Transcript Canada’s Government

Canada’s Government:
a parliamentary democracy,
a constitutional monarchy &
a federation
A former British colony
• Canada used to be a
British colony
• They paid taxes to
Great Britain
• The British queen or
king governed them
• Today these colonies
are independent
countries
Today Canada is a
Parliamentary Democracy
• Many former colonies
belong to an organization
called the Commonwealth
of Nations, a confederation
which works together on
common problems
• Because Canada does not
have a queen of its own,
they choose to recognize
the British queen, Queen
Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II on a royal tour of Canada
Parliamentary Democracy
• Parliament has three parts:
– The Queen of England
– The House of Commons
– The Senate
Parliament building in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city
1) Queen, 2) Senate & 3) House of Commons are Parliament.
Senate & House of Commons make the laws.
1
2
3
Leader of the country
The Queen
• Canada is also called a
constitutional monarchy
• The Queen does not have
power.
• She is Canada’s symbol of
leadership
• Queen Elizabeth performs
ceremonial duties when
visiting Canada
• When she is not there, she
is represented by the
Governor General
Constitutional Monarchy
• Canada’s constitution
outlines how the
government is organized.
• It gives the leadership to
the prime minister
• Citizens have many
rights
–
–
–
–
Vote for Parliament
Freedom of speech
Freedom of religion
Freedom of the press, etc.
The Prime Minister
Stephen Harper
• The Prime
Minister is the
leader of the
party in power
and is the Head of
Government.
• The prime
minister leads the
country.
Role of Canada’s Parliament
Canada’s Parliament is
bicameral (two parts)
1. Senate
2. House of Commons
• Our legislature is similar
— US Congress is bicameral:
1. Senate
2. House of Representatives
House of Commons
• Representatives to
Parliament are
elected by the people
of Canada.
• The House of
Commons has MORE
power than the
Senate because they
are elected by the
citizens
Senate
• The Governor General
appoints members of the
Senate; they are not elected
• The prime minister tells the
Governor General who to
appoint to the Senate
• When a bill passes in the
House of Commons, it goes
to the Senate for a vote
• The Senate almost
ALWAYS goes along with
the House of Commons
Citizen participation & personal
freedoms
• One of the privileges and responsibilities of
Canadian citizenship is the right to vote
• People vote for the leaders of Parliament.
• People write letters to representatives
to tell them their opinions on govt. policies
• Canadian citizens also have the same personal
freedoms as U.S. citizens such as freedom of
speech, freedom of the press, freedom of
religion, etc.
After a parliamentary election
• After an election, the party with the
most elected representatives in
Parliament becomes the party in power.
The leader of this party becomes the
Prime Minister.
• This is how a parliamentary system is
different from a presidential system
(the prime minister is chosen by the
party in power in Parliament).
• Citizens vote for the representatives of
Parliament, but Parliament chooses the
prime minister.
Canada is also a Federation
• Canada’s power is divided into 2 levels: a
central government and provincial governments
• Its central or national government is in the city of
Ottawa
• Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories
• Its 10 provinces are Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and
Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward
Island, Quebec, & Saskatchewan,
• Its 3 territories are Northwest Territory, Nunavut,
& Yukon Territory
• The central govt. & provincial govts. share power
Canada’s
central
government
EXIT SLIP
Directions: Write your name and period on slip.
Write simple answers only. You may use your ISN.
1. What are the three names that would describe
Canada's government?
2.What is the title (position) of the leader of Canada's
government & how is the leader chosen?
3. What does it mean to have a federal system of
government?
4.What is the citizen's role in Canada's government?
5. Who is Canada’s symbolic leader? Be specific.