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