1. Structure of the Government of Canada
SS#60-2 – AF – PM’s Office behind closed doors”
SS#60-4 – RMR “Speaking the parliamentarian’s language”
SS# :30 – RMR “VOTE”
SS#64-8 – RMR Rant – “students need to vote”

2. Federal System Branches of Government
On your sheet

3. Executive Branch Governor General -David Johnston,
official Head of State for Canada, Queen Elizabeth II’s representative, gives Royal Assent to all bills passed by Parliament, last step in the law-making process
5 year renewable term (PM recommends to the Queen)

4. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, leader of the Conservative Party, became Prime Minister because
his party has the most of seats in the House of Commons (only a minority) – 144/308
and his party can maintain the confidence of the House of Commons (able to pass a major bill with a majority of support from the Members of Parliament), also known as responsible government

5. Prime Minister indirectly elected by the citizens every 0-5 years (not fixed) with the House of Commons
by custom politically the most powerful individual in Canada, powers not laid out in the constitution (position is really called Governor in Council - no PM!?!?!?)
official Head of Government

6. Cabinet
elected Members of Parliament, chosen by the Prime Minister, to lead government departments e.g. Foreign Affairs, Finance
Cabinet Ministers propose bills to the House of Commons and are responsible for ensuring laws are administered

7. Civil service often called the bureaucracy
responsible for administering government laws and policies on a daily basis e.g. Employment Insurance Commission

8. Legislative Branch (bicameral)
House of Commons
308 elected representatives based on a plurality, winner- take-all, first-past-the-post (single member plurality) system in each constituency or riding

10. each constituency is created from approximately 100,000 citizens, known as representation by population
responsible for making, altering and repealing laws by voting in the House of Commons

11. 1 1 1 36 7 28 14 14 75
105 4 10 11

13. Senate 105 members appointed (until
age 75) officially by the Governor- General, but in reality directly named by the Prime Minister
Stephen Harper wants to have elections for openings
based on regional representation, not representation by population

14. 1 1 1 6 24 24 24 24

15. by custom the Senate approves all bills passed by the House of Commons without much change or opposition in recognition of the fact that they are not elected to their positions
can delay or reject bills though
custom can introduce minor bills e.g. recognition of a citizen’s outstanding contribution to society

16. PM can add up to 7 “temporary” Senators to get bills through (ex:Mulroney and the GST)
after their approval and the Governor-General’s official signature, a bill becomes a law

17. Judicial Branch
judges e.g. Supreme Court are appointed by the Prime Minister
responsible for interpreting the law and determining the punishment, if an individual is found guilty of violating the law

18. some important interpretations
repatriation of the constitution by the federal government without the consent of the provincial government is legal, 1982
provinces may require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts
laws totally restricting abortion are illegal

19. parts of Quebec’s Bill 101 which conflicted with minority language rights in Quebec were illegal
Quebec’s right to secede from the confederation is legal, with certain conditions, 1998 (Clarity Act)
laws preventing the equal treatment of gays are illegal

20. Provincial Governments
Executive Branch includes
Lieutenant-Governor, Norman Kwong
Premier, Ed Stelmach, Progressive Conservative
Cabinet
Civil Service

21. Legislative Branch unicameral 83 Members of the Legislature in Alberta
known by different names in some provinces e.g. Quebec National Assembly, Ontario Provincial Parliament

22. Judicial Branch
provincially appointed judges, court system