1. How do elections work?

2. Constituencies
In Canada at election time, we have 308 different elections in small areas around the nation, called constituencies.

3. Candidates
In each constituency, political parties offer a candidate for people to vote for.

4. Campaign
Next, there is a campaign. The parties talk to the media, and hold rallies, and tell people who to vote for.

5. Voting
Finally, citizens go to their polling stations, and vote for the candidate they want.

6. First Past the Post
In Canada’s system, the candidate who gets the most votes will become a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.
(They don’t need more than half, just more than each other candidate!)

7. The Prime Minister
The leader of whichever party got the most seats becomes the Prime Minister.

8. Mr. Radford will check soon!
Portfolios
You should now be able to create portfolio entries for the following topics…
demonstrate understanding of the political spectrum by comparing…
left wing and right wing
totalitarianism and democracy
communism and fascism
Explain how the federal government is formed in Canada by describing the process of candidates, parties, constituencies, voting, and election campaigns)
Explain the differences between Canada’s major political parties in terms of policies, philosophies, and priorities.
Demonstrate the differences between minority governments and majority governments.
Mr. Radford will check soon!