Canada's Federal Government System PDF

Chapter 1: Canada’s Federal Government System Background  What is an issue? Definition: An important problem or topic for debate, of which there are differing opinions on how to address Examples: Climate change, gun control, homelessness, healthcare funding Sentence: With the ri...

Chapter 1: Canada’s Federal Government System Background  What is an issue? Definition: An important problem or topic for debate, of which there are differing opinions on how to address Examples: Climate change, gun control, homelessness, healthcare funding Sentence: With the rising cost of housing in Canada, homelessness is becoming a more significant issue for all levels of government to deal with Image: Draw what you see fit to help you remember Other Key Issue-Related Terms Opinion An individual’s personal point of view on an issue Fact An objective truth, based on actual data Other Key Issue-Related Terms Bias Favoritism or pre-existing assumptions towards one thing or against another Unbiased Having no pre-existing favoritism Other Key Issue-Related Terms Society A group of people who share a common geographic area and common identity Quality of life A measure of personal and group well-being  Critical Thinking: What are some of the things that make canada a “Society”? What do you believe are important factors of quality of life to Canadians?  Canada’s federal government  Chapter 1 - Canada’s Government Governance: the action of governing Making decisions for a group of people or society Besides a country, what other organizations or groups might require governance? Government: the people who govern our society  Levels of Government Federal Government MPs, Prime Minister, Cabinet, Senate, etc Provincial Government of Alberta Provincial Government of British Columbia, MLAs, Premier, Cabinet, etc. Saskatchewan, etc. Municipal Municipal Municipal Municipal Government of Government of Government of Government of Edmonton Vancouver Kelowna Calgary, Leduc, etc. Mayor, Councillors, etc.  Federal government  Branches of the Federal Government Executive Branch - Prime Minister - Cabinet - Each member has a portfolio - Carry out daily functions of government - Propose new legislation (bills)  Branches of the Federal Government Legislative Branch - House of Commons (Members of Parliament) - Senate - Vote on bills - pass laws  Branches of the Federal Government Judicial Branch - Courts and Judges - Most important: Supreme Court - Interpret and apply (enforce) laws  British Monarchy King Charles III Canada’s Head of State Represented in Canada by the Governor General (Mary Simon) Considered the head of both the executive and legislative branches  Executive Branch Who is in it? Prime Minister and Cabinet How do they get their position? PM: 1. Chosen as the leader of their political party 2. Elected as an MP in their riding 3. Their party wins the most seats in the election Cabinet: 1. Elected as an MP in their riding 2. Appointed a portfolio by the PM What does the branch do? 1. Proposing new laws (bills) 2. Meeting in Cabinet to determine government priorities 3. Run the day to day work of government departments  LEgislative Branch Who is in it? House of Commons (MPs - 338 seats) Senate (105 Senators) How do they get their position? MPs: elected by Canadians by getting the most votes in their riding Senators: appointed by the PM - serve in Senate until they turn 75  LEgislative Branch Continued What does the branch do? 1. Vote on laws 2. MPs: represent the people in their riding (also called seat or constituency) a. Support their party’s priorities and agenda 3. Senators: protect interests of minorities a. Represent regions of Canada (West, Ontario, Quebec, Maritimes) b. Give sober second thought to laws  Judicial Branch Who is in it? Anyone in the courts system (judges, police, prosecutors) Supreme Court (9) is the highest level How do they get their position? Supreme Court Justices: appointed by Prime Minister What does the branch do? 1. Enforce the law 2. Supreme Court reviews (interprets) laws that are challenged by those impacted 3. Supreme Court can overturn UNCONSTITUTIONAL laws  Canada’s Constitution The Constitution is Canada’s foundational law. It sets all the rules for how the government operates, What each branch of government is responsible for, And sets limits on government power. All other laws must fit within the framework created by the Constitution. If they do not, they will be struck down by the Supreme Court.  Focus on the Senate Senators must be 35 years of age and own property Positives of the Senate: - Provide a balance against the House of Commons - Represent regional interests better - Make sure minorities have another way to get their views heard Negatives of the Senate: - They never reject bills -> are they useful? - Appointments have often been made with favoritism Suggestions for the future of the Senate 1. Keep it - it is a part of our system and would be very difficult to change 2. Abolish it - would have to change the constitution to do this (Very difficult) 3. Update it - ideas like less pay/more expectations for Senators, term limits (8 years), hold elections for Senators  Elections in Canada This map shows ridings - divisions of Canada which each elect an individual Member of Parliament to represent the area This map shows ridings - divisions of Canada which each elect an individual Member of Parliament to represent the area Elections in Canada  Elections in Canada At least once every 5 years, Canadians participate in a federal election, where we vote for members of the House of Commons. There are currently 338 MPs and they are based on representation by population. This means that every riding/seat has about the same number of Canadians living in the riding. Candidates run as members of political parties. A political party is an official group that is formed of people with similar values, who want to form the government of Canada. A party will put forward candidates in each riding, hoping that these candidates will receive the most votes in each riding and be elected to the House of Commons as Members of Parliament.  Elections in Canada Whichever party has the most candidates elected forms the government. In the 2021 election, the Liberal Party had the most candidates elected, and therefore formed the government. The leader of the party with the most Members of Parliament elected becomes the Prime Minister. Canada’s current Prime Minister is Justin Trudeau. Majority and minority governments The results of elections - The house of Commons Majority Government Minority Government One party wins more than one half of the seats One party wins less than one half of the seats in the in the House of Commons House of Commons Characteristics: The largest party usually forms the government - Party in power can easily pass any bill Characteristics: they want - Stable - governments last full 5 year term - Party in power must work with other parties to - Prime Minister has a great deal of power pass bills (gives power to smaller parties) - Compromise - Unstable - governments often are toppled in a short time when they cannot pass bills (non-confidence vote) Majority and Minority Governments Is this a majority or minority government?  Issue: electoral reform  first-Past-the-post System What Canada currently uses Country is split into seats, and whoever gets the most votes in each seat wins Simple, but can lead to seats won not matching popular vote Proportional representation System Used in Germany and other European countries Parties have a “list” of their candidates Voters cast ballots for the party, not individual representatives The percentage of votes the party gets is the percentage of their list that gets into office  Ranked ballot System Used by Australia Allows voters to rank candidates Prevents “strategic voting” and allows smaller parties to get candidates elected Passing bills  How a bill becomes a law in canada’s government Bill: a new policy or law proposed into the legislative branch of government Law: a bill that has been passed by the legislative branch and is now in effect We will draw a flowchart of the stages of passing legislation in the space provided  Summary of Key steps: 1. Cabinet Minister proposes bill 2. House of Commons (MPs) vote on bill 3. Senate votes on bill 4. Governor General gives Royal Assent to bill  Role of the judicial branch How do the courts get involved in the passing of new bills? If a new law potentially violates the constitution, it can be challenged by an individual, company, or other government in court The supreme court will decide if the law should be struck down or not accountability Accountability Definition: Answerable to someone else for your actions  AUDITOR GENERAL An officer of parliament Checks on the operations of the government (accountability) Provides independent information and advice on government spending  Who are they accountable to? Members of Parliament: Prime Minister: Voters! Voters - party can lose the next election Party leadership - can be kicked out of the party Their party - can have a leadership vote Cabinet Ministers: Senators: Prime Minister - can be removed from cabinet Kind of no one - they serve until 75 - is this an issue? Media and government Complete questions Use Textbook pgs. 46-49 Lobbyists and interest groups  Lobbyists and interest groups Lobbyists: individuals who are hired by an organization to advocate for that cause These individuals attempt to influence government to pass bills to benefit their cause Lobbyists Lobbyists  Lobbying Positives of Lobbying Negatives of Lobbying - Bring important causes to - More money for lobbyists = the government’s attention more access to government - Provide expertise to - Creates unfairness government officials on - MPs want to please topics lobbyists for their support in - Ensure minorities have elections voices heard Chapter 1 exam coming soon Complete study guide to prepare for the exam