| The Canadian political system as it is known today | | | | whichever candidate has the most votes wins the right |
| was first drafted by the "Fathers of Confederation" at | | | | to represent that constituency and take their "seat" in |
| the Quebec conference of 1864. This then became | | | | the Parliament. |
| law when the constitution act was passed in 1867. This | | | | Each Most candidates represent a particular political |
| act gave the formal executive authority to Queen | | | | party and the party with the most "seats" takes over |
| Victoria (Queen of Great Britain) which made Canada | | | | as the Government. The main parties in Canada are |
| a sovereign democracy. The Canadian political system | | | | Paul Martins Liberals (ruling), Stephen Harpers |
| is therefore loosely based on the British system. | | | | Conservatives, Jack Layton's New Democratic Party, |
| Now, Canada is an independent Federal state with the | | | | The Bloc Quebecois and The Green Party to name |
| Queen still the head of state. Her powers are | | | | the largest. |
| extremely limited however, as the Parliament passes | | | | The leader of the political party that wins the election |
| the laws which the Queen gives the "Royal Assent" | | | | becomes the Prime Minister of Canada (currently Paul |
| as the final step. The Governor General of Canada is | | | | Martin of the Liberals). The Prime Minister effectively |
| the Queens representative in Canada and carries out | | | | runs the country with the support and advice of his |
| all the Royal obligations when the Queen is not in | | | | Cabinet. The Cabinet is made up of "Ministers" chosen |
| Canada. The Governor is always a Canadian chosen | | | | by the Prime Minister to be responsible for certain |
| by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The | | | | areas of the Government. There are ministers of |
| length of office is normally five years for the Governor | | | | Health, Finance, Defence and Immigration to name a |
| General. | | | | few. These areas of responsibility are called |
| The Houses of Parliament (housing the Federal | | | | "Portfolio's" and each minister will have a large team of |
| Government) are located in Canada's capital city, | | | | civil servants (normally the experts in that field) working |
| Ottawa. There are 3 main sections to the Canadian | | | | for him/her. Only the ministers change during an |
| Parliament. The Queen as the Head of state; the | | | | election - not the civil servants. |
| Senate (appointed on the Prime Minister's | | | | Though the MP's represent their local constituency, |
| recommendations) and the elected House of | | | | their main duties are debating the laws to be made |
| Commons. | | | | and, depending on their Party, either supporting or |
| The Federal Government has the power to "make | | | | opposing the Government. The opposition is the political |
| laws for the peace, order and good government of | | | | party with the second most seats in the House and |
| Canada" which includes International policies, Defence, | | | | their main job is to hold the government accountable |
| Immigration, Criminal Law, Customs and Border control. | | | | for their decisions. |
| The Senate | | | | A Government with a lot of seats in the House will be |
| The Senate is made up of 105 Senators who are | | | | strong and able to pass most laws they want through |
| appointed by the Governor General on the | | | | Parliament. Conversely, a weak Government (such as |
| recommendation of the Prime Minister. These | | | | now) doesn't have the majority of the seats and has |
| Senators are men and women from all of the | | | | to rely on the support of another party to form an |
| Provinces and from a wide variety of backgrounds. | | | | effective Government. |
| They can serve on the Senate up until age 75 and | | | | After each election, the Senate and the House of |
| have to be a Canadian citizen, over age 30, own | | | | Commons either elect (House) or appoint (Senate) a |
| $4,000 of equity in land in their home Province, have | | | | Speaker. The Speaker is in charge of proceedings and |
| over $4,000 as personal net worth and live in the | | | | has to be impartial, enforcing the rules of the House |
| province represented. Each Province or Territory has | | | | Senate during debates and votes. The Speaker |
| a set number of Senators - 24 each from the | | | | presides over the House from a raised chair with the |
| Maritimes, Quebec and Ontario, 6 each from Alberta, | | | | Government MP's om the right and the opposition on |
| BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 6 from | | | | the Left. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador and a further 1 each from | | | | Making the Laws |
| the three Territories. | | | | To start with, the House of Commons members |
| The main role of the Senate is to read over and | | | | introduce a "Bill" (legislative proposal). The details of the |
| examine the "Bills" sent from the House of Commons | | | | Bill are read in the House without debate and then the |
| though they can also initiate Bills. This process ensures | | | | Bill is printed (the first reading). |
| that no rogue bills will become law, though only rarely | | | | During the second reading the principles of the Bill are |
| do the Senate reject a Bill - sending it back to the | | | | debated followed by a vote. If successful, the Bill is |
| House for amendment. The Bills are subjected to the | | | | then sent to the Committee stage. |
| full legislative process by the Senate and if passed will | | | | A committee will listen to testimony, examine the Bill |
| be given to the Governor General for Royal Assent | | | | and then submits a report to the House recommending |
| and thus become Law. | | | | it as it is, with amendments or scrapped. From here it |
| House of Commons | | | | goes to the report stage. |
| The real power is held by the House of Commons. | | | | In the report phase, any amendments are debated and |
| Here, the members of Parliament (MP's) are elected | | | | voted on. Then it will pass to the third reading. This is |
| by the general public during a Federal election - | | | | where the House finally debates and votes on the final |
| normally every 5 years. The country is split up into | | | | draft - if it passes the vote it is sent to the Senate. |
| constituencies (total 308 by population size) and | | | | |