THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA What is government What is government Where do the rules come from Where do the rules come from The branches of government, who makes up each and what do they do The branches of government, who makes up each and what do they do

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT? Is the simplest terms it is the body that has the power to make decisions for a society Is the simplest terms it is the body that has the power to make decisions for a society So the minor hockey board is a form of government, student council is s form of government, the school board is a form of government So the minor hockey board is a form of government, student council is s form of government, the school board is a form of government In Canada, we have three levels of government, municipal, Town of Eckville or Lacombe County for most, regional, Government of Alberta, and national, the federal government in Ottawa In Canada, we have three levels of government, municipal, Town of Eckville or Lacombe County for most, regional, Government of Alberta, and national, the federal government in Ottawa Other terms meaning the same thing are local, provincial, federal Other terms meaning the same thing are local, provincial, federal

WHAT SETS UP THE RULES Canada operates under written and unwritten rules Canada operates under written and unwritten rules Our written constitution begins in 1867 when Canada was formed by the British North America Act (BNA act) Our written constitution begins in 1867 when Canada was formed by the British North America Act (BNA act) It did several things including dividing powers between the federal government (Section 91) and the Provincial government (Section 92) It did several things including dividing powers between the federal government (Section 91) and the Provincial government (Section 92)

WHAT SETS UP THE RULES Canada also added to the written aspects of the process in 1982 by adding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Canada also added to the written aspects of the process in 1982 by adding the Charter of Rights and Freedoms /Canadian_Charter_of_Righ ts_and_Freedoms /Canadian_Charter_of_Righ ts_and_Freedoms /Canadian_Charter_of_Righ ts_and_Freedoms /Canadian_Charter_of_Righ ts_and_Freedoms

WHAT SETS UP THE RULES It also sets out the responsibilities for the governor general and the three braches of government It also sets out the responsibilities for the governor general and the three braches of government The three branches of government are executive, legislative and judicial The three branches of government are executive, legislative and judicial atch?v=kQySydM8h7A atch?v=kQySydM8h7A atch?v=kQySydM8h7A atch?v=kQySydM8h7A

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH Includes the prime minister, cabinet and the senior civil service Includes the prime minister, cabinet and the senior civil service The Prime Minister is the leader of the party electing the most Members of Parliament (MPs) The Prime Minister is the leader of the party electing the most Members of Parliament (MPs) Cabinet ministers people with responsibility for different government departments and agencies Cabinet ministers people with responsibility for different government departments and agencies z6v7x_XeSdY z6v7x_XeSdY z6v7x_XeSdY z6v7x_XeSdY

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH The PM and the cabinet run the day to day business of government The PM and the cabinet run the day to day business of government Most of the ideas that become law originate with the cabinet Most of the ideas that become law originate with the cabinet The PM decides who will take on what cabinet position, they are members of the PMs political party The PM decides who will take on what cabinet position, they are members of the PMs political party arliament/MainCabinetCompleteList. aspx?TimePeriod=Current arliament/MainCabinetCompleteList. aspx?TimePeriod=Current arliament/MainCabinetCompleteList. aspx?TimePeriod=Current arliament/MainCabinetCompleteList. aspx?TimePeriod=Current

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Includes the elected House of Commons 308 members, but 30 additional seats will be added for the next election Includes the elected House of Commons 308 members, but 30 additional seats will be added for the next election Also includes the appointed Senate 105 members Also includes the appointed Senate 105 members Each MP represents one riding or constituency about 110,000 voters on average Each MP represents one riding or constituency about 110,000 voters on average All proceedings of the legislative branch are in the two official languages All proceedings of the legislative branch are in the two official languages

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Occasionally an MP is an independent, that is someone not attached to a particular political party Occasionally an MP is an independent, that is someone not attached to a particular political party MPs is Canada are elected in a first past the post system MPs is Canada are elected in a first past the post system The legislative branch removes, passes and amends laws The legislative branch removes, passes and amends laws The main job of the Senate is to provide sober second thought on legislation from the House of Commons (Senate of Canada DVD) The main job of the Senate is to provide sober second thought on legislation from the House of Commons (Senate of Canada DVD)

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH The part of the government that interprets and applies the law by making legal judgments The part of the government that interprets and applies the law by making legal judgments The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in Canada The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court in Canada It acts as a check on the power of the other two branches It acts as a check on the power of the other two branches

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH The Supreme Court has nine judges The Supreme Court has nine judges Since February 2006, the process is that the PM and cabinet nominate judges, who are then approved by a committee of MPs Since February 2006, the process is that the PM and cabinet nominate judges, who are then approved by a committee of MPs The court rules of between cases per year The court rules of between cases per year They are all appeals of decisions of the lower courts They are all appeals of decisions of the lower courts The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada