Parliament and the Parliament and the GovernmentGovernment

GovernmentGovernment

Canada’s system of governance is Canada’s system of governance is based on the parliamentary system in based on the parliamentary system in Britain. Britain.

The belief that governments must be The belief that governments must be elected by the people in order to make elected by the people in order to make laws and govern is very important.laws and govern is very important.

When Canada became a nation there When Canada became a nation there were four founding colonies: Nova were four founding colonies: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada’s East Scotia, New Brunswick, Canada’s East and Canada’s West.and Canada’s West.

Government Government

These founding colonies agreed to a These founding colonies agreed to a system of Confederation – which is a system of Confederation – which is a system that divides powers between system that divides powers between national government and the provinces. national government and the provinces.

This federal system has responsibilities for This federal system has responsibilities for making laws, regulations, policies and making laws, regulations, policies and decisions and are shared between the decisions and are shared between the federal gov’t and the provincial gov’t. The federal gov’t and the provincial gov’t. The specific responsibilities are stated in specific responsibilities are stated in Canada’s constitution.Canada’s constitution.

The Key PlayersThe Key Players Queen (the head of government but is Queen (the head of government but is

represented by the Governor General at represented by the Governor General at the federal level and lieutenant governor the federal level and lieutenant governor at the provincial level) at the provincial level)

An elected House of CommonsAn elected House of Commons An appointed SenateAn appointed Senate In a parliamentary system of government, In a parliamentary system of government,

voters give the power to make new laws voters give the power to make new laws and regulations to elected MPs. At bth the and regulations to elected MPs. At bth the federal and provincial levels, the elected federal and provincial levels, the elected chambers are organized the same way.chambers are organized the same way.

Use your notes and previous Use your notes and previous handouts to record the role and handouts to record the role and responsibilities of the Queen, The responsibilities of the Queen, The Senate, the Governor General and Senate, the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governor General into the Lieutenant Governor General into the organizer provided.the organizer provided.

Our government is based on the Our government is based on the Constitution and the rule of law. Constitution and the rule of law.

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

There are three branches in our There are three branches in our federal government system.federal government system.

1)1) Executive branchExecutive branch

2)2) Legislative branch Legislative branch

3)3) Judicial branchJudicial branch

Executive Branch – PM + Executive Branch – PM + CabinetCabinet

Prime Minister (PM)- Stephen HarperPrime Minister (PM)- Stephen Harper PM is head of Canada’s government PM is head of Canada’s government PM must be elected as a leader of his PM must be elected as a leader of his

or her political partyor her political party AND the PM must then be elected as a AND the PM must then be elected as a

member of Parliament or MP.member of Parliament or MP. The leader of the political party that The leader of the political party that

wins the most seats (election of MPs) in wins the most seats (election of MPs) in the House of Commons becomes the the House of Commons becomes the PMPM

The Cabinet includes people with The Cabinet includes people with responsibility for different responsibility for different departments and agencies.departments and agencies.

Members of the Cabinet are called Members of the Cabinet are called Cabinet Ministers Cabinet Ministers

The PM chooses cabinet ministers The PM chooses cabinet ministers and assigns portfolios or department.and assigns portfolios or department.

The Cabinet and the PM carry out the The Cabinet and the PM carry out the day-to-day business of the day-to-day business of the government and they propose most government and they propose most of the ideas that become laws.of the ideas that become laws.

Legislative: House of Commons Legislative: House of Commons + Senate+ Senate

The House of CommonsThe House of Commons is the major law- is the major law-making body of the governmentmaking body of the government

Members of the HoC (MPs) debate, study, Members of the HoC (MPs) debate, study, and vote on bills which becomes laws if and vote on bills which becomes laws if passed.passed.

Each elected MP represents voters of one Each elected MP represents voters of one riding or district. riding or district.

An MP’s to key responsibilities :An MP’s to key responsibilities :

a) represent their constituents (voters)a) represent their constituents (voters)

b) create effective legislation (or law) b) create effective legislation (or law)

Senators are appointed by regional Senators are appointed by regional divisions within the countrydivisions within the country

Seats in the Senate are represented Seats in the Senate are represented regionally and equally: regionally and equally: - 24 for Ontario- 24 for Ontario- 24 for Quebec- 24 for Quebec- 24 for the Maritime provinces - 24 for the Maritime provinces - 24 for the Western provinces- 24 for the Western provinces- 6 for Newfoundland and Labrador (joined - 6 for Newfoundland and Labrador (joined confederation in 1949 and is not assigned confederation in 1949 and is not assigned to any region) to any region) - 1 for each of the Yukon, NWT, and - 1 for each of the Yukon, NWT, and NunavutNunavut

Judicial Branch: courts Judicial Branch: courts (Supreme Court (Supreme Court

of Canada, federal and provincial courts)of Canada, federal and provincial courts) Settle disputes between individuals, Settle disputes between individuals,

between individuals and the government between individuals and the government and between the different levels of and between the different levels of governement. governement.

Includes all of Canada’s courts of lawIncludes all of Canada’s courts of law All members come from the legal All members come from the legal

professionprofession The Supreme Court is the highest court in The Supreme Court is the highest court in

the country and has the final say in all the country and has the final say in all legal questions in the country.legal questions in the country.

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Power:Power:Make, change or remove lawsMake, change or remove laws and regulations and regulations

Who:Who:FederalFederal ProvincialProvincialParliamentParliament Queen (LG)Queen (LG)Queen (GG)Queen (GG) Elected house Elected house

(legislature- MPPs)(legislature- MPPs)Elected members (MPs) lower house Elected members (MPs) lower house (House of Commons)(House of Commons)Appointed upper house (senate)Appointed upper house (senate)

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Power:Power:Carries out lawsCarries out laws and regulations and regulations

Who: Who: FederalFederal ProvincialProvincialThe Queen (GG) The Queen (GG) Queen (LG)Queen (LG)PMPM PremierPremierCabinet membersCabinet members Prov cabinet Prov cabinet

membersmemberscivil servantscivil servants civil servantscivil servants

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

Power: Power: Interprets the lawsInterprets the laws ((the power to find a person innocent or the power to find a person innocent or

guilty)guilty)power is invested in our court systempower is invested in our court systemSupreme Court – all decisions are FINALSupreme Court – all decisions are FINAL

Who: Who: Federal & provincial Federal & provincial

judicial branchjudicial branchjudgesjudgesattorney general attorney general lawyerslawyersjuries juries

A good way to understand how power is A good way to understand how power is divided into three branches is to think divided into three branches is to think of your relationship with a teacher in a of your relationship with a teacher in a classroom.classroom.

A. In this scenario, the class is to be working on A. In this scenario, the class is to be working on an assigned activity that is due the next day. an assigned activity that is due the next day. However, very little on-task work is being However, very little on-task work is being accomplished. For the most part, students accomplished. For the most part, students are socializing, walking around the class, are socializing, walking around the class, distracting one another, and are generally distracting one another, and are generally unfocused. Your teacher announces, "For the unfocused. Your teacher announces, "For the remainder of this class, there will be no more remainder of this class, there will be no more talking or moving freely between desks in talking or moving freely between desks in the classroom."the classroom."

Your teacher has exercised his/her Your teacher has exercised his/her legislative power. legislative power. He/she has He/she has made a rule: "There will be no talking made a rule: "There will be no talking or moving about in the classroom."or moving about in the classroom."

B. The class is quiet and working on B. The class is quiet and working on task for a few minutes, until one task for a few minutes, until one student decides to student decides to challenge the challenge the new rule new rule (not you of course) by (not you of course) by turning to the pupils behind him/her turning to the pupils behind him/her and loudly engaging in conversation and loudly engaging in conversation about an upcoming social event. about an upcoming social event. After one or two unheeded warnings, After one or two unheeded warnings, the teacher tells the student, the teacher tells the student, "Change your location to an isolated "Change your location to an isolated corner of the room away from other corner of the room away from other students."students."

This time your teacher has exercised This time your teacher has exercised his/her his/her executive power. executive power. He/she He/she has carried out the rule: No talking - has carried out the rule: No talking - move the student who is a move the student who is a distraction.distraction.

C. After another short period of time, C. After another short period of time, there is some talking that occurs in there is some talking that occurs in the area around your desk. The the area around your desk. The teacher tells you to stop talking, to teacher tells you to stop talking, to which you reply, "I wasn't talking. It which you reply, "I wasn't talking. It was Jason." Now, what does your was Jason." Now, what does your teacher have to do? With an entire teacher have to do? With an entire class looking on, he/she has to class looking on, he/she has to decide whether the disturbance was decide whether the disturbance was caused by Jason or by you.caused by Jason or by you.

Your teacher is exercising his/her Your teacher is exercising his/her judicial powerjudicial power. He/she has to judge . He/she has to judge the guilt or innocence of you and/or the guilt or innocence of you and/or Jason.Jason.

13) Role of each person in the 13) Role of each person in the Federal GovernmentFederal Government

A)A)Speaker of the houseSpeaker of the house

-Keeping order in debates-Keeping order in debates-Makes decisions on the day-to-day -Makes decisions on the day-to-day

running of the HOCrunning of the HOC-MPs elect one of their own to serve -MPs elect one of their own to serve

as speakeras speaker

b) Prime Minister b) Prime Minister

-Leader of the political party that has -Leader of the political party that has the most seats in Parliament the most seats in Parliament

-most powerful person in Parliament -most powerful person in Parliament

C) Cabinet of MinistersC) Cabinet of Ministers

-ministers are selected by the PM-ministers are selected by the PM- Chosen from MPs of the PMs own Chosen from MPs of the PMs own

political partypolitical party- Senators have served in the cabinetSenators have served in the cabinet- PM and the cabinet direct PM and the cabinet direct

government policygovernment policy

D) Leader of the Official OppositionD) Leader of the Official Opposition

-usually the leader of the 2-usually the leader of the 2ndnd largest largest party in the gov’tparty in the gov’t

Responsible for presenting clear Responsible for presenting clear alternatives to gov’t policy and for alternatives to gov’t policy and for suggesting amendments to the suggesting amendments to the gov’ts legislative agendagov’ts legislative agenda

E) Shadow CabinetE) Shadow Cabinet

- Selected by leader of oppositionSelected by leader of opposition- The SC job is to ‘shadow’ the cabinet The SC job is to ‘shadow’ the cabinet

by criticizing gov’t policy and for by criticizing gov’t policy and for suggesting amendments to the suggesting amendments to the gov’ts legislative agenda gov’ts legislative agenda

F) MPs F) MPs - Rep electoral districts in the legislatureRep electoral districts in the legislature- Elected to serve constituentsElected to serve constituents- Follow the instructions when voting on Follow the instructions when voting on

bills of their political party leaderbills of their political party leader- MP of the opposition – their role is to MP of the opposition – their role is to

provide constructive provide constructive criticism of criticism of gov’t policygov’t policy

14) Provincial Legislature Key 14) Provincial Legislature Key RolesRoles

Consists of the Queen who is Consists of the Queen who is represented by the represented by the Lieutenant Lieutenant GovernorGovernor and the and the elected legislature.elected legislature.

A) Speaker of the house keeping order in debates -makes decisions on the day-to-day

running of the legislature -member of the legislature who is

elected by his or her peers

B) B) Premier (Kathleen WynnePremier (Kathleen Wynne)) -the leader of the political party that has the -the leader of the political party that has the

most seats in the legislaturemost seats in the legislature -most powerful person in the legislature-most powerful person in the legislature

C) Cabinet of MinistersC) Cabinet of Ministers -ministers are selected by the premier to be -ministers are selected by the premier to be

responsible for different areas of public policyresponsible for different areas of public policy -chosen from members of the legislature of -chosen from members of the legislature of

the premier’s own party (but can be chosen the premier’s own party (but can be chosen from other members of the legislature)from other members of the legislature)

-the premier and the cabinet direct gov’t -the premier and the cabinet direct gov’t policypolicy

D) Leader of the OppositionD) Leader of the Opposition usually the leader of the 2nd largest party usually the leader of the 2nd largest party

in the legislaturein the legislature -responsible for criticizing and putting -responsible for criticizing and putting

forward an alternative to gov’t policyforward an alternative to gov’t policyE) Shadow CabinetE) Shadow Cabinet -the leader of the official opposition -the leader of the official opposition

selects the shadow cabinetselects the shadow cabinet -‘shadow’ the cabinet by criticizing gov’t -‘shadow’ the cabinet by criticizing gov’t

policypolicy -member of the shadow cabinet take on -member of the shadow cabinet take on

the same areas of responsibility as the same areas of responsibility as members of the cabinetmembers of the cabinet

F) Members of the Legislative Assembly F) Members of the Legislative Assembly (Members of the Provincial Parliament- (Members of the Provincial Parliament- ON) (MPP’s)ON) (MPP’s)

-elected to serve the voters in their -elected to serve the voters in their constituency (almost always members of a constituency (almost always members of a political party)political party)

-usually follow the instructions of their party -usually follow the instructions of their party leader when they vote in the legislatureleader when they vote in the legislature

-some sit on gov’t benches (belong to or -some sit on gov’t benches (belong to or support the political party that forms the support the political party that forms the gov’tgov’t

-others are members of the opposition parties -others are members of the opposition parties (provide constructive criticism of gov’t policy, (provide constructive criticism of gov’t policy, to present policy alternaties, and to suggest to present policy alternaties, and to suggest amendments to the gov’ts legislative agendaamendments to the gov’ts legislative agenda

15) According to the Charter of Rights and 15) According to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms requires that the Federal gov’t Freedoms requires that the Federal gov’t meets at least once a year.meets at least once a year.

16) to debate policy and make laws16) to debate policy and make laws

17) to communicate its plans to parliament 17) to communicate its plans to parliament and the publicand the public

18)18) 3 readings3 readings1st (no debate/discussion)1st (no debate/discussion)2nd (debate) then to a 2nd (debate) then to a

committee (changed/improved)committee (changed/improved)3rd (vote)3rd (vote)SenateSenate