| The Canadian political system as it is
| |
| | has the most votes wins the right to
|
| known today was first drafted by the
| |
| | represent that constituency and take
|
| "Fathers of Confederation" at the Quebec
| |
| | their "seat" in the Parliament.
|
| conference of 1864. This then became law
| |
| | Each Most candidates represent a
|
| when the constitution act was passed in
| |
| | particular political party and the party
|
| 1867. This act gave the formal executive
| |
| | with the most "seats" takes over as the
|
| authority to Queen Victoria (Queen of
| |
| | Government. The main parties in Canada
|
| Great Britain) which made Canada a
| |
| | are Paul Martins Liberals (ruling),
|
| sovereign democracy. The Canadian
| |
| | Stephen Harpers Conservatives, Jack
|
| political system is therefore loosely
| |
| | Layton's New Democratic Party, The Bloc
|
| based on the British system.
| |
| | Quebecois and The Green Party to name the
|
| Now, Canada is an independent Federal
| |
| | largest.
|
| state with the Queen still the head of
| |
| | The leader of the political party that
|
| state. Her powers are extremely limited
| |
| | wins the election becomes the Prime
|
| however, as the Parliament passes the
| |
| | Minister of Canada (currently Paul Martin
|
| laws which the Queen gives the "Royal
| |
| | of the Liberals). The Prime Minister
|
| Assent" as the final step. The Governor
| |
| | effectively runs the country with the
|
| General of Canada is the Queens
| |
| | support and advice of his Cabinet. The
|
| representative in Canada and carries out
| |
| | Cabinet is made up of "Ministers" chosen
|
| all the Royal obligations when the Queen
| |
| | by the Prime Minister to be responsible
|
| is not in Canada. The Governor is always
| |
| | for certain areas of the Government.
|
| a Canadian chosen by the Queen on the
| |
| | There are ministers of Health, Finance,
|
| advice of the Prime Minister. The length
| |
| | Defence and Immigration to name a few.
|
| of office is normally five years for the
| |
| | These areas of responsibility are called
|
| Governor General.
| |
| | "Portfolio's" and each minister will have
|
| The Houses of Parliament (housing the
| |
| | a large team of civil servants (normally
|
| Federal Government) are located in
| |
| | the experts in that field) working for
|
| Canada's capital city, Ottawa. There are
| |
| | him/her. Only the ministers change during
|
| 3 main sections to the Canadian
| |
| | an election - not the civil servants.
|
| Parliament. The Queen as the Head of
| |
| | Though the MP's represent their local
|
| state; the Senate (appointed on the Prime
| |
| | constituency, their main duties are
|
| Minister's recommendations) and the
| |
| | debating the laws to be made and,
|
| elected House of Commons.
| |
| | depending on their Party, either
|
| The Federal Government has the power to
| |
| | supporting or opposing the Government.
|
| "make laws for the peace, order and good
| |
| | The opposition is the political party
|
| government of Canada" which includes
| |
| | with the second most seats in the House
|
| International policies, Defence,
| |
| | and their main job is to hold the
|
| Immigration, Criminal Law, Customs and
| |
| | government accountable for their
|
| Border control.
| |
| | decisions.
|
| The Senate
| |
| | A Government with a lot of seats in the
|
| The Senate is made up of 105 Senators who
| |
| | House will be strong and able to pass
|
| are appointed by the Governor General on
| |
| | most laws they want through Parliament.
|
| the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
| |
| | Conversely, a weak Government (such as
|
| These Senators are men and women from all
| |
| | now) doesn't have the majority of the
|
| of the Provinces and from a wide variety
| |
| | seats and has to rely on the support of
|
| of backgrounds. They can serve on the
| |
| | another party to form an effective
|
| Senate up until age 75 and have to be a
| |
| | Government.
|
| Canadian citizen, over age 30, own $4,000
| |
| | After each election, the Senate and the
|
| of equity in land in their home Province,
| |
| | House of Commons either elect (House) or
|
| have over $4,000 as personal net worth
| |
| | appoint (Senate) a Speaker. The Speaker
|
| and live in the province represented.
| |
| | is in charge of proceedings and has to be
|
| Each Province or Territory has a set
| |
| | impartial, enforcing the rules of the
|
| number of Senators - 24 each from the
| |
| | House/Senate during debates and votes.
|
| Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario, 6 each
| |
| | The Speaker presides over the House from
|
| from Alberta, BC, Manitoba and
| |
| | a raised chair with the Government MP's
|
| Saskatchewan, 6 from Newfoundland and
| |
| | om the right and the opposition on the
|
| Labrador and a further 1 each from the
| |
| | Left.
|
| three Territories.
| |
| | Making the Laws
|
| The main role of the Senate is to read
| |
| | To start with, the House of Commons
|
| over and examine the "Bills" sent from
| |
| | members introduce a "Bill" (legislative
|
| the House of Commons though they can also
| |
| | proposal). The details of the Bill are
|
| initiate Bills. This process ensures that
| |
| | read in the House without debate and then
|
| no rogue bills will become law, though
| |
| | the Bill is printed (the first reading).
|
| only rarely do the Senate reject a Bill -
| |
| | During the second reading the principles
|
| sending it back to the House for
| |
| | of the Bill are debated followed by a
|
| amendment. The Bills are subjected to the
| |
| | vote. If successful, the Bill is then
|
| full legislative process by the Senate
| |
| | sent to the Committee stage.
|
| and if passed will be given to the
| |
| | A committee will listen to testimony,
|
| Governor General for Royal Assent and
| |
| | examine the Bill and then submits a
|
| thus become Law.
| |
| | report to the House recommending it as it
|
| House of Commons
| |
| | is, with amendments or scrapped. From
|
| The real power is held by the House of
| |
| | here it goes to the report stage.
|
| Commons. Here, the members of Parliament
| |
| | In the report phase, any amendments are
|
| (MP's) are elected by the general public
| |
| | debated and voted on. Then it will pass
|
| during a Federal election - normally
| |
| | to the third reading. This is where the
|
| every 5 years. The country is split up
| |
| | House finally debates and votes on the
|
| into constituencies (total 308 by
| |
| | final draft - if it passes the vote it is
|
| population size) and whichever candidate
| |
| | sent to the Senate.
|
