1. Top ten things you need to know
Be sure to know pros and cons
CANADA’S DEMOCRACY
Top ten things you need to know

2. HOW CANADA IS CLASSIFIED1
HOW CANADA IS CLASSIFIED
Constitutional monarchy
Parliamentary

3. 2 CONSTITUTIONS Constitution Written constitution
highest law of the land (all other laws must agree with the principles in the constitution);
organizes government institutions
Written constitution
Unwritten constitution

4. 3 REVIEW MONTESQUIEU Executive Branch – enforce the laws
To prevent abuse of power branches of government need to be separate
Legislative Branch – write the laws
Judicial Branch – interpret the laws

5. HOW CANADA’S PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM IS ORGANIZED4
Governor General
(head of state)
Executive:
PM and Cabinet
(head of government)
HOW CANADA’S PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM IS ORGANIZED
Legislative:
House of
Commons Senate
Judicial:
Supreme Court
Lower Courts

6. HOW THE EXECUTIVE IS CHOSEN5
HOW THE EXECUTIVE IS CHOSEN
The leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons = Prime Minister (the top official, first among equals)
The Prime Minister chooses (appoints) the Cabinet Ministers from the House of Commons and the Senate

7. ROLE OF CABINET MINISTER6
ROLE OF CABINET MINISTER
Has a specific portfolio to oversee
Will have deputy ministers and a bureaucracy to enforce the laws relating to their portfolio

8. Judicial branch – courts will interpret laws
JUDICIAL BRANCH INFO 7
Judicial branch – courts will interpret laws
Supreme Court
cases dealing with constitution or against the actions of the government
Lower Courts – municipal, provincial and federal courts
deal with criminal activity (someone has broken a law)

9. DIFFERENCES OF MINORITY/MAJORITY GOVERNMENTS8
Minority government –ruling party has less than 50% of seats in legislature
Less stable (will talk about this in a minute)
More compromise
Often can lead to a coalition
two or more smaller parties join together to create the largest group = right to govern (create the executive)
Majority government –ruling party has more than 50% of seats in legislature
More dictatorial”ish” because they do not have to respond to the concerns of the opposition

10. THE REALLY HARD CONCEPT: RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT9
Ministers of the Crown (executive) must have support of at least half of elected representatives (House of Commons)
Vote of non-confidence – the legislative branch votes against executive
Occurs during a vote in the House of Commons on an important piece of legislation; e.g. budget (power of the purse)
Cannot happen with a majority government
Party/cabinet solidarity – you are expected to publically support the opinions of the party and vote with the party
Party whip will enforce this
Caucus meeting is where MPs can voice their opinion or the views of their constituents

11. Rick Mercer Clip)

12. An American’s take on pro-rogue

13. BICAMERAL-SENATE REFORM10
BICAMERAL-SENATE REFORM
Bicameral legislature
Senate = sober second thought
appointed
+30 yrs, own property, retire 75
Based on regional representation
NFLD, PEI, NS, NB –
QU – 24
ON – 24
MB, SK, AB, BC – 24
Reform Party – Triple E Senate
Elected
Effective
Equal
New issue: independent Senators