day-to-day business of government.  The cabinet proposes ideas that become laws!

Wait! What’s a Political Party?  A political party is a group of people who have similar ideas about how government should respond to issues facing society. Political parties put forward candidates in elections and seek to form the government. Each party develops policies based on the shared value of its members.

Party time!

Rhino Party of Canada  The Rhinoceros Party of Canada was a registered political party from 1963 to The party’s policy was to not keep any of its promises and was designed to amuse voters. Rhinoceros Party members claimed to be the descendants of a Brazilian rhinoceros.  The party’s leader was a rhinoceros who lived in the Granby Zoo located east of Montréal, Québec.

Objectives  Ban guns and butter because they both kill.  Ban lousy Canadian winters.  Build a bridge from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island.  Repeal the law of gravity.  Provide higher education by building taller schools.  Tear down the Rocky Mountains so that Albertans can see the sunset on the Pacific Ocean.  End crime by abolishing all laws.

The Cabinet  The cabinet includes the people with responsibility for different government departments and agencies – or portfolios – such as health and finance.  Members of cabinet (cabinet ministers) are elected MPs belonging to the leading political party in the HOC.  The PM chooses cabinet ministers!

The Legislative Branch  Includes the House of Commons, the Senate and the governor general (queens representative).

What does the legislative branch do?  The House of Commons is the major law-making body in Canada’s federal system  Members of parliament, or MPs, are the members of the House of Commons. Voters elect them!  MPs debate, study and vote on laws proposed for Canada, called bills.  Each MP represents the voters of one riding, or district.

HOC  Most MPs belong to political parties. The party with the most MPs forms the government. The other parties form opposition!  MPs must represent the constituents in their riding and create legislation that promotes peace, order and good government for ALL Canadians.

Branches of Government - CAN The Farm (Official Residence of the Speaker of the House) The Speaker also has an apartment inside the Centre Block! Stornoway (Official Residence of the Leader of the Official Opposition)

 Representation in the House of Commons is by population!

Federal Election 2011 Rendition of party representation in the 41st Canadian Parliament decided by this election Conservatives (166) New Democrats (103) Liberals (34) Bloc Québécois (4) Green Party (1)

Majority & Minority Governments

How does a bill become Law?  geneforsey/inside_view/follow_bill-e.html geneforsey/inside_view/follow_bill-e.html

Branches of Government  Judicial  e.g. Court System   Police, lawyers, and judges who enforce legislation

Branches of Government - CAN Chief Justice and Puisne* Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada *pronounced “puny” from French meaning “of a lesser rank”

 What is the Difference? Canadian and American Political Systems

Canadian Parliamentary System Federal Government The federal government takes major responsibility for things that affect all Canadians. This would include national defense, foreign policy and citizenship. Federal Legislative Representatives are referred to as MP's (Members of Parliament). The Prime Minister is the head of the federal party that is in power. Like the way many people refer to the Federal Government of the United States as "Washington" many people use "Ottawa" to refer to the Canadian Federal Government. Parliament Buildings, Ottawa Ontario

Branches of Government & Duties

US System

Differences  A basic difference between our constitution and the American is, we are a constitutional monarchy and they are a republic.  We have parliamentary-cabinet government, while the Americans have presidential-congressional government.

Congress  Presidential-congressional government is based on a separation of powers. The American President cannot be a member of either House of Congress.  Neither can any of the members of his or her Cabinet.  Neither the President nor any member of the Cabinet can appear in Congress to introduce a bill, or defend it, or answer questions, or rebut attacks on policies.  No member of either House can be President or a member of the Cabinet.

Parliament  Parliamentary-cabinet government is based on a concentration of powers. The Prime Minister and every other Minister must be a member of the House or get a seat within a short time of appointment.  All government bills must be introduced by a Minister or someone speaking on his or her behalf, and Ministers must appear in Parliament to defend government bills, answer daily questions on government actions or policies, and rebut attacks on such actions or policies.