Structure of the Canadian Federal

Government

Origins of the Federal GovernmentBranches of the Federal GovernmentStructure of the Federal Government

Origins of the Canadian Origins of the Canadian Federal GovernmentFederal Government

• Stems from British traditions and their system of government

• Developed from the British Colonial Governments

• Is a federal system of government responsible for matters vital to the people

• Constitutional Monarchy• Representative and

responsible governing body

Branches of the Canadian Federal

Government

Branches of the Branches of the Canadian Federal Canadian Federal

GovernmentGovernment

The Executive BranchThe Legislative BranchThe Judicial Branch

The Executive Branch

• Is the branch of the Federal Government that makes decisions on behalf of the citizens of Canada

• Executes decisions and acts on behalf of the people of Canada

• Administers decisions through the civil service (public sector)

The Legislative Branch

Is the branch of the Federal Government that has the power to make laws and amend laws

Decides and debates which proposed bills (legislation) become law

Once the proposed bill has passed debate in both the Senate and the House of Commons, it is signed by the Governor General to officially become law

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch Is the branch of the Federal Government that Is the branch of the Federal Government that

enforces and upholds the lawsenforces and upholds the laws Is separate from the other branches of Is separate from the other branches of

Government to ensure that the Government Government to ensure that the Government acts in accordance with the Constitution and acts in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the landthe laws of the land

Decides who has broken the law and how Decides who has broken the law and how they are to be punishedthey are to be punished

Composed of the Supreme Court and Composed of the Supreme Court and Provincial CourtsProvincial Courts

What is a What is a Constitutional Constitutional

Monarchy?Monarchy?

What is a What is a Constitutional Constitutional

Monarchy?Monarchy?• Canada is a constitutional monarchyCanada is a constitutional monarchy• This means that Canada is governed This means that Canada is governed

(controlled) by a constitution (legal (controlled) by a constitution (legal documents of rules and laws) as well documents of rules and laws) as well as the reigning monarch of Britainas the reigning monarch of Britain

• The Queen acts as the head of state The Queen acts as the head of state for Canada and signs all legislation for Canada and signs all legislation into lawinto law

• Ideally, it is the government, under the Ideally, it is the government, under the guidance and direction of the Prime guidance and direction of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, that actually Minister and his Cabinet, that actually oversees the governing of Canadaoversees the governing of Canada

The Structure of the The Structure of the Canadian Federal Canadian Federal

GovernmentGovernment• The Government of Canada is The Government of Canada is

organized into three branches: organized into three branches: executive, legislative and judicialexecutive, legislative and judicial

• The head of state for Canada is Queen The head of state for Canada is Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II

• The Queen is represented by the The Queen is represented by the Governor General who takes on the Governor General who takes on the daily responsibilities of the Queen daily responsibilities of the Queen

• The Prime Minister is the elected The Prime Minister is the elected representative for Canada and acts representative for Canada and acts essentially as the CEO of Canadaessentially as the CEO of Canada

The QueenThe Queen• Queen Elizabeth II• Serves a symbolic

role and carries out ceremonial duties

• Gives Royal assent to bills to enact them into law

• Is represented by the Governor General

The Governor General• Chosen by the Queen on Chosen by the Queen on

recommendation by the recommendation by the Prime MinisterPrime Minister

• The current Governor The current Governor General is the Right General is the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean Honourable Michaëlle Jean

• The Governor General is The Governor General is the Queenthe Queen’’s representatives representative

• The Governor General The Governor General provides formal assent to provides formal assent to transform bills into lawtransform bills into law

• Performs ceremonial Performs ceremonial functions on behalf of the functions on behalf of the Queen and the countryQueen and the country

The Prime MinisterThe Prime MinisterThe Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister

• Leader of the Federal Leader of the Federal GovernmentGovernment

• The current Prime Minister The current Prime Minister is the Right Honourable is the Right Honourable Steven HarperSteven Harper

• Serves as the head of the Serves as the head of the Federal Government, Federal Government, leader of Canada, as well as leader of Canada, as well as the party leaderthe party leader

• Selects a Cabinet to Selects a Cabinet to represent the various represent the various Government departmentsGovernment departments

The CabinetThe CabinetThe CabinetThe Cabinet

• Composed of elected party members selected by the Prime MinisterComposed of elected party members selected by the Prime Minister• Each member of the Cabinet is designated responsible for a particular Each member of the Cabinet is designated responsible for a particular

departmentdepartment• The selection of the Cabinet attempts to balance cultural, linguistic, and The selection of the Cabinet attempts to balance cultural, linguistic, and

social diversity considerationssocial diversity considerations• Cabinet Ministers are responsible for the efficient operation of their Cabinet Ministers are responsible for the efficient operation of their

specified departmentspecified department• Cabinet members must display full support for their leader and the Cabinet members must display full support for their leader and the

decisions of Government- this is called cabinet solidaritydecisions of Government- this is called cabinet solidarity

• Composed of elected party members selected by the Prime MinisterComposed of elected party members selected by the Prime Minister• Each member of the Cabinet is designated responsible for a particular Each member of the Cabinet is designated responsible for a particular

departmentdepartment• The selection of the Cabinet attempts to balance cultural, linguistic, and The selection of the Cabinet attempts to balance cultural, linguistic, and

social diversity considerationssocial diversity considerations• Cabinet Ministers are responsible for the efficient operation of their Cabinet Ministers are responsible for the efficient operation of their

specified departmentspecified department• Cabinet members must display full support for their leader and the Cabinet members must display full support for their leader and the

decisions of Government- this is called cabinet solidaritydecisions of Government- this is called cabinet solidarity

The House Of Commons

• Also referred to as the Lower House• Currently composed of 308 elected members• Elections for seats in the House of Commons every 5 years• The total number of seats in the House of Commons depends

upon the population of Canada• House of Commons debates bills and votes on issues• Debates are controlled by the Speaker of the House• In the House of Commons members sit with their parties• The Government sits on one side of the House and the

Opposition parties sit on the other side• The Opposition party is responsible for being critical of the

Government

The SenateThe SenateThe SenateThe Senate

• The Senate is composed of members that The Senate is composed of members that are appointed by the Governor General on are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Ministerthe recommendation of the Prime Minister

• The Senate is comprised of The Senate is comprised of 105 Senators105 Senators who represent the various regions of who represent the various regions of CanadaCanada

• The Senate can initiate any bills except The Senate can initiate any bills except those that deal with taxation or expenditurethose that deal with taxation or expenditure

• The Senate can amend or reject any bill and The Senate can amend or reject any bill and provides the final review of any bill that has provides the final review of any bill that has been passed in the House of Commonsbeen passed in the House of Commons

• No bill can become law until it has passed No bill can become law until it has passed the Senatethe Senate

• The Senate is composed of members that The Senate is composed of members that are appointed by the Governor General on are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Ministerthe recommendation of the Prime Minister

• The Senate is comprised of The Senate is comprised of 105 Senators105 Senators who represent the various regions of who represent the various regions of CanadaCanada

• The Senate can initiate any bills except The Senate can initiate any bills except those that deal with taxation or expenditurethose that deal with taxation or expenditure

• The Senate can amend or reject any bill and The Senate can amend or reject any bill and provides the final review of any bill that has provides the final review of any bill that has been passed in the House of Commonsbeen passed in the House of Commons

• No bill can become law until it has passed No bill can become law until it has passed the Senatethe Senate

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country

Differences between the Differences between the Canadian Government and Canadian Government and

the Americanthe American• Canada is a two official languages- whereas the United States has

one• Canada is a constitutional monarchy and the United States is a

republic• Canada has a parliamentary-cabinet government and the U.S. has

a presidential-congressional government• That is, in the United States the President is head of the country

and the head of the government• In Canada, the Queen or Governor General is the figurehead of

the country and the Prime Minister is the head of the government• In the U.S., the President is separate from both Houses (Congress

& Senate) whereas, in Canada the Prime Minister is a member of the House of Commons and therefore power is concentrated not separated

More differences between Canada and the United

States governments

Selecting a Cabinet Upon winning the election, one of the first tasks of the

Prime Minister is to select his/her Cabinet The selection of the cabinet is no easy task- there are a

multitude of decisions to be made The Prime Minister has to take into account several

considerations when deciding who will be in his/her Cabinet The Prime Minister attempts to balance these considerations

in selecting people to head each department Some positions in the Cabinet are allocated on the basis of

expertise and merit and some Cabinet positions are awarded out of patronage

Criteria for selecting Cabinet Ministers

• Regional considerations• Linguistic considerations• Cultural considerations• Expertise and background considerations

• Patronage (Favours)

Passing a BillPassing a Bill Passing a BillPassing a Bill What is a bill?What is a bill? A bill is an idea to make a new law or change an A bill is an idea to make a new law or change an

existing law.existing law.There are several stages that a bill goes through in order to There are several stages that a bill goes through in order to

become a lawbecome a lawThe First Reading-The First Reading- occurs in the House of Commons where a occurs in the House of Commons where a

bill is read out for the first time and the idea is officially bill is read out for the first time and the idea is officially written down and recordedwritten down and recorded

The Second Reading-The Second Reading- Members of the House of Commons Members of the House of Commons debate the principle of the bill- Is is sound? Does it meet debate the principle of the bill- Is is sound? Does it meet peoplepeople’’s needs? s needs?

If the bill passes the second reading and vote then it is sent to a If the bill passes the second reading and vote then it is sent to a special House Committee who reviews and edits proposed special House Committee who reviews and edits proposed billbill

The bill returns to the House of Commons for the Report stage The bill returns to the House of Commons for the Report stage where members debate the bill and make other amendmentswhere members debate the bill and make other amendments

The Third Reading-The Third Reading- Members debate the bill and vote- if bill Members debate the bill and vote- if bill passes, it is sent onto the Senate where it undergoes a similar passes, it is sent onto the Senate where it undergoes a similar process of three more readings.process of three more readings.

What is a bill?What is a bill? A bill is an idea to make a new law or change an A bill is an idea to make a new law or change an existing law.existing law.

There are several stages that a bill goes through in order to There are several stages that a bill goes through in order to become a lawbecome a law

The First Reading-The First Reading- occurs in the House of Commons where a occurs in the House of Commons where a bill is read out for the first time and the idea is officially bill is read out for the first time and the idea is officially written down and recordedwritten down and recorded

The Second Reading-The Second Reading- Members of the House of Commons Members of the House of Commons debate the principle of the bill- Is is sound? Does it meet debate the principle of the bill- Is is sound? Does it meet peoplepeople’’s needs? s needs?

If the bill passes the second reading and vote then it is sent to a If the bill passes the second reading and vote then it is sent to a special House Committee who reviews and edits proposed special House Committee who reviews and edits proposed billbill

The bill returns to the House of Commons for the Report stage The bill returns to the House of Commons for the Report stage where members debate the bill and make other amendmentswhere members debate the bill and make other amendments

The Third Reading-The Third Reading- Members debate the bill and vote- if bill Members debate the bill and vote- if bill passes, it is sent onto the Senate where it undergoes a similar passes, it is sent onto the Senate where it undergoes a similar process of three more readings.process of three more readings.

The House of Commons

How is the federal How is the federal government formed?government formed?

How is the federal How is the federal government formed?government formed?

The federal government is formed based The federal government is formed based upon the voting in a national general electionupon the voting in a national general election

The party that wins the most seats (electoral The party that wins the most seats (electoral districts or ridings) forms the governmentdistricts or ridings) forms the government

The party that has the second most amount The party that has the second most amount of seats form the official oppositionof seats form the official opposition

The type of government The type of government (majority/minority/coalition) depends upon (majority/minority/coalition) depends upon the number of seats that the winning party the number of seats that the winning party secures in the electionsecures in the election

The federal government is formed based The federal government is formed based upon the voting in a national general electionupon the voting in a national general election

The party that wins the most seats (electoral The party that wins the most seats (electoral districts or ridings) forms the governmentdistricts or ridings) forms the government

The party that has the second most amount The party that has the second most amount of seats form the official oppositionof seats form the official opposition

The type of government The type of government (majority/minority/coalition) depends upon (majority/minority/coalition) depends upon the number of seats that the winning party the number of seats that the winning party secures in the electionsecures in the election

Minority GovernmentMinority GovernmentMinority GovernmentMinority Government• Occurs when no single political party has a clear Occurs when no single political party has a clear

majority of MPs in the House of Commonsmajority of MPs in the House of Commons• The political party with the most MPs, The political party with the most MPs,

nevertheless, may decide to form the nevertheless, may decide to form the government on its own.government on its own.

• This is called a This is called a minority governmentminority government because the because the governing political party only has a governing political party only has a ““minorityminority”” (less than 50%) of MPs in the legislature. (less than 50%) of MPs in the legislature.

• A minority government governs much differently A minority government governs much differently than a majority government: because it does not than a majority government: because it does not have a clear majority in the House, the have a clear majority in the House, the government cannot simply use party discipline to government cannot simply use party discipline to guarantee support in the legislature. guarantee support in the legislature.

• Instead, it must negotiate with opposition parties Instead, it must negotiate with opposition parties to gain their support for government legislation.to gain their support for government legislation.

Majority GovernmentMajority GovernmentMajority GovernmentMajority Government A A majority governmentmajority government is the most common form is the most common form

of government in Canada where a single political of government in Canada where a single political party has more than half of all the MPs in the party has more than half of all the MPs in the House. House.

Because the government has a clear majority, it is Because the government has a clear majority, it is referred to as a "majority government." referred to as a "majority government."

In such governments, the Prime Minister and In such governments, the Prime Minister and Cabinet have an incredible amount of control over Cabinet have an incredible amount of control over the government policy and direction. S/he can the government policy and direction. S/he can enact whatever policy they like, and then exercise enact whatever policy they like, and then exercise party discipline to ensure that those policies are party discipline to ensure that those policies are supported in the House (and enacted into law). supported in the House (and enacted into law).

Majority governments are more Majority governments are more ““efficientefficient”” in in legislating law and enacting policieslegislating law and enacting policies

The only threat to such a government is internal The only threat to such a government is internal dissent and a revolt by the governing party's own dissent and a revolt by the governing party's own MPs (which rarely occurs in Canadian politics).MPs (which rarely occurs in Canadian politics).

A A majority governmentmajority government is the most common form is the most common form of government in Canada where a single political of government in Canada where a single political party has more than half of all the MPs in the party has more than half of all the MPs in the House. House.

Because the government has a clear majority, it is Because the government has a clear majority, it is referred to as a "majority government." referred to as a "majority government."

In such governments, the Prime Minister and In such governments, the Prime Minister and Cabinet have an incredible amount of control over Cabinet have an incredible amount of control over the government policy and direction. S/he can the government policy and direction. S/he can enact whatever policy they like, and then exercise enact whatever policy they like, and then exercise party discipline to ensure that those policies are party discipline to ensure that those policies are supported in the House (and enacted into law). supported in the House (and enacted into law).

Majority governments are more Majority governments are more ““efficientefficient”” in in legislating law and enacting policieslegislating law and enacting policies

The only threat to such a government is internal The only threat to such a government is internal dissent and a revolt by the governing party's own dissent and a revolt by the governing party's own MPs (which rarely occurs in Canadian politics).MPs (which rarely occurs in Canadian politics).

Coalition GovernmentCoalition GovernmentCoalition GovernmentCoalition Government• A A coalition governmentcoalition government is formed when two or more is formed when two or more

political parties (with a combined majority in the political parties (with a combined majority in the House) enter into a formal agreement to form the House) enter into a formal agreement to form the government together. government together.

• While both coalition and minority governments can While both coalition and minority governments can result from situations in which no single political party result from situations in which no single political party has a clear majority of MPs in the House, the two has a clear majority of MPs in the House, the two should not be confused. should not be confused.

• In minority governments, a single political party forms In minority governments, a single political party forms the government alone and then seeks informal the government alone and then seeks informal cooperation with opposition political parties. cooperation with opposition political parties.

• In coalition governments, two or more political parties In coalition governments, two or more political parties enter into a long-term agreement to form the enter into a long-term agreement to form the government together, to the exclusion of all other government together, to the exclusion of all other parties in the legislature.parties in the legislature.