SS6CG3 – The student will explain the structure of the national government of Canada

ELEMENTS Describe the structure of the Canadian government as a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federation, distinguishing the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What type of government systems exists in Canada? Who is the leader of Canada and what is his or her title? What is the role of the legislature? What role does the citizen have as a participant in Canada’s government?

CANADA’S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE Canada has 3 different parts to its government Constitutional Monarchy Federation Parliamentary Democracy Canada has a federal system of government Canada has a democracy in terms of type of government

CANADA’S CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY Canada has a constitutional monarchy as its first part of the government Has its own written constitution, but the head of state is a king or queen The current Queen of England is the head of state, but because she does not live in Canada, England chooses a governor-general to represent them in Canada Both the Queen and governor-general have little power and are figureheads These positions started due to England originally colonizing Canada

CANADA’S PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY Canada has a parliamentary democracy as its second part of the government The legislative branch is called Parliament, and there are three parts to Parliament Monarch, the House of Commons and the Senate The executive branch is the Queen, the prime minister and the cabinet The judicial branch is the Supreme Court of Canada The prime minister of Canada has the real power in the government, but he answers to Parliament

CANADA AS A FEDERATION Canada has a federal system, which means the power is divided between the national government and the 10 provinces and 3 territories National government controls defense, trade, banking, immigration and postal services Provinces control education, property, local government issues, hospitals and taxes The territories have lesser responsibilities than the provinces

ROLE OF CITIZENS IN CANADA Citizens of Canada have personal freedoms like ones in the United States, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equal rights and freedom of the press The voting age for Canada is 18, but citizens are not required to vote