Political Systems Canadian Democracy Parliamentary Democracy 8 12

Political Systems Canadian Democracy Parliamentary Democracy 8 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 1

I. The Branches of Government is needed to bring order to society. ii. To bring order, laws are passed. iii. To pass these laws, the government uses three powers. iv. a. Executive: prepares ideas for laws b. Legislative: turns ideas to laws c. Judicial: enforce/interprets laws Checks and Balances System 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 2

The Branches of Government iv. The type of government you have depends on how these three powers are distributed. a. Dictatorship: One person (small group) have all the powers which allows them to create and enforce the laws. b. Democracy: All powers equally distributed 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 3

II. Branches of Government in Canada i. The Executive: a. Governor General: symbolic head of state who represents the monarch. Has very little power. Lieutenant Governor: Provincial b. Prime Minister and the Cabinet: The Prime Minister selects a cabinet from fellow party members who have been elected to the House of Commons 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 4

Branches of Government in Canada ii. Constitutional Monarchy a. A political system in which there is a King/Queen who must follow the rules of a Constitution b. Constitution: a set of rules that the government and the people of a country must follow. The people of the country set these rules. c. Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 5

Queen Elizabeth II 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 6

His Excellency the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 7

The Right Honourable S. Harper Prime Minister 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 8

Branches of Government in Canada c. Each cabinet minister is responsible for a government department – finance, defence, human resources, foreign affairs, etc. control the department’s civil service are responsible for implementing laws under their jurisdiction. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 9

Branches of Government in Canada ii. The Legislative: a. These guys turn bills (potential laws) into laws b. Parliament made up of the HOC and the Senate The HOC (308 seats) is elected and the Senate (105 seats) is appointed. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 10

Branches of Government in Canada c. House of Commons: The most powerful part of the legislative branch. Power of the Purse Each represents a different constituency in Canada. The party in power sits on one side, the opposition sits on the other. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 11

Branches of Government in Canada d. The Senate: this house is independent of the House of Commons. Members of the Senate are appointed for life. Act as a “sober second thought. ” That is, it looks over bills passed by the HOC and can pass, modify, or reject the bill e. A bill must pass the HOC, the Senate, and be signed by the Governor General before becoming a law. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 12

Parliament of Canada 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 13

House of Commons 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 14

The Senate (Red Chamber) 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 15

Leader of the Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition Thomas Mulcair (NDP) 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 16

Canadian Political Royalty. The son of former PM Pierre Trudeau – Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 17

Branches of Government in Canada iii. The Judicial: a. The judicial branch in Canada is made up of the Supreme Court, the Federal Court and the Provincial Courts. b. Independent Judiciary: judges cannot be removed from the bench by executive or legislative branches. c. The Supreme Court: the highest court in the nation and members are appointed by parliament for life. It has the power to interpret and enforce laws. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 18

The Right Honourable Chief Justice of Canada, Beverley Mc. Lachlin Supreme Court of Canada 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 19

III. Parliamentary Democracy in Canada i. Canada has a constitutional monarchy. a. symbolic head of state (Monarch) as well as the government follow a set of rules outlined in the constitution. b. Also called a Parliamentary Democracy 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 20

Parliamentary Democracy in Canada ii. In Canada, we don’t elect people to represent us, we elect political parties. a. Political Parties: groups of people with similar ideologies who try to influence politics. b. In Canada, only two political parties have held power: Liberal and Progressive Conservative (PC) 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 21

Parliamentary Democracy in Canada iii. Once members of political parties are elected they go off to represent the people who voted for them. a. They represent their constituency b. Where they go depends on what level of government they are in. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 22

Parliamentary Democracy in Canada iii. Canada has three levels of government: a. Federal: looks after Canada as a whole. There is only one federal government in Canada. b. Provincial: the provincial government is responsible for each individual province. Ten Canadian provincial governments. c. Municipal: the municipal government takes care of each city. 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 23

Federal Provincial Municipal 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 24

Democracy in Canada 4 Terms 4 Executive Branch 4 Representative/ 4 Legislative Branch 4 4 Parliamentary Democracy Levels of Government Federal Provincial Municipal 4 Judicial Branch 4 House of Commons 4 Senate 4 Supreme Court 4 Governor General 4 Lieutenant Governor 12 January 2022 SS 30 -2 Canadian Democracy 25