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

2. 3 Levels of Government
Federal
Provincial
Municipal

3. 3 Branches of Government
Legislative
Executive
Judiciary

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

5. 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%

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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