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