Canada's Government (PDF)

Notes on The Canada Guide’s Government: 1. The Constitution Definition: The supreme law of Canada that defines the country’s system of government, rights, and freedoms. Key Components: British North America Act (1867): Established Canada as a federation. Consti...

Notes on The Canada Guide’s Government: 1. The Constitution Definition: The supreme law of Canada that defines the country’s system of government, rights, and freedoms. Key Components: British North America Act (1867): Established Canada as a federation. Constitution Act (1982): Introduced the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, giving Canadians key civil liberties. Division of Powers: Federal Government: Responsible for national matters (defense, trade, etc.). Provincial Governments: Handle education, health, and other local issues. Importance: Provides the framework for governance and protects individual rights. 2. Parliamentary System Model: Based on the British parliamentary system. Key Features: House of Commons: Elected representatives (MPs) propose and debate laws. Senate: Reviews and amends legislation. Responsible Government: The Prime Minister and Cabinet must maintain the confidence of the House of Commons to govern. Significance: Ensures democratic governance and accountability. 3. House of Commons Role: The lower house of Parliament where laws are debated and passed.  Composition: MPs represent ridings (geographical areas). The number of MPs is based on population. Processes: Debates: MPs discuss policies and laws. Question Period: Opposition parties challenge the government’s decisions. Elections: MPs are elected through a first-past-the-post system. 4. The Senate Role: The upper house of Parliament that reviews legislation passed by the House of Commons. Appointment: Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister and represent regions to ensure balanced regional input. Controversies: Critics argue for Senate reform due to questions about accountability. Proposals include making the Senate elected. 5. Monarchy System: Canada is a constitutional monarchy. Roles: The monarch (King/Queen) is the ceremonial head of state. The Governor General represents the monarch in Canada. Significance: The monarchy symbolizes Canada’s history and traditions while having limited practical power. 6. Governor General Responsibilities: Grants royal assent to laws (final step before a bill becomes law). Ceremonial duties, such as presiding over state functions.  Acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Importance: Bridges Canada’s connection to the monarchy while performing crucial symbolic roles. 7. Prime Minister Role: Head of government, leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons. Powers: Appoints Cabinet ministers. Sets government policy direction. Represents Canada on the international stage. Accountability: Must maintain the confidence of the House of Commons. 8. Political Parties Major Parties: Liberal Party: Traditionally centrist. Conservative Party: Right-leaning, focused on fiscal responsibility. New Democratic Party (NDP): Left-leaning, focusing on social programs. Bloc Québécois: Advocates for Quebec’s interests. Green Party: Focuses on environmental issues. Role: Political parties provide platforms and leadership to guide government actions. 9. Elections Levels of Elections: Federal, provincial, and municipal. Voting System: First-past-the-post: The candidate with the most votes in a riding wins. Administration:  Elections Canada oversees federal elections, ensuring fairness and transparency. Significance: Elections allow citizens to choose their representatives and hold them accountable. 10. Bureaucracy Definition: The public service that implements government policies. Structure: Civil servants work in various departments (e.g., health, education). They are not elected but play a vital role in governance. Key Functions: Administer programs. Provide expert advice to ministers. Deliver public services (e.g., processing passports). Importance: Ensures smooth functioning of government operations. 11. Judiciary Structure: Supreme Court of Canada: Highest court, interprets the Constitution. Other courts handle criminal, civil, and administrative cases. Role: Upholds the rule of law and protects citizens’ rights. Maintains judicial independence from government influence. Significance: Acts as a check on the legislative and executive branches. 12. Local Governments Levels: Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments. Responsibilities: Provincial: Education, healthcare, transportation.  Municipal: Local services like water, waste management, and policing. Elected Representatives: Provincial governments have premiers and legislatures. Municipal governments have mayors and councils. Significance: Local governments address community-specific needs. 13. Vocabulary Provides definitions for key terms, such as: Riding: A geographical area represented by an MP. Royal Assent: Formal approval by the Governor General for a law. Confidence Vote: A test of whether the government has the support of the House of Commons. Importance: Helps students understand political terminology.