Canada's system of government rests on three foundations: it is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy, and a constitutional monarchy. Understanding these means knowing the levels of government, how Parliament makes law, and the roles of the Crown and its representatives.
FoundationsThree Key Facts
Everything about how Canadians govern themselves flows from three defining facts. Canada is a federal state, meaning power is divided among levels of government; a parliamentary democracy, meaning the people elect representatives to make law; and a constitutional monarchy, meaning a hereditary Sovereign reigns under the rule of law.
Remember this
- Canada is a federal state
- Canada is a parliamentary democracy
- Canada is a constitutional monarchy
Federal stateThe Levels of Government
Canada has federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. The split of responsibilities between the federal and provincial governments was defined in 1867 in the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867. Every province has its own elected Legislative Assembly, while the three northern territories do not have the status of provinces but carry out many of the same functions.
Who does what
- Federal: defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship
- Provincial: municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways
- Shared by federal and provinces: agriculture and immigration
Parliamentary democracyHow Parliament Works
The people elect members to the House of Commons in Ottawa and to the provincial and territorial legislatures, where representatives pass laws, approve and monitor expenditures, and keep the government accountable. Cabinet ministers must retain the confidence of the House and have to resign if defeated in a non-confidence vote.
The three parts of Parliament
- The Sovereign (Queen or King)
- The Senate — senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75
- The House of Commons — the representative chamber of members of Parliament elected by the people, traditionally every four years
No bill can become law until it has been passed by both chambers and has received royal assent, granted by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign.
Making lawsHow a Bill Becomes Law
A bill moves through a fixed sequence of stages in the House of Commons, then a similar path in the Senate, before becoming law.
First Reading — the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed
Second Reading — members debate the bill's principle
Committee Stage — committee members study the bill clause by clause
Report Stage — members can make other amendments
Third Reading — members debate and vote on the bill
Senate — the bill follows a similar process in the Senate
Royal Assent — the bill receives royal assent after being passed by both Houses
Constitutional monarchyThe Crown and Its Representatives
Canada's Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King) who reigns in accordance with the Constitution — the rule of law. There is a clear distinction between the head of state (the Sovereign) and the head of government (the Prime Minister, who directs the governing of the country). As Head of the Commonwealth, the Sovereign links Canada to 53 other nations.
Because the Sovereign does not live in Canada, the Crown is represented here. The Governor General represents the Sovereign nationally, appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years. In each of the ten provinces, the Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years.
Branches and rolesBranches and Other Key Roles
Government is divided into three branches and supported by leaders and judges at every level.
Remember this
- The three branches of government are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial
- Members of provincial/territorial legislatures are called MLAs, MNAs, MPPs or MHAs, depending on the province or territory
- In each province the Premier has a role similar to the Prime Minister
- In the three territories the Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role
- The Supreme Court of Canada has nine judges appointed by the Governor General
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