1. SOCIAL STUDIES 11 GOVERNMENT
DEMOCRACY IN CANADA

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. Levels of Govt in Canada
Three levels of govt
Federal (central) (Ottawa)
Prov/Terr (Alberta) (BC)
Municipal (cities) (Vancouver) (Richmond)

8. 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

9. Parliamentary System 1) Executive 2) Legislative 3) Judicial
In Canada, powers of government are divided into 3 branches:
1) Executive
2) Legislative
3) Judicial

10. Legislative Is the power to make laws
All three levels of government have power to make and amend laws

11. Executive
Power to make and apply government decisions and administer them through civil service
Ex see p226

12. 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

13. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

14. CANADA’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
                                                                                                      

15. Executive Branch Executive branch consists of : Prime Minister
Governor General
Cabinet
Backbenchers
Shadow Cabinet
Public Service

16. 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)

17. Current PM
Stephen Harper
Conservative

18. 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

19. 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

20. Cabinet meeting
David Emerson
Dept Of International Trade
From Vancouver Kingsway

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

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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.

31. Possible Solutions
Triple E Senate
Elected
Equal
Effective