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 Brit Canada has adopted many Brit 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 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 govt Canada = constitutional monarchy …not even monarchs are exempt from the laws

Canada’s Constitution Signed by the Queen 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 are 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) Prov/Terr (Alberta) (BC) Municipal (cities) (Vancouver) (Richmond)

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

Parliamentary System 1) Executive 2) Legislative 3) Judicial 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 government decisions and administer them through civil service Ex see p226

Judicial Power to interpret and administer the law Govts do not hold this power Judiciary is separate from the government to ensure that govt acts within boundaries within Constitution

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 CDN govt Leader of cabinet Leader of party with most reps 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 no confience 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 Member of Parliaments (MPs) Advice 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 govt abides by Constitution Current GG = David Johnston

Cabinet 30 members roughly 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 govt policy (taxes, war involvement) Cabinet ministers are able to discuss and disagree w/ each other behind closed doors but once a decision is made public = ministers are to support and agree = cabinet solidarity Given a particular portfolio ex Dept of Health, Dept of Finance

Cabinet meeting David Emerson Dept Of International Trade From Vancouver Kingsway

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

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

Shadow Cabinet and Public Service MPS from the official opposition Shadowing a specific minister Act as critics of current govt Public Service/Civil Service Public servants Act as a link b/w citizens and govt Day to day functions ex. Gather stats, delivering mail

Legislative Branch Legislative also called Parliament or Legislature (prov level) Role is to debate, make and amend laws Consists of House of Commons Senate

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

Party that holds the greatest # of seats in house = government Second largest party = official opposition and their leader is called the official leader of 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

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

Senate Upper house Independent of house of commons Function: to review bills passed by House Serves as a final check on the 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 CDNS feel that the Senate is a waste of money and we should get rid of it Three issues: 1) Certain members of senate do not have the qualifications 2)Undemocratic. Prime Minister usually fills senator seats with his loyal supporters 3)Does not represent the interests of the whole country. Most senators derive from Ontario and Quebec.

Possible Solutions Triple E Senate Elected Equal Effective