Transcript Slide 1

Model Parliament
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Canadian & World Politics
www.CraigMarlatt.com/school
Model Parliament
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Why Study Parliament?
The Parliamentary Day
Who’s Who in Parliament?
How a Bill Becomes Law
Why Study Parliament?
• Before we learn about Parliament and have a
model Parliament session, answer some
diagnostic questions:
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Observe …
Reflect …
Think about …
What if …
Why Study Parliament?
Centre Block
East
Block
West
Block
Langevin
Block
Why Study Parliament?
Centre Block
Why Study Parliament?
Peace Tower
Why Study Parliament?
House of Commons Mace
Why Study Parliament?
House Chamber
Why Study Parliament?
House Speaker’s Chair
Why Study Parliament?
Senate Chamber
Why Study Parliament?
Sovereign’s Chair
Senate Speaker’s Chair
Why Study Parliament?
Library of Parliament
The Parliamentary Day
• Before a regular sitting of Parliament can
occur…
– Election of the Speaker of the House of Commons
– Speech from the Throne
The Parliamentary Day
• Election of the Speaker
– The Deputy Governor General (who is the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court) convenes Parliament
and calls in the Members of the House of Commons.
– He or she informs the Members of the House that the
Governor General does not see fit to open Parliament
without a Speaker in place.
– The Members return to the House and, under the
direction of the Dean of the House, elects themselves
a Speaker by secret ballot.
The Parliamentary Day
• Election of the Speaker (con’d)
– A Member with an official Government or House role
is ineligible to become Speaker. All remaining
Members are candidates for Speaker unless he or
she withdraws his or her name from the ballot.
– Each candidate is entitled to make a short speech.
– Voting is then done by secret ballot. To become
Speaker, a Member must receive 50% + 1 of the
votes cast. If no Member receives a majority of the
votes cast, then the Member with the lowest vote
count is dropped from the ballot and a subsequent
vote is held. This continues until a Member receives a
majority of the votes cast.
The Parliamentary Day
• Election of the Speaker (con’d)
– The winner is escorted to the Speaker's chair by the
Prime Minister and Leader of the Official Opposition.
– The newly elected
Speaker, by tradition,
feigns reluctance as he is
"dragged" to the chair in a
practice dating from the
days when British
Speakers risked
execution if the news they
reported to the King was
displeasing.
The Parliamentary Day
• Speech from the Throne
– The day following the election of the Speaker of the
House, the Governor General will arrive on Parliament
Hill, where he or she will receive a 21 gun salute and
will inspect the Honour Guard.
– The Governor General then proceeds to the Senate
Chamber where the Senators, Supreme Court
Justices, the Diplomatic Corps, former Prime
Ministers, and invited guests of the Government await
– The Governor General then summons the Members
of the House to the bar of the Senate Chamber.
The Parliamentary Day
• Speech from the Throne
The Parliamentary Day
• In the House of Commons…
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Opening Exercises
Routine Proceedings
Government Orders
MP’s Statements
Question Period
Government Orders
Private Members’ Business
Adjournment Proceedings
The Parliamentary Day
• Opening of Sitting
– At the Opening of the Sitting, the Speaker reads a
prayer, after which he or she orders that the doors be
opened to allow the public to enter the galleries. The
daily business then commences.
• Routine Proceedings: Tabling of Documents
– At this point, a Minister in the House of Commons
has the opportunity to table a report or document for
the House of Commons to consider. This makes the
item a public document.
The Parliamentary Day
• Routine Proceedings: Introduction of
Government Bills
– When a bill is introduced, it becomes part of
Parliament's agenda for that session. The text of the
bill is printed and distributed, and serves as the focus
for the detailed discussions that will follow during
second reading and later stages in the legislative
process.
The Parliamentary Day
• Members' Statements
– Members' Statements allow MPs to raise issues
important to them and/or their specific regions. This
procedure enables them to be heard and to draw the
Government's attention to a problem of local, national
or international interest.
The Parliamentary Day
• Routine Proceedings: Presentation of Reports
from Committees
– Committees are assigned to look into specific issues.
They also study bills that are referred to them,
normally after second reading, and at this point they
present their reports. These reports summarize the
opinion of the majority of each committee's members.
MPs who are not in agreement may also get the
opportunity to voice their opinion.
The Parliamentary Day
• Private Members' Business
– This part of the day is reserved for the consideration
of business sponsored by an MP, that is, by any
parliamentarian who is not part of the Cabinet.
• Routine Proceedings: Presentation of
Petitions
– Petitions are one way Canadians can make
themselves heard in Parliament. Petitions are taken
seriously when large numbers of people support
issues and can result in major changes.
The Parliamentary Day
• Government Orders: Second Reading, Report
Stage or Third Reading of a Government Bill
– During second reading, the bill is subjected to a
thorough debate for the first time. The Opposition is
able to criticize both the underlying policy that the bill
expresses, and its specific purpose. The Government
defends it. Speeches alternate between those in
favour and those opposed.
The Parliamentary Day
• Question Period
– Question Period allows the Opposition and
Government backbenchers to ask for information and
to question the Government on any matter within
federal responsibility that they feel is in the public
interest. The importance of Question Period is the fact
that any MP, without advance notice, can ask any
Minister any question relating to his or her portfolio. It
is a means of holding the Government of the day
accountable.
The Parliamentary Day
• Committee Meetings
– Committee consideration of a bill allows
parliamentarians to consider opinions from experts on
the subject of the bill. They may also hear from those
groups and individuals who will be affected by its
provisions. Parliamentarians of both chambers can
then propose amendments to the bill that reflect the
viewpoints they hear from witnesses, as well as their
own conclusions.
The Parliamentary Day
• Adjournment Proceedings
– After a motion to adjourn the Commons has been
moved, an MP who is not satisfied with the answer he
or she received during Question Period can raise the
matter during the adjournment debate.
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• There are many “key players” in Parliament who
are essential for the government to operate.
• Read the descriptions of some of the key players
on the following slides and identify their job title.
• They may be elected politicians or official
employees of Parliament.
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am the head of a group that carefully examines
bills and other matters. During our meetings, I
must ensure fairness, keep parliamentarians on
track and keep order. I must also report back to
the House on the work of the group.
• Who am I?
• Committee Chair
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am an MP who has been chosen by the Prime
Minister to be part of his Cabinet. Therefore, in
addition to the regular duties of an MP, I have the
added responsibility of heading a government
department. My busy schedule includes attending
Cabinet meetings where we make key
government decisions. We also talk about starting
up bills we would like to see made into law.
• Who am I?
• Minister
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am the elected leader of the Canadian people. I
select Cabinet Ministers from among my party
MPs to head the various government
departments. I meet with the leaders of other
countries to discuss international matters.
• Who am I?
• Prime Minister
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am an advisor to the Speaker of the Senate and
the Senators, keeper of all Senate documents
and supervisor of all Senate staff. I wear a
traditional black gown.
• Who am I?
• Clerk of the Senate
Gary O’Brien
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am guardian of the Mace. I play a ceremonial
role in the Commons and my duties are centred
on the security of parliamentarians and visitors
while they are within the parliamentary precincts.
• Who am I?
• Sergeant-at-Arms
Kevin Vickers
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I preside over the sittings of the Senate, read the
motions and put forward the questions to which
the Senate must respond with a vote. It is
important that I enforce all of the Senate rules. I
represent the Senate in Canada and abroad.
• Who am I?
• Speaker of the Senate
The Honourable Noël Kinsella
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am responsible for presiding over the sittings of
the Commons. I must be fair and impartial and
maintain order at all times. I also hear points of
order and questions of privilege, make rulings
based on precedent and practice, and represent
the House of Commons in Canada and abroad.
• Who am I?
• Speaker of the House of Commons
The Honourable Andrew Scheer
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I was elected by the people in my riding to hold a
seat in the House of Commons. I spend much of
my time on Parliament Hill. Also, much of my time
is devoted to dealing with the concerns and
problems of my constituents. Because of this I
regularly return to my riding to keep in close
contact.
• Who am I?
• Member of Parliament (MP)
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• My party has the second largest number of seats
in the House of Commons. As party leader, I meet
with my caucus to discuss strategy and
alternatives to government policies, speak daily in
the House of Commons, and provide Canadians
with an alternative to the present Government.
• Who am I?
• Leader of the Official Opposition
The Honourable Thomas Mulcair
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I was chosen by the Prime Minister to serve in the
"Upper House" of Parliament. After bills have
passed through the House of Commons, they
must be sent to our House for approval. It can
also work the other way around. Bills may be
started in our House, but must later go to the
House of Commons for approval.
• Who am I?
• Senator
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am the chief procedural advisor to the Speaker
and MPs. I also have extensive duties related to
the overall management of the House of
Commons.
• Who am I?
• Clerk of the House
Audrey O’Brien
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am the senior official to Canada’s Head of State
and, in addition to having overall responsibility for
all aspects of the management and operations of
that office, act as the senior advisor to the Head
of State. I am also responsible for all aspects of
the vice-regal program.
• Who am I?
• Secretary to the
Governor General and
Herald Chancellor
Stephen Wallace
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am sign bills into law that have been passed by
both Houses of Parliament. I also appoint
Senators and other government officials on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister. Finally, I
am the Head of Canada’s military.
• Who am I?
• Governor General and
Commander-in-Chief of the
Canadian Armed Forces
His Excellency The Right Honourable
David Johnston
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I fill in for Canada’s Head of State when he or she
is unavailable to sign bills into law, make
appointments, or dissolve Parliament.
• Who am I?
• Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Canada
and Deputy Governor General
The Right Honourable
Beverly McLachlin
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am a floor officer of the Senate and am
responsible for security in the Senate Chamber. I
also leads the daily Speaker's Parade to and from
the Senate Chamber and am responsible for the
Page program.
• Who am I?
• Usher of the Black Rod
Kevin MacLeod
Who’s Who in Parliament?
• I am the Member of Parliament who has the
longest unbroken service in the House, and am
not a member of the Cabinet. I preside over the
election of the Speaker of the House of
Commons.
• Who am I?
• Dean of the House
M. Louis Plamondon
How a Bill Becomes Law
• Fill in the chart at right
that describes the
steps that are taken
for a bill to become
law in Canada’s
Parliament.
First Reading
P
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A
M
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N
T
Second Reading
Committee Stage
Report Stage
Third Reading
Passed to Senate
Crown
Royal Assent
How a Bill Becomes Law
• First Reading
– Introduction
• Second Reading
– Debate basic principle of the bill
– Propose amendments
• Committee Stage
– Details of bill are debated and amended by committee
members (there are several different committees)
– Witnesses may be called to provide information
How a Bill Becomes Law
• Report Stage
– Any MP may propose amendments, but must be in
writing and in advance
– Amendments must not alter the principle of the bill
• Third Reading
– Debate basic principle of the bill
– Propose amendments or refer back to committee
• Passed to the Senate
– Where this entire process is repeated in the other
chamber!
How a Bill Becomes Law
• Royal Assent
– Only once both Houses of Parliament have approved
the bill in the same form (if one house changes the
bill, it must return to the other house for re-approval)
– Signified by an official ceremony in the Senate OR by
written declaration from Rideau Hall or the Supreme
Court (the Chief Justice is the Deputy Governor
General of Canada)
• Proclamation
– Act is published in the Canada Gazette
– Comes into force on date published OR when
proclaimed by the “Governor in Council” (the Cabinet)
How a Bill Becomes Law
• The MPs are
summoned to
the Senate
Chamber by the
Governor
General
• MPs enter only
as far as the
“bar” of the
house
How a Bill Becomes Law
• Governor
General nods
his or her
approval of the
bill as it is
described to
him or her.
• Bill is now an
“Act of
Parliament” and
is law!
How a Bill Becomes Law
www.canadagazette.gc.ca
Or for more information on Canada’s Parliament
www.parl.gc.ca