The Branches and Roles of Government in Canada Social Studies 10 MUNDY

3 Levels of Government Federal Provincial Municipal

3 Branches of Government Legislative Executive Judiciary

Legislative Branch The role of the people and groups involved in this branch is to: Create, debate and vote on possible laws

Legislative Branch Laws can be criminal, such as: It is illegal to assault another person, punishable by up to life imprisonment Laws can also be for any other matter as well, such as: cell phone companies cannot charge more than 50 cents per minute of downloading people with part-time jobs will have their income taxes reduced by 35%

Governor General Senate House of Commons Legislative Branch 3 parts of the legislative branch at the Federal level are: Governor General Senate House of Commons

Lieutenant Governor (similar to Governor General) Legislative Branch 2 parts of the legislative branch at the PROVINCIAL level are: Lieutenant Governor (similar to Governor General) Legislative Assembly (similar to House of Commons)

Legislative Branch The people involved in the House of Commons are called Members of Parliament; each are elected (one per riding – 338 ridings across Canada) The people involved in the Senate are called Senators; each are appointed (selected by the Prime Minister, then appointed formally by the Governor General) – 105 senators total

Executive Branch The role of the people and groups involved in this branch is to: Implement and carry out the laws made by the legislative branch

Executive Branch Laws are carried out by the various Ministries and Departments, such as: BC Ministry of Education, which ensures there are public schools, and creates the curricula (content) of each of the courses we study Department of National Defence, which manages our country’s army Delta Parks and Recreation, which maintains and cleans our local parks and sports fields

Executive Branch The person in charge of a ministry is known as a Minister, or Cabinet Minister Together, all the Ministers form a group known as the Cabinet Ministers are appointed by the Governor General (or Lieutenant Governor) after selected by Prime Minister (or Premier) They choose MP’s elected to House of Commons

Governor General The top position for both the Legislative and Executive Branches is the Governor General (or the Lieutenant Governors of each of the provinces) The Governor General represents the Queen of England The Queen of England is known as Canada’s HEAD OF STATE

Governor General The Queen’s job is to oversee that Canada’s government is effectively and legally managing the country The Queen cannot be here to do this, so she appoints a Governor General federally and one Lieutenant Governor for each of the provinces for 5 year terms

Governor General In the Legislative Branch, the Governor General approves all proposed laws passed through the House of Commons and Senate – this is known as Royal Assent; As well, he/she appoints the Prime Minister and formally starts elections In the Executive Branch, the Governor General approves all policies and appoints Ministers

Judicial Branch The role of the people and groups involved in this branch is to: Enforce laws that have been broken by anyone in Canada (including the other branches of government)

Judicial Branch The judicial branch is made up of the courts of each province, and the Supreme Court of Canada Judges and lawyers are the main positions for this branch Lawyers are hired but judges, such as Supreme Court Justices, are appointed by the Governor General and selected by the PM