brief overview of canada's government, levels, branches and parliament.

1. The Canadian
Federal System
A Power Sharing Relationship
Powerpoint by Mr. Marshall, adapted by Mrs.Judd
Marshall 2007

2. Overview:
• The historical perspective
• The BNA Act
• The parliamentary system
• The three levels of government in Canada

3. A. Historical Perspective
• The colonies of BNA
• Dissatisfaction with representative gov’t
• The threat from the USA
• Fathers of Confederation

4. B. The BNA Act (Constitution Act of 1867)
• Written Constitution:
1. Pre 1982 = BNA Act, Sections 9191 and 9292
(who gets what: see pg. 224 in your text)
REMEMBERREMEMBER residual powersresidual powers
2. Post 1982 = BNA-like sections
= Charter
= amending formula
• Unwritten Constitution:
British tradition of Common Law

5. Can you name
Canada’sCanada’s
original four
provinces?
Ontario (Canada West),
Quebec (Canada East),
New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia

6. C. The Parliamentary
System
Read the following sections on pp. 226-227 re:
• Legislative Power
• Executive Power
• Judicial Power
Write a brief 2 - 3 sentence definition of each.
FYI: Who has the last word in deciding how a rule will be
followed in Canada?

7. C.1. Legislative BranchC.1. Legislative Branch
Parliament has 2houses, one elected
and one appointed

8. Memory Maker
Parliament:
Elected Appointed
House of Commons Senate

9. 1. The HOUSE OF
COMMONS
research in teams: read p. 228 and tell
• What is another name for the Commons?
• About how many citizens are in a federal riding?
• How many seats are in the Commons?
• Who moderates debates in the Commons?

10. 1a. The HOUSE OF
COMMONS Voting
research in teams: read pp. 228-229 and tell
• What is a political party/party meeting called?
• What is an MP?
• When is an MP allowed to go against the Party?
CAUCUSCAUCUS
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENTMEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
FREE VOTEFREE VOTE

11. 2. The SENATE
research in teams: read pp. 230-231 and tell
• What is another name for the Senate?
• Who really appoints the senators?
• What is a Senate seat given as a reward called?
• Why does N.B. have more Senate seats than B.C.
and what statement in the reading does this
contradict?
UPPER HOUSE
P.M.
PATRONAGE APPOINTMENT
BNA ACT/NOT REP BY POP/but rep by
region

12. C.2. ExecutiveC.2. Executive
BranchBranch
The executive has 4parts:
• The Governor General is the Queen’s rep
• The PM is the head of government
• The Cabinet are the heads of the Ministries
• The Public Service advises the Cabinet

13. • Queen’s representative with ultimate de juri power
• Last step in passing laws except Hansard
• Ensures gov’t follows rules
• Ceremonial / gives out awards and medals
David Johnston

14. Prime Minister
• Leader of Party with most seats
• Head of government de facto power base
• De facto – when something is in practice, whether by right or not
• National leader both domestically and abroad
Look on pp. 234-235 and find ONE example of a duty the PM
fills FOR EACH of the above categories.
1.Head of gov’t 2.national leader 3.party leader
Stephen Harper

15. CabinetCabinet
• The various departments of the federal government are in
MINISTRIES; the MP in charge of each ministry is called a
MINISTER; usually only ministers make up the PM’s Cabinet.
Reading Pg 235 of the textbook Answer the following:
What would an ideal Federal cabinet include?
Why isn’t an ideal cabinet possible?
Who speaks on behalf of the cabinet department? And where?
Define cabinet solidarity.

16. Public ServicePublic Service
Civil ServiceCivil Service
BureaucracyBureaucracy
• The face of everyday gov’t
• Policy advisors to politicians
• Not elected SO don’t change with gov’t
• Sr. civil servants (ex. deputy ministers) wield power thus
they may be changed with gov’t
• Civil servants are found at all 3 levels of government.
Give an example of each pg 236

17. C.3. Judicial BranchC.3. Judicial Branch
• The courts are divided like gov’t: provincial + federal
• The Constitution (1982) is the supreme law of the land
• Statutory Law (written) + Common Law (precedent)
• Civil Law (vs. individuals) + Criminal Law (vs. state)
• The Supreme Court of Cda interprets the Charter
• Living tree doctrine vs Originalism Interpretrations

18. Vocabulary Review
BNA Act
Constitution Act 1867
Sections 91, 92
Constitution Act 1982
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Parliament
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
House of Commons
Senate
Speaker
MP
PM
Cabinet
Governor General
Riding
Ministry
Political Party
Caucus
De facto / De juri
Common Law
Unwritten Constitution
Civil (public) Service
Bureaucrat
Elected
Appointed
Precedent
Upper House
Lower House
Representative Government
Responsible Government

19. End