The Three Branches of Canadian Government

•Legislative•Executive•Judicial

You Will Need to Know

1. The role of each branch2. The positions in each branch3. Who decides who will be in each

position and how they decide who will be in that position.

4. The work of each branch

Legislative branch

1.Role: To create laws2.Positions in this branch:• House of Commons (H of C)• Senate• The Monarch: King/Queen • Governor General (GG)• Lieutenant Governor (LG)

Judith Guichon

B.C. Lieutenant Governor

Legislative Branch Continued

3. Who selects and how?

A. H of C: People by voting

B. Senate: PM by appointment

C. GG: PM and appointment

by the Queen

Legislative Branch (Cont’d)

4. The work of this branch• To pass laws (from bills)

This involves the H of C and Senate Committees• Origins of Bills:

- Cabinet- Private Members Bill

• GG provides Royal Assent

Executive Branch1. Roles:

Carries out (implements) the country’s laws

Operates the administration of government

Parliament

Executive Branch (continued)

2. Positions in this branch:• The Monarch• Governor General (GG)• Lieutenant General (LG)• Prime Minister (PM)• Cabinet• Bureaucracy• Departments/ ministries• Crown corporations• Regulatory agencies• Advisory bodies Stephen Harper

(PM)

Queen Elizabeth 2 (Monarch)

David Johnston

(GG)

Executive Branch (Cont’d)

3. Who selects and how:• GG: PM with appointment by the Queen

• PM: chosen by the political party

• Cabinet: Appointed by PM

• Bureaucracy: Appointed by Gov’t and hired(cabinet circa 2008)

Executive Branch (cont’d)

4. The work of this branch:• GG: ceremonial• PM:

• Selects GG, Cabinet• Management of Political Party• Power of Organizing the Government: Departments,

PMO

• Power of Dissolution

Still more Executive Branch Cabinet: • Operates by Order-in-Council• An Order in Council is a type of legislation.• Two principal types of Order in Council exist: Orders in Council exercising the Royal

Prerogative or• Orders in Council made in accordance with an Act of Parliament.• In Canada they are made in the name of the Governor General by the Queen's Privy

Council for Canada (or in the case of provincial orders-in-council, orders are by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council)

• An Order in Council made under the Royal Prerogative is primary legislation, and does not depend on any statute for its authority. This includes things like: the standing orders for civil servants and appointing heads of Crown corporations or Overseas Gov’t Departments

• Traditionally, Orders in Council are used as a way for the Prime Minister to make political appointments, but they can also be used to issue simple laws as a sort of decree.

• Cabinet includes:• Ministers of permanent departments

– Ministers of State: small subordinated departments– Ministers without portfolio

Executive Branch, I bet you thought it was over

Bureaucracy and Government Dept’s:• To administer Gov’t• To provide Gov’t services

– A. Departments– B. Crown Corporations– C. Regulatory Agencies: set rules for business Ex. CRTC

– D. Advisory Bodies• Royal commissions • Tax forces

Judicial Branch

1. Role:• Interprets the law• Adjudicates legal disputes

2. Positions in this branch:• Judges• Courts

Supreme Court of Canada

*Note no relation to Santa Clause

Judicial Branch Cont’d

3. Who selects and how:

Superior Court Judges: – Appointed by PM

Provincial Court Judges:– Appointed by provincial Government

Judicial Branch Cont’d

4. The work of this branch:

Judges:• Interpret the law• Adjudicated disputes over rights