1. Our Government

2. The Basics Canada has 3 Levels of Government FEDERAL – based in Ottawa
PROVINCIAL/ TERRITORIAL – based in the
capital city of each province/territory
MUNICIPAL – based in each municipality

3. The 3 Branches of the Federal Government
Go There!
Go There!

4. How Does It All Work? Rick Mercer Explains
An Educational Video Explains

5. How is Parliament Formed?
Canada is divided into 308 ridings (or electoral districts).
During an election people in each riding campaign to try to get elected as the Member of Parliament for their riding.
Most people running to become MP represent a political party (Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Green, etc…)

6. How is Parliament Formed?
During the election, citizen over 18 yrs. vote for the person they want to be the Member of Parliament for their riding.
The person with the most votes in the riding goes to parliament to represent the riding as the MP.
The political party that has the most Members of Parliament becomes the governing party (the most seats in the House of Commons).

7. How is Parliament Formed?
The leader (which was decided before the election) of the governing party becomes the Prime Minister of Canada.
The Prime Minister selects his/her cabinet ministers. (List of Ministries)
Majority Government = the governing party has more than half the seats in the House of Commons.
Minority Government = the governing party has less than half the seats in the House of Commons.

8. Let’s Try It! What do these numbers add to? Why?
What would the outcome of this election be?
Liberals 79
Conservatives 184
Green 11
NDP 30
Independent 4
What do these numbers add to?
Why?
Who will form the governing party?
Who will be the Prime Minister?
Who will form the official opposition?
Who will form the opposition?
Would this be a majority or a
minority gov’t?

9. Let’s Try It Again! What would the outcome of this election be?
Liberals 63
Conservatives 76
Green 40
NDP 127
Independent 2
Who will form the governing party?
Who will be the Prime Minister?
Who will form the official opposition?
Who will form the opposition?
Would this be a majority or a minority?

10. Return to the Diagram of the Government
The House of Commons
There are 308 seats in the House of Commons. (Guess why?!)
The Prime Minister and all the Cabinet Ministers have a seat in the House of Commons because they are also MPs who have been elected by the citizens of their riding to represent the riding in parliament.
Return to the Diagram of the Government

11. Return to the Diagram of the Government
The Senate
The Senate is made up of people with many different backgrounds. The Prime Minister recommends the names of senators to be appointed by the Governor General.
There are usually 105 members of the
Senate.
There are many requirements to become a senator. For example, you must:
Be a Canadian citizen
Be at least 30 years old
Own property in your province or territory
Live in the province or territory that you will
represent as a senator.
Return to the Diagram of the Government

12. The Creation of Laws

13. Things to Know Before a law is passed it is called a BILL.
Bills can be introduced by someone in the House of Commons or the Senate.
Bills that involve the raising or spending of public money cannot be introduced in the senate.
A bill becomes a law only when it has been approved by the House of Commons and the Senate AND when it has been signed by the Governor General.

14. How a Bill Becomes a Law
As Explained on YouTube!

15. Looked at by a Committee
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bill Introduced
First Reading
Second Reading
Looked at by a Committee
Third Reading
Vote
If BOTH houses vote to pass the bill then it is given Royal Assent by the G.G. – it is now a new law!
If the bill is voted to pass, then it is sent to the other house to repeat the process.

16. Reading Together Read “Passing a Law” page 78-80 (new text) OR
Read “Enacting a Statute” page (old book)

17. For Consideration
What difference would having a majority government vs. a minority government make when passing new laws?
What obstacles might be encountered in the law making process?
Why do we need new laws?

18. Check Your Understanding!
Complete the following questions:
NEW BOOK
p. 83 # 3, 4, 5, 6
p. 86 # 7
OLD BOOK
p. 68 # 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
p. 70 # 9

19. Parliament of Canada Home Page
Finding Bills that are Before Parliament:
Click on “Bills Before Parliament” at
Notice that you can refine your search on the right-hand side of the screen.
Click on the title of each bill to learn more about it.

20. Parliament of Canada Home Page
Complete the Bills! Bills! Bills! Handout

21. The Assessment!
Create a board game that accurately shows how laws are made in Canada.
You may work in small groups, but you will need to be able to show me your contribution to the final product.
Your game needs to be sufficiently complex as to demonstrate an understanding of the different scenarios that could play out as a bill is being considered.
See your HANDOUT for more details!

22. Return to Previous Slide