review

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

REVIEW FROM YESTERDAY Legislative branch: makes laws Executive branch: implements laws Judicial: enforces the laws

Legislative branch There are 3 major components of the legislative branch 1. Governor General 2. House of Commons 3. senate ***House of commons has the most important role

Who is who: Legislative branch Head of state: has ultimate authority in the legislative process The head of state in Canada is Queen Elizabeth II The Governor general is the representative of the queen in Canada The current Governor General is: …

Government composition (what makes up the government) In Canada we form our government by the political party that wins the most seats in the federal election The leader of this party that forms the government then becomes the prime minister Ex. Justin trudea  liberal party won the most seats  He is the leader of the liberal party  he became prime minister

House of Commons: structure House of commons: consists of elected members (representatives) who are called mp’s or members of parliament Mp’s that are not in the party that make up the government are called opposition The party with the second most seats in the house are called the official opposition that party’s leader is the leader of the opposition Party solidarity refers to each party voting as a unit They have caucus meetings to decide how they will vote before parliament sits

The Speaker of the house MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SELECTED BY THE HOUSE TO BE THE HOUSE SPOKESMAN AND PRESIDE OVER PROCEEDINGS Oversees administration of the house Geoff Regan

Page First year student from national universities employed by the Hoc to carry messages and deliver house documents

Cabinet minister Member of cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister Chosen from existing members and senators (usually) Responsible for their own departments Given title: “the honourable”

Opposition party A political party that does not hold the most seats in parliament Is not part of a coalition government

Prime Minister Head of the government Leader of the party having the greatest number of seats in the Hoc Appointed by the governor general Selects members of cabinet and along with them is responsible for house administration and public affairs

Leader of the official opposition The leader of the party with the second largest number of seats in the house of commons The party with the 3rd largest amount of seats in the hoc = second largest party in opposition

Clerk and table officers Clerk of the house: chief procedural advisor to the speaker and members of the house. Table officers: the clerks provide procedural advice during sittings of parliament. Takes the votes and keeps minutes.

Mace Large, heavy and richly ornamented staff that are the authority in the house of commons When the speaker takes the chair the mace is placed on the table to let everyone know the house is in session

hansard Debates: the printed record of the proceedings of the house. Debates are often referred to as hansard

More legislative branch Sergeant-at-arms: the senior officer of the house responsible for security and maintenance of the parliament buildings Bar (of the house): a brass barrier inside the south entrance to the chamber. This marks off the area where non-members may be admitted Interpreters: seated in glass booths at the south end of the chamber – English and French translations for members of the public Press gallery: accredited members of the media granted access to the gallery Galleries: areas in the house set aside for the public, press, and distinguished visitors Tv camera: remote controlled to capture parliament in action

cabinet Chosen from members of parliament of the prime ministers party Responsible for various ministries Prime ministers closest advisors Transportation, justice, finance… Decisions by the cabinet must be supported by all cabinet members, If they do not support they must resign 30 members (approx.) Can include senate as well as members of parliament

Shadow cabinet Formed by members of the official opposition Each cabinet minister has a shadow minister This helps provide a watchful eye on cabinet operations

The senate 105 members Appointed by governor general by way of selection by the prime minister Must retire by 75 Has power to veto in bill-law process Sober second thought to law makers in parliament – provides a second look at the law making process before its final reading – allows for improvements to legislation

How does a bill become a law? The law making process House of commons - first reading  second reading  committee  third reading Senate Governor general - provides royal assent

More: the law making process The first reading is where the bill is introduced to cabinet or a private member (member of the legislature who is no acting on behalf of the executive government – private members bill) Second reading – bill introduced again and debated in general Committee stage – bill is sent to a parliamentary committee, studied in detail. Changes are often made here. Each section may be voted on separately. Third reading – bill briefly debated, third vote taken Then … the bill then goes to the senate and the process is repeated

Finally… A piece of proposed legislation (law) is called a bill A bill goes through the necessary steps to become a law Ideas for bills usually come from cabinet Legislation (laws) involving the spending of govt must be introduced in the house of commons If a budgetary bill fails to be passed in the house of commons this is known as a “vote of non-confidence” and the government party is obligated to call an election.

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