Inner Workings of Inner Workings of Canadian GovernmentCanadian Government

How can Canadians effect change at federal and provincial levelsChapter 9 & 10

Today’s ObjectiveToday’s Objective

Describe the significance of the following in the workings of government: passage of legislation (including First, Second, and Third Reading; Royal Assent; private members bills) party discipline versus free votes cabinet patronage

Prime minister Stephen Harper

So how are laws made?So how are laws made?

A proposed new law is called a BillBills are usually introduced by members

of the Cabinet or the prime minister◦So, the Cabinet members and the prime

minister hold both executive AND legislative power (power to make decisions and laws)

The Cabinet is made of elected party members chosen by the prime minister

What’s a Cabinet?What’s a Cabinet?

Selecting Cabinet members is very important to maintain government support

Should represent all cultures, languages, ethnicities, genders, ages of the country (ideally)

A perfect balance is rarely achieved

shenme?Cabinet?

Cabinet solidarityCabinet solidarity

Cabinet members must display full support for the prime minister

This is called Cabinet SolidarityThis shows the public the government is

strong, confident and unified in it’s decisions

If a Cabinet member disagrees with a decision, they are expected to resign

A party whip ensures Cabinet members support party bills and vote

Anyway, back to making lawsAnyway, back to making laws

People called civil servants help government draft (design) new Bills

Bills may also be introduced by members of the Senate or House of Commons◦These are called private members bills◦Few of these Bills ever become laws

For a Bill to become a Law, it must pass several stages (Fig. 9-17, pg. 237)

These stages include: first, second, third readings, and Royal Assent

How a Bill becomes LawHow a Bill becomes Law

Bill must pass three readings in both the Senate and House of Commons to become Law

First reading is just a formality◦ Bill introduced without debate◦ Allows media, opposition to become familiar with the Bill

for future readingsSecond reading

◦ Main Idea of Bill is debated: Is the proposed Bill a good idea or not?

◦ Bill may be changed or improvedThird Reading

◦ House either accepts or rejects the amended Bill◦ If accepted, Bill then sent to Senate where the process is

repeated◦ Senate however rarely rejects a Bill, may recommend

further change

The final step!The final step!

If a Bill passes all three readings, Bill is sent to the Governor General (pg. 234)◦Governor General represents the Queen◦Signing of the Bill is known as giving Royal

Assent◦Royal Assent is rarely withheld, mostly

symbolic◦However, ultimate

power is vested in the queen (pg. 222-223)

Gov-Gen. Michaelle Jean

Queen Elizabeth II

GovernmentGovernment

The House of Commons (known as the Lower House) is made up of elected officials called MP’s (members of parliament)◦MP’s by tradition expected to vote in favour of the

party’s position on policies, known as party discipline

◦However, sometimes the people who elected the MP’s disagree with the policy

◦In this case, the MP’s can choose to vote against the

party, called a free vote

PatronagePatronage

The Senate (known as the Upper House) is made up of appointed members by the Governor General on recommendation of the prime minister◦Members called Senators◦Must be Canadian citizens, 30-75 years old, live

in province they represent, own propertyPrime ministers often fill vacant Senate

seats with his own party supporters◦Known as patronage (reward) for loyalty or

support◦**Controversial Issue

The Parliamentary The Parliamentary SystemSystem

Legislative, Executive, Judicial Branches

Powers of GovernmentPowers of Government

Canadian Federal Government is divided into three branches with different powers◦Executive branch

Power to make decisions◦Legislative branch

Power to make laws◦Judicial branch

Power to interpret and administer laws Power rests with Judges and Court System Separate from other two branches

Structure of Canadian Structure of Canadian GovernmentGovernment

Legislative branchLegislative branch

Includes:◦Governor general◦House of Commons◦Senate

All the above form parliamentParliament must meet each year, called a

session, where they:◦Pass new laws◦Amend or remove others◦Debate important issues to Canadians

Legislative branchLegislative branch

During Parliament, there is “question period” where opposition party members question government actions

Can be Very Emotional! (video)

Questions usually answered by a cabinet minister or the prime minister, explain the governments position on the topic

House of Commons (Lower House)House of Commons (Lower House)

Only part of legislative branch to be electedElections occur every 5 years, or lessCanada divided into areas based on

population called ridings (1 for every 100,000 people)

Each riding, people vote for a representative called an MP

These MP’s form the House of CommonsMP’s elect a speaker of the house to control

meetings

Political ridings of CanadaPolitical ridings of Canada

The Senate (Upper House)The Senate (Upper House)

Appointed by Gov. Gen. on advice of PMAppoint own speaker, own affairsJobs are:

◦Final check on new laws passing◦Introduce new laws (rare)◦Regional representation for issues◦Investigate important issues

Should senate exist? Read pg. 231-33 (optional)

Senate seats of CanadaSenate seats of Canada

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Includes:◦Governor General◦Prime Minister◦Cabinet (cabinet ministers and prime minister are also members of House, so they have both executive and legislative power)

Governor GeneralGovernor General

Represents the monarch, the QueenGives Royal Assent (formal assent) to a

bill before it becomes a lawAdvises government to ensure it abides

by the constitutionDaily affairs of federal government run by

the prime minister and the Cabinet

Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Leader of ruling party is named prime ministerHas three roles:

◦1) Head of Government Makes important decisions for the government

◦2) National Leader Address Canadians on issues of national concern Speaks on behalf of Canadians at international

meetings◦3) Party Leader

Spokesperson for his political party in Parliament Gives out patronage appointments

The CabinetThe Cabinet

Made up of elected party members chosen by the prime minister

Each member responsible for a government department◦Ex. Minister of Education, Minister of Health,

Minister of Environment, etc.Make important decisions, create new

laws for Canada

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

compare mechanisms whereby public policy can be changed (e.g., elections, petitions and protests, lobbyists, special interest groups, court actions, media campaigns)