Canada's Federal Government

Canada's Federal Government

1. Constitution

   • BNA Act of 1867
     • Can pass laws, but with Britain's permission
   • 1931-Statute of Westminster
     • Gained full autonomy and became fully independant

2. Governor General

   • formality
   • Royal Assent
   • Legislative Branch
     • Make laws
       • House of Commons
         • Lower house
           • Study bills 1st
             • Amend or change
             • Debate and vote
         • Governing party
           • Party in power
             • Majority
               • Governing party gets 50% or more seats
                 • Easier to pass laws
             • Minority
               • Governing party gets most seats, but other parties combined are more than 50%
                 • Official opposition and other parties can combine together and act as one opposition party
                   • Harder to pass laws for governing party and if law does`nt pass than governing party has to resign
                     • Responsible government
                       • Governing party and PM have support of H.O.C., but if bill not given majority vote they must resign
                         • Vote of non-confidence
           • Representative government
             • Elections held + each riding sends 1 elected representative to H.O.C
         • Opposition
           • Make life hard
             • Question governing party
               • 2nd most seats during election
               • debate bills to ensure gov. being effective + representing ALL Canadians
         • 308 seats for MPs
           • 1 MP=1 riding
         • Independant candidate
           • No party affiliation
         • Create legislation and keep governing party + cabinet accountable
         • Popular vote- total support political parties win during election, regardless winning riding
       • Senate
         • Upper house
         • Study bills last
           • Examine bills
             • Amend or change
         • Senators
           • Paid a lot $$$
           • Retire at age 75
           • Can come up with ideas for law, but not including $$$
           • Have to own lots property and $$$
           • Some political experience
           • Canadian and +30 yrs. old
           • Represent minorities
           • Appointed by region or division which is represented equally except territories
         • Appointed by PM, not elected
           • Triple E- Equal, Elected, Effective
         • Give "sober second thought"
       • Represent all Canadians' interests and rights
     • Executive Branch
       • Prime Minister
         • Leader of governing party
         • elected in his or her riding
           • riding or constituency= geographical regions represented by a politician
         • convinces cabinet about new proposal
         • Cabinet
           • Civil Service
             • Public Service
               • Not military,judicial, or legislative
               • Civil Servants
                 • Work for government
                 • Party Discipline
           • 39 departments/portfolios
             • 39 Cabinet Ministers
               • 1 in charge of ea. department
               • Appointed by PM
           • Still MPs
         • Appoints
       • Propose bill to House of Commons
       • Propose laws
         • Run day-day governing of country
     • Judicial Branch
       • apply and interprets laws
       • Family Rules
         • Civic court
           • Provincial Court
             • Federal Court
               • Supreme Court
                 • HIGHEST court of Canada
                 • Last resort and has final words
                 • Concerned with issues that affect ALL citizens or if someone`s rights are not met
                 • 9 judges from different regions
                   • Judge retires, PM and cabinet nominate judge,then go through review by committee of MPs
                   • 3 Ontario + Quebec, 1 Atlantic, 2 Western provinces
                   • Not politicians
                   • highly respected and experienced
                   • members from legal proffessions
                 • Use charter of rights and freedoms to make legal judgements
                 • Highest federal court
                 • Always has uneven number of judges to prevent tied decisions
                 • Issues of criminal process, equality, discrimination, and social questions
           • City court
           • Local matters with easier solutions
       • Different from other branches, acts as check on their powers
       • Responsibility of making sure rights of citizens respected
       • Watchdog
         • Federal Accountability Act
           • Responsible and accountable spending by gov.
           • Protection for gov. employees who `blow the whistles` on wrongdoing within civil service
           • More info. on activities of lobbyists
             • Lobbyists paid to represent of particular industries
     • Consult when new bills created

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