1. SS6CG3 – The student will explain the structure of the national government of Canada

2. ELEMENTS
Describe the structure of the Canadian government as a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federation, distinguishing the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms

3. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS What type of government systems exists in Canada?
Who is the leader of Canada and what is his or her title?
What is the role of the legislature?
What role does the citizen have as a participant in Canada’s government?

4. CANADA’S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
Canada has 3 different parts to its government
Constitutional Monarchy
Federation
Parliamentary Democracy
Canada has a federal system of government
Canada has a democracy in terms of type of government

5. CANADA’S CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
Canada has a constitutional monarchy as its first part of the government
Has its own written constitution, but the head of state is a king or queen
The current Queen of England is the head of state, but because she does not live in Canada, England chooses a governor-general to represent them in Canada
Both the Queen and governor-general have little power and are figureheads
These positions started due to England originally colonizing Canada

6. CANADA’S PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
Canada has a parliamentary democracy as its second part of the government
The legislative branch is called Parliament, and there are three parts to Parliament
Monarch, the House of Commons and the Senate
The executive branch is the Queen, the prime minister and the cabinet
The judicial branch is the Supreme Court of Canada
The prime minister of Canada has the real power in the government, but he answers to Parliament

7. CANADA AS A FEDERATION
Canada has a federal system, which means the power is divided between the national government and the 10 provinces and 3 territories
National government controls defense, trade, banking, immigration and postal services
Provinces control education, property, local government issues, hospitals and taxes
The territories have lesser responsibilities than the provinces

8. ROLE OF CITIZENS IN CANADA
Citizens of Canada have personal freedoms like ones in the United States, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equal rights and freedom of the press
The voting age for Canada is 18, but citizens are not required to vote