2013

1. The Three Branches of Canadian
Government
•Legislative
•Executive
•Judicial

2. You Will Need to Know
1. The role of each branch
2. The positions in each branch
3. Who decides who will be in each
position and how they decide who
will be in that position.
4. The work of each branch

3. Legislative branch
1. Role: To create laws
2. Positions in this branch:
•
•
•
•
•
House of Commons (H of C)
Senate
The Monarch: King/Queen
Governor General (GG)
Lieutenant Governor (LG)
Judith Guichon
B.C. Lieutenant Governor

4. Legislative Branch Continued
3. Who selects and how?
A. H of C:
People by voting
B. Senate:
PM by appointment
C. GG:
PM and appointment by the
Queen

5. Legislative Branch (Cont’d)
4. The work of this branch
• To pass laws (from bills)
This involves the H of C and Senate Committees
• Origins of Bills:
- Cabinet
- Private Members Bill
• GG provides Royal Assent

6. Executive Branch
1. Roles:
Carries out (implements) the country’s laws
Operates the administration of government
 Parliament

7. Executive Branch (continued)
2. Positions in this branch:
• The Monarch
• Governor General (GG)
Queen
Elizabeth 2 
(Monarch)
• Lieutenant General (LG)
• Prime Minister (PM)
David Johnston
• Cabinet
• Bureaucracy
•
•
•
•
Departments/ ministries
Crown corporations
Regulatory agencies
Advisory bodies
(GG)
Stephen Harper 
(PM)

8. Executive Branch (Cont’d)
3. Who selects and how:
• GG: PM with appointment by the Queen
• PM: chosen by the political party
• Cabinet: Appointed by PM
• Bureaucracy: Appointed by Gov’t and hired
(cabinet circa 2008)

9. Executive Branch (cont’d)
4. The work of this branch:
• GG: ceremonial
• PM:
• Selects GG, Cabinet
• Management of Political Party
• Power of Organizing the Government: Departments,
PMO
• Power of Dissolution

10. Still more Executive Branch
Cabinet:
• Operates by Order-in-Council
• An Order in Council is a type of legislation.
• Two principal types of Order in Council exist: Orders in Council exercising the Royal
Prerogative or
• Orders in Council made in accordance with an Act of Parliament.
• In Canada they are made in the name of the Governor General by the Queen's Privy
Council for Canada (or in the case of provincial orders-in-council, orders are by the
Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council)
• An Order in Council made under the Royal Prerogative is primary legislation, and
does not depend on any statute for its authority. This includes things like: the
standing orders for civil servants and appointing heads of Crown corporations or
Overseas Gov’t Departments
• Traditionally, Orders in Council are used as a way for the Prime Minister to make
political appointments, but they can also be used to issue simple laws as a sort of
decree.
• Cabinet includes:
• Ministers of permanent departments
– Ministers of State: small subordinated departments

11. Executive Branch, I bet you thought it was over
Bureaucracy and Government Dept’s:
• To administer Gov’t
• To provide Gov’t services
– A.
–
–
Departments
B. Crown Corporations
C. Regulatory Agencies: set rules for business Ex. CRTC
– D. Advisory Bodies
• Royal commissions
• Tax forces

12. Judicial Branch
1. Role:
• Interprets the law
• Adjudicates legal disputes
2. Positions in this branch:
• Judges
• Courts
Supreme Court of Canada 
*Note no relation to Santa Clause

13. Judicial Branch Cont’d
3. Who selects and how:
Superior Court Judges:
– Appointed by PM
Provincial Court Judges:
– Appointed by provincial Government

14. Judicial Branch Cont’d
4. The work of this branch:
Judges:
• Interpret the law
• Adjudicated disputes over rights