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Comparing Political Systems:
Canada versus the United States
Christopher Sands
G. Robert Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-U.S.
Business and Economics
Study Canada 2014
Ottawa, Ontario
June 26, 2014
Canada versus USA
Canada's Rick Nash, left,
levels Team U.S.A.'s Brian
Rafalski during the Feb 21
game at the 2010 Winter
Olympic Games (AP
Photo/The Canadian Press,
Ryan Remiorz)
Why Compare?
Different Systems
• What do they have in
common, and why?
Similar Systems
• What is different about
them, and why?
Photos of Hillary Farr, David Visentin, Drew and Jonathan Scott. Source: HGTV
Politics
“The ubiquity of the relationship between the governor and the
governed, of ruler and ruled, leads students of politics to
single out power as the basic characteristic of human
behavior of interest to them.
“Who exercises power? For whose benefit? In what manner? To
what ends? According to what principles, if any? By what
right? Such questions occupy the philosophy of politics. They
are also the concern of prime ministers, presidents, and
princes."
V.O. Key's definition of politics, taken from Politics, Parties, and Pressure Groups. Fifth
Edition. (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1964) page 2
Common Principles
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Magna Carta (1215)
Glorious Revolution of 1688
Contract Governance
Representative Democracy
Federalism
Religious Liberty
Immigrant/Settler Societies
Constitutions
United States
• 1787
• Bill of Rights
• Separation of Powers
• Powers not granted to the
federal government are
reserved to the states
• All states have their own
constitutions
Canada
• 1867 British North America
Act / 1982 Canadian
Constitution Act
• Charter of Rights
• Powers enumerated, those
not enumerated are federal
• Only one constitution
Presidential versus Parliamentary
United States
• Voters choose
Representatives, Senators,
and Electoral College (which
elects the President)
• President hires Cabinet,
Senate confirms
• President nominates judges
including Supreme Court,
Senate confirms
Presidential versus Parliamentary
Canada
• Voters elect a Parliament,
Parliament elects a
government
• Executive-Legislative
Fusion; all cabinet drawn
from legislature
• Senators and judges
appointed by Prime
Minister
Presidential versus Parliamentary
United States
• Voters choose
Representatives, Senators,
and Electoral College (which
elects the President)
• President hires Cabinet,
Senate confirms
• President nominates judges
including Supreme Court,
Senate confirms
Canada
• Voters elect a Parliament,
Parliament elects a
government
• Executive-Legislative
Fusion; all cabinet drawn
from legislature
• Senators and judges
appointed by Prime
Minister
Executive Branch
United States
• President and VP are only
elected officials
• Political appointees steer
public service
Canada
• Prime Minister is leader of
party with a majority of
seats in Parliament…or a
plurality
• Professional civil service
Legislatures
Congress
• Bicameral
• Direct election
• House of Representatives
by population; Senate by
state
• Committee Hearings,
filibusters
Parliament
• Bicameral
• Direct election of MPs
• House of Commons by
population; Senate
appointed
• Weak committees,
Question Period
House of Commons
PARTY STANDINGS
41st Parliament
Province / Territory
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
C.P. N.D.
B.Q. Gre
Vac Tota
Lib.
Ind.
C.
P.
* en*
ant
l
24
21
11
8
1
12
2
1
2
1
1
2
5
7
1
3
4
1
11
1
20
10
56
3
8
1
4
160 98
35
4
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
4
1
Ontario
71
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
1
5
13
1
TOTAL
1
2
1
1
1
3
4
106
4
75
14
1
2
2
28
36
14
10
5
308
For further information, contact the Journals Branch - 613-9922038
Last Update: June 10, 2014
*A political party must have at least 12 Members in the House of
Commons to be a “recognized party” for the purposes of parliamentary
proceedings.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/House/PartyStandings/
standings-E.htm
Commons Reform?
Commons Seats
Percentage of Commons
Percentage of Population
Alberta
28
9.1
10.9
British Columbia
36
11.7
13.3
Manitoba
14
4.5
3.6
New Brunswick
10
3.2
2.2
Newfoundland & Labrador
7
2.3
1.5
Nova Scotia
11
3.6
2.8
Nunavut Territory
1
0.3
>0.1
106
34.4
38.7
Prince Edward Island
4
1.2
0.4
Quebec
75
24.4
23.2
Saskatchewan
14
4.5
3.1
Northwest Territories
1
0.3
>0.1
Yukon Territory
1
0.3
>0.1
Ontario
Senate
Province or Territory
Number of
Senators
British Columbia
6
Alberta
6
Ontario
24
Quebec
24
Manitoba
6
Saskatchewan
6
Nova Scotia
10
Newfoundland and
Labrador
6
New Brunswick
10
Northwest
Territories
1
Prince Edward Island
4
Yukon
1
Nunavut
1
Total
105
Judiciary
United States
• State and local judges
elected
• Federal judges appointed
and confirmed by the
Senate
• Overlapping jurisdiction
• Common Law foundations
• Constitutionality
Canada
• PM appoints judges
• Criminal code federal
• Provinces fund and
administer provincial courts
• Separate and distinct
jurisdictions
• Common and Civil Law
• Constitutionality after 1982
• Americanization?
Issues
• Compare and debate
aboriginal rights
• Land claims in Canada
• Mainstreaming versus
tradition
• Economic and social
development
Issues
• Afghanistan War
• Compare roles and
responsibilities
• Why did Canada
participate?
Issues
• Kyoto Accords and
Copenhagen Process
• What did Canada, US agree
to do?
• What role did energy sector
play in each country?
• Energy infrastructure
Issues
• Immigration reforms
• Role of French and even
Mandarin in Canada
versus Spanish in the
USA
• Citizenship tests
• Family reunification (US)
versus Points System
(Canada)
Issues
• Health care
• Single payer, medical
personnel as civil servants
in Canada (govt funding but
limited funds)
• Private insurers,
independent medical care
in US (more money, and
more R&D, but higher costs)
Comparing Political Systems:
Canada versus the United States
Christopher Sands
G. Robert Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-U.S.
Business and Economics
Study Canada 2014
Ottawa, Ontario
June 26, 2014