Roles of the Government

Premier

• A premier is the head of government of a province or territory.

• There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada.

• The premier is usually the leader of the largest political party in the provincial legislature

M.P• M.P= Members of Parliament

• M.P is the representative of the voters to a parliament.

• Only members of the lower house are referred to as Members of Parliament

The House of Commons

• The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, whose members are known as Members of Parliament (MPs)

• Members are elected by simple plurality in each of the country's electoral districts, which are colloquially known as ridings

• The house of commons and the senate need to approve of legislation

Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)

• provincial responsibilities

• MPPs may be assigned different roles by their party leader

• MPPs have a number of responsibilities in their home ridings such as meeting with constituents to listen to their concerns, helping to resolve matters related to provincial government services, and attending community events such as school openings or local fundraisers.

Senate • Is a component of the Parliament of Canada which votes

and passes legislation

• Seats are assigned on a regional basis

• The Senate is the upper house of parliament and the House of Commons is the lower house.

• Prime ministers normally choose members of their own parties to be senators, though they sometimes nominate independents or members of opposing parties

Cabinet• Has significant power in the Canadian system

• the governing party usually holds a majority of seats in the legislature

• almost all bills proposed by the Cabinet are enacted.

Lieutenant Governor• The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario is vested with a number

of governmental duties and is also expected to undertake various ceremonial roles.

BRANCHES

OF GOVERNMENT

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

• governments do three basic things:

•Make laws• Ensure laws are followed• Judge laws

• All are directly related to government’s central purpose - LAWS

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT• In democracies no one person [or group of

persons] performs all three functions

• In autocratic states, one individual [or a small group] is in control of all three functions • he/she plays the role of maker, enforcer

and judge of laws

Legislative Branch of Government

• Powers: • Create, change and repeal

laws and regulations

• Members: • Parliament• Senators • Members of the House of

Commons (MPs)

• Example: • Change the laws defining

marriage in Canada.

Executive Branch of Government• Powers: • Administer and carry out

(enforce) laws and plans of the government

• Members: • Monarch• Prime Minister• Cabinet• Bureaucrats (or Civil Servants)

• Example: • Prime Minister declares a state

of emergency and directs the Canadian Armed Forces to assist in snow removal.

Judicial Branch of Government• Powers: • Interpret the laws • decide who has broken the law • assign appropriate penalties

• Members: • Courts (Supreme, Provincial,

Small Claims, Family, etc.) • Judges

BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

• NOTE: The Queen of Canada, through the Governor-General, plays a key role within ALL three branches of Canadian government

Canada's Parliamentary System

Branches of Government Diagram Queen

Governor General

Prime Minister

Cabinet

House of Commons

Senate

Supreme Court of Canada

Federal Courts

Provincial Courts

Courts

Executive Branch Judicial BranchLegislative Branch

Parliament