Canadian Politics Module 2 PDF

2023-01-17 Canadian Politics Module 2 POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTIONS EXECUTIVE PARLIAMENT 1 Political Parties Political Party: an Organization designed to get its candidates elected to Parliament. Independent Candidate Party System Fringe Parties 2 1 2023-01-17 Registered Political Parties...

2023-01-17 Canadian Politics Module 2 POLITICAL PARTIES ELECTIONS EXECUTIVE PARLIAMENT 1 Political Parties Political Party: an Organization designed to get its candidates elected to Parliament. Independent Candidate Party System Fringe Parties 2 1 2023-01-17 Registered Political Parties (2019). ???? Animal Protection Party Bloc Quebecois Canada’s Fourth Front Canadian National Party Christian Heritage Communist Party Conservative Party Green Party Liberal Party Libertarian Party Marijuana Party Marxist-Leninist Party National Citizen Alliance New Democrat Party Party for Independent Quebec Rhinoceros Party Peoples Party Stop Climate Change Party The United Party Veterans Coalitions. ( 20 Parties in Canada ) 3 Political Parties – Private Organization? Leadership Selection Candidate selection Party Platforms Party Organization & Financing Election Campaigning 4 2 2023-01-17 Elections Electoral Systems – The rules by which voter preferences are translated into seats of the legislature. Somehow 18 million votes need to result in 338 candidates being elected in Parliament. 5 When do we vote? Constitutionally, an election called by the governor general on the request of the prime minister 1) The prime minister will ask for an election if the government loses the confidence of the House of Commons. (unusual for a majority government to lose confidence) 2) The prime minister will ask for an election usually every 4 years but the Constitutional Act of 1867 mandates that an election must be called at least every 5 years. The prime minister has a lot of discretion in this area and his/her decisions usually depends on the chance of reelection 6 3 2023-01-17 Electoral System Safe Seats Swing ridings Bellwether riding Popular vote 7 The Executive Branch Executive Responsible Government Head of state Crown Governor General Lieutenant Governors Queens Privy Council Cabinet Prime Minister Head of Government Ministers Political / Formal Executive Ministry – refers to the government of Canada which is composed of ministers 8 4 2023-01-17 Governor General of Canada (act of advice of the Privy Council Required to sign off on duly passed legislation by the House of Commons and the Senate and orders in council. GG has not have any discretionary powers. The GG and the PM meet on a regular basis These meeting are completely private and the GG is entitled to “ advise, guide & warn” the PM just as the Queen does with her PM 9 Cabinet Size Depends on Prime minister usually new governments have smaller cabinet sizes Harpers 1st cabinet had 27 then later added 11 Trudeau had 31 minsters when first elected in 2015. The number including Trudeau now stands at 39 10 5 2023-01-17 What do Minister do? Running the various departments of government: health, finance, foreign affairs, justice, RCMP etc. Although the Ministers oversee these departments and agencies it is very qualified civil servants that actually do the work. Ministers are briefed so they can advise the government and the people of Canada on the happening within their ministry 11 What does the Prime Minster Do? The job of the PM is vague He or She are elected officials When the PM led the party to victory in an election; the PM chooses the other ministers in the cabinet, who serve as long as they continue to have his blessing; and the PM leads the government in cabinet, in Parliament, in public, and in world affairs. 12 6 2023-01-17 Parliament’s Three Parts – Crown, Senate & House of Commons New laws must be passed by a majority in both the House of Commons and Senate Under representated Canadians in the House of Commons are women, Indigenous Peoples and visible minorities. This is not true of the Senate as they are appointed and do not have to be reelected because they hold the senate seat until they resign or retire. 13 Parliament – House of Commons 14 7 2023-01-17 Parliament – Senate 15 Legislative Process Bill Act Readings 1st Reading 2nd Reading Committee Stage Standing Committee Report Stage Third Reading Royal Assent Die on the order paper Public Bills Private Bills 16 8 2023-01-17 Parliament Question Period - A 45-minute session held each day in the House of Commons is in session in which Members of Parliament can ask the government questions and hold it accountable 17 9