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CANADIAN

GOVERNMENT

CANADA’S SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT:

Canada is...

a DEMOCRACYand a

FEDERAL STATEand also a

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYthat uses the

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMto give us

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.

DEMOCRACYCanadians have struggled

and fought for the right to

have a government that

obeys the people.

FEDERAL STATECanada has many different

levels of government that share

power with each other.

CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYCanada has a Queen but she has only symbolic powers.

PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEMCanada uses the English system

of government where decisions

about our laws and leaders are

made by a body of elected

representatives.

RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENTThe politicians of Canada must be responsible to the

voters of Canada and our democratic,

parliamentary traditions.

THE CONSTITUTIONThe Constitution of Canada is the document that provides the

rules for how Canada’s system of government works and sets

limits on the government’s power.

Canada became a country in

1867 when Britain passed

the

British North America Act,

which was Canada’s first

constitution.

In 1982 Canada became

completely independent

from Britain and today our

constitution is called the

Constitution Act.

THE QUEEN OF CANADAQueen Elizabeth II is Canada’s monarch and head of state.

She is a symbol of Canada’s history and the power of the

Canadian government and all laws are made in her name.

She sometimes visits Canada to perform ceremonial duties.

THE GOVERNOR GENERALThe Governor General is a person who represents the

Queen in Canada. He or she is appointed by the Government

of Canada to perform certain symbolic duties.

JULIE PAYETTE SIGNING A BILL INTO LAW

THE PARLIAMENT OF CANADACanada’s Parliament is divided into two chambers:

the House of Commons, which is elected

and the Senate which is not elected.

HOUSE OF COMMONS THE SENATE

POLITICAL PARTIESCanada has five main political parties:

CONSERVATIVE

PARTYNEW DEMOCRATIC

PARTY (NDP)LIBERAL PARTY

BLOC QUEBECOIS GREEN PARTY

THE HOUSE OF COMMONSThe House of Commons consists of 338 representatives

known as Members of Parliament (or MPs) who are elected

to represent the 338 different communities that make up

Canada.

THE HOUSE OF COMMONSThe political party that can elect the most MPs to the House of

Commons forms the government of Canada and picks the

Prime Minister of Canada.

Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party who was

elected prime minister in 2015.

GOVERNMENT TYPES

THE PRIME MINISTERThe Prime Minister is the ruler of Canada and the leader of the

Canadian government. He remains in power so long as he

can keep the confidence of the majority of members of the

House of Commons.

Paul Martin was prime minister

from 2003 to 2006 but lost power

when he could not keep the

support of the House of

Commons.

PAST PRIME MINISTERS

TRUDEAU (1968-1979) CLARK (1979-1980) TURNER (1984) MULRONEY (1984-1993)

CAMPBELL (1993) CHRETIEN (1993-2003) MARTIN (2003-2006) HARPER (2006-2015)

and (1980-1984)

THE CABINETThe Prime Minister appoints MPs from his own party to form

his cabinet. Members of the cabinet are called Ministers and

help the Prime Minister run the country.

THE SENATEThe Senate consists of 105 members called Senators who are

appointed by the Prime Minister. Senators serve until age 75.

THE SENATESenators represent the different regions of Canada.

HOW LAWS ARE MADELaws start as Bills which are

proposed by the Prime Minister

and his cabinet.

They are then discussed in a

committee.

They must then pass a vote in

the House of Commons.

They must then pass a vote in

the Senate.

They are then given

Royal Assent and become Law.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS

Every province has its own independent

government. Provincial governments work

very similar to the Canadian government

(also called the “Federal Government”)

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT vs. PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

GOVERNOR-GENERAL = Lieutenant-Governor

PRIME MINISTER = Premier

PARLIAMENT OF CANADA = House of Assembly NL

MP = MHA

DIVISION OF POWERS

Being a Federal State means that provincial governments and

the Canadian governments have different powers and can only

make laws about certain things.

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

- Serious crimes (murder, theft, etc) - Schools

- Military - Hospitals

- Coins and paper money - Oil, gas, electricity

- Relations with other countries - Highways

-Citizenship - Buses and bridges

WHO CAN MAKE LAWS ABOUT WHAT:

DIVISION OF POWERS

Being a Federal State means that provincial governments and

the Canadian governments have different powers and can only

make laws about certain things.

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

- Serious crimes (murder, theft, etc) - Schools

- Military - Hospitals

- Coins and paper money - Oil, gas, electricity

- Relations with other countries - Highways

-Citizenship - Buses and bridges

WHO CAN MAKE LAWS ABOUT WHAT:

CITY GOVERNMENTSCity governments (also called Municipal Governments) are

governments created by the provinces to help govern smaller

communities within a province.

POWERS

- garbage collection

- libraries

- sewers

- property/construction

- regulation of businesses

The leader of a city is called

the mayor. The parliament of a city

is called the city council. They are

all elected by voters.

THE COURTSCanada’s courts are the bodies that enforce the laws of

Canada and punish people who are guilty of breaking the law.

There are different levels of courts in

Canada that handle different sorts of

law. Court decisions can be appealed

up to a higher level.

The Supreme Court of Canada is the

highest level of court and can throw out

laws that they think violate the Canadian

Constitution.

Most court judges are appointed by the

Prime Minister or provincial Premier.

VOTING

Any Canadian citizen over the age of 18 can vote in any

federal, provincial, or city election. You can only vote for

politicians representing the city where you live.

SUMMARYCanada has 3 levels of government:

FEDERALThe government of all of Canada

PROVINCIAL

The 10 governments of Canada’s provinces

MUNICIPAL

The hundreds of governments running Canada’s cities

SUMMARY

Politicians belong to 3 branches:

EXECUTIVELeaders of the government who carry out laws

LEGISLATIVEGroups of people who pass the laws

JUDICIALenforce the laws or sometimes reject them

SUMMARY