Social Studies 9 - Federal Political System

Executive Branch Roles

Purpose most laws Puts laws into action Runs day-to-day business of government

Senator Roles

Read the legislation proposed by the House of Commons and suggest changes Cannot dismiss a bill, but can propose changes for improvement to it

Passing of Law

1. First Reading printed copies of the bill are made available for the first time 2. Second Reading debate and vote on the principle of the bill 3. Committee Stage detailed study of the bill 4. Report Stage debate and vote in changes to the bill 5. Third Reading Debate and vote on the final form of the bill 6. Royal Assent bill becomes law after the Governor General gives Royal Assent

To Become Prime Minister

1. Must be elected as leader of a political party 2. Must be elected as member of parliament 3. Party leader must win most seats in the House of Commons

Steps for Persuasive Communication

1. State your idea 2. Know your audience 3. Support your idea wth evidence 4. Choose formats that fit your evidence 5. Organize your points

Senate Seats

105

House Seats

338

House of Commons (Lower House)

338 seats Sits about 27 weeks of the year Sitting starts in September and usually continues until June June, breaks to permit the house members to work in their regions or risings Parliament begins with a speech form the throne made by the Governor General and ends by being dissolved Each siting Parliament has its own agenda Question Period occurs in each sitting

Frequency of Canada's Election

4-5 years

Persuasive Communication

Ability to convince someone of something

The Senate

All proceedings are in French and English Can propose laws, but usually only considers bills passed first by the House of Commons Gives careful consideration to all legislation proposed for Canada Senators provide a second round of study, debate and voting on laws proposed for Canada Provides a voice for regions in Canada Bring different perspective to issues that concern everyone Cannot propose laws that create or spend taxes Bill cannot become law until both the House of Commons and Senate pass it Has pier to reject bills from the House of Commons, but rarely used this poet

Judicial Branch *Supreme Court + Provincial/ Territorial Courts Roles

Applies and interprets laws Final works on all legal questions in the country, including rules for making and applying taxes Acts as a check on the other two branches' powers Make sure rights of Canadians are respected

Judicial Branch

Applies and interprets laws Includes Canada's courts of law All member come from legal profession Separate from other branches and acts as check on their powers

Supreme Court Judge Roles

Apply and define the law to best of their ability Interpret and apply the law

Members of Senators

Called senators Not elected Prime minister appoints them Can remain in office until age 75 Prime minister tend to appoint people who support the PM's political party Included people from a variety of political parties since seats become vacant at a time Appointed by division

MP Elected

Candidate must win most votes, but not necessarily more than 50 percent of the votes

Appointed

Decided on beforehand; designated Assign a job or role to someone

Canada's Government

Democratic country People have almost unlimited opportunity to make the government truly representative Constitutional monarchy Queen or King of Canada is head of the state Prime Minister is head of the government

Members of Parliament

Each person represents voters of one riding or district Most belong to political parties

Branches of Government

Executive Branch •prime minister •the cabinet ----------------- Legislative Branch •the House of Commons •the senate ----------------- Judicial Branch •the Supreme Court •provincial/territorial courts -----------------

Levels of Government

Federal ---------------------- Provincial ---------------------- Municipal / Local

Division of Seats (Specific to the Senate).

For appointing senators Have guaranteed number of seats in the Senate

Political Party

Group of people who have ideas about how government should respond to issues facing society

Prime Minister

Head of Canada's government

Supreme Court of Canada

Highest court in Canada Has final word on all legal questions in the country including questions about rules for Laing and applying laws

Supreme Court

Highest court of Canada Final court of appeals in the Canadians justice system

Prime Minister Roles

Holds office with the backing of the majority Decides what portfolios Chooses Minister for the Cabinet and asks any one of them to resign Has no fixed terms

Path for Passing of Law

House of Commons ------> Senate ------> Royal Assent

Media

Influence personal understanding of the world and how it works All messages created by people who interpret facts and make choices about how to tell the story When story is repeated in the media, begins to affect what happens next Politicians develop key message to control how they present them and to communicate what they want Canadians to know Journalists make decisions about what news stories to cover and whose perspective to include

Reporters Role

Inform people about the impact government is having on their lives To get the truth so to know it government is trying to change our society for the better and if they aren't then vote them out and try someone else

MP Roles

Inform their constituents about new laws and polices and how they may affect them Report to their constituents through meetings, phone calls, letters, newsletters, and Internet websites All MP's meet in the Parliament Building in Ottawa and talk about the country's business and create legislation

Senate Roles

Initiate, amend, or reject bills Propose laws that affect all Canadians and Parliament No bill can become law unless it has been passed Rarely rejected bills but often makes changes to bills passed by the House of Commons to simplify or clairfy Carefully examined each bill clause by clause Investigating important public problems

Canada's Consitution

Law that describes governance in Canada Sets out the role for the Governor General Different roles of the three branches Describes how the three branches of government work together to exercise decision-making authority of government Sets out other important institutions in Canada

House of Commons

Major law-making body in Canada's federal political system Representation is by population

Legislative Branch Roles

Makes laws Represents interests and rights of Canada's regions All proceedings are in Canada's two official languages: French and English

Backbencher Roles

Ministers must convince other members of their party in the House of Commons that the policies proposed by the Cabinet are the right ones Want to be able to support government or Cabinet policies that go against the wishes of the who have elected them

Supreme Court Judge

Nine judges from four regions of Canada

Supreme Court Judges

Nominated by the Prime Minister and his cabinet Nominees go through review by a committee of MP's

Become Supreme Court Judge

PM and cabinet nominates Supreme Court judges

Direct Democracy

People govern themselves

The Cabinet

People with responsibility for different government departments and agencies Such as finances, health and environment Members belong to leading political party in the House of Commons Members of Cabinet called cabinet ministers Proposes most of the ideas that become laws

Majority Government

Political party wins majority of seats in House of Commons Always forms the government

Minority Government

Political party wins most seats in House of Commons, but not majority of seats Usually forms the government To stay in power this party would need to negotiate for support of at least one inter party in the House of Commons to ensure that more than 50% of MPs in the House would vote for the government's proposal

Governor General Roles

Power to appoint the Prime Minister Acts on the advice of the prime minister or premier of the province No bill gets passed in either parliament or a provincial legislature without Royal Assent- from the Governor General or Lieutenant Governor

Roles of Senators

Represent the interest and rights of Canadian regions and minorities Protect the interests of minority groups in Canada Makes sure all voices are heard on the issues Represent their region Protect interests of minority groups in Canada

Roles of MP

Represent their constituents Create legislation for the peace, order and good government of all Canadians Being a legislator Being a voice for the constituents: represents them in formulating policies and assisting them with services provided by the government of Canada Debate, study and vote on laws proposed for Canada called bills Work of parliament

Indirect Democracy

Representatives are elected by communities to represent them when decisions are made by the government Elected by a vote

Monarch of Britian

Represented in Canada by Governor General Britain's queen or king is formal head of state in Canada; doesn't play active role in Canada's government Governor General part of executive and legislative branches of government

Federal Accountability Act

Responsible and accountable spending by government Protection for government employees who "blow the whistle" on wrongdoing with log Canada's civil service

Prime Minister and The Cabinet

Run the day-to-dat business of government

Lobbyists

Someone hired by a group to influence MPs and government officials

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court which is headed by 9 Supreme Court Judges

Executive Branch

The Prime Minister The Cabinet

Legislative Branch

The Queen The Senate (Upper House) The House of Commons (Lower House)

Lobbyists Roles

Voice their views of groups on issues that affect their members, products, or services since these issues can affect all Canadians Provide different perspectives and in-depth expertise on many issues Represent their vies and perspectives of different groups on issues that affect Canadians