Government in Canada

Backbenchers?

Members of the governing party that are not in the Cabinet.

What is the title of people in the cabinet?

Ministers (e.g.. minister of defence)

minority government

When a party wins more seas than any other party, but not more than all the parties added together.

majority government.

When a party wins more than half the seats in the House of Commons.

What is Patronage?

When party members are rewarded for their loyalty. This is often what happens when the Prime Minister choses the senate members.

What is a bill?

a proposed law

What are some concerns of local government?

cities, garbage collections, parks...

Liberal Party

- supports individual freedom and pursuit of equality of opportunity for all persons - believe in multiculturalism and sympathetic to hopes of french Canadians supports free trade -favours expansion of social programs

What are come possible solutions to the issue of Senate reform? (change)

- to elect senate members -to not have most of the members from eastern Canada

Why do some politicians think that the Senate should be reformed?

-Because they lack qualifications. -They are appointed by the PM (not elected) so this is not democratic. The PM often choses members that are from his own party. This is called Patronage. -representation by population (most are from quebec and ontario and the rest of Canada does not like this)

NDP

-Believes that government should intervene in certain important aspects of economy -favours welfare measures -believes government should pay for health card and education and that all Canadian should have equal access to these services.

Conservative Party

-supports a balanced budget -believes in equality of all Canadians -supports english and french as official languages supports free enterprise supports free trade

What are the levels of structure in the provincial government?

1. Lieutenant Governor 2 Legislative Assembly - made up of a. the premier: Christy Clarke in BC b. the Cabinet - appointed by the premier and from the legislative assembly c. The legislative assembly - made up of members that were voted for from their ridings around the province.

How does a bill become a law?

1. first reading - the bill considered is read for the first time and printed. 2. Second reading - Members debate the bill's principle 3. Committee Discussions and Report - committee members study the bill clause by clause and make any changes needed 4. Third reading - members debate and vote on the bill 5. The senate - the bill follow a similar process (three readings) in the Senate. 6. The governor general - the bill receives royal assent after being passed by both houses.

In a coalition government, how are Cabinet Ministers selected?

A leader is chosen to be a Prime Minister and then he/she select a Cabinet from among the MPs of the parties involved.

Senate?

Appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister. Their role in passing legislation is to review the work of the House of Commons and make recommendation. The also vote on the bills passed by the House.

What is the biggest difference between the structure of government at the federal and provincial level?

At the provincial level there is nothing equivalent to the Senate. When a bill is passed in the Legislature it goes directly to the Lieutenant-Governor.

Why is Canada also called a Constitutional Monarchy?

Because the Queen of England is our head of state.

Bloc quebecois

Believe that quebec should be independent and separate from the rest of Canada

Cabinet?

Cabinet Ministers who are all members of the House of Commons and appointed by the Prime Minister. AS a group cabinet Minister are responsible for initiating new laws and administering government policy. Each Cabinet member is responsible for one government department (eg. Minister of finance, defence, etc.)

What are some concerns of the federal government?

Defense, social welfare, foreign relations

How are members of parliament elected?

Each member represents a riding and they are elected by the people of Canada during elections.

What are some concerns of the provincial government?

Education, hospitals, etc

What are the three levels of government in Canada?

Federal, provincial, local (municipal)

Parliament?

Is the group of representative who govern the country. Parliament is the branch of government that makes laws.

What are the three branches of Canadian government?

Legislative (makes new laws = senate and house of commons), Executive (Puts laws into action = PM, cabinet, civil service) and Judicial (interprets and applies the laws = supreme court of canada and federal court).

Current political parties in Canada?

Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Quebecois, New Democratic party (NDP),

Speaker of the House?

Maintains order and applies the rules of Parliament to all.

What is the advantage of a party in power thats hold a majority government?

Majority government can put forward ideas for new laws without fear of forcing a new election A majority government can be much bolder about pursuing its agenda.

What is the name of the head of local government?

Mayor (eg. Vancouver mayer is Gregor Robertson)

Coalition

No party has a majority of seat, but two or more parties join together to form a government.

How do elections work?

On the request of the Prime Minister, the Governor General "dissolves" Parliament and calls and election. The usually happens at the end of a 5 year government term. Candidates are nominated to represent their party in the various ridings. Before the election the political parties and their candidates promote their platform (promises and beliefs) and compete for public support. When elections are held Canadian voters vote for a party in their riding. The votes are counted and the party with the most votes in each riding wins that riding and the head of that party gets a seat in the House of Commons. The party that wins the most riding becomes the official governing party of the country.

Civil servants?

People who work in government and perform administrative tasks of the government.

Type of government in Canada?

Representative democracy, in which we elect representatives to act on our behalf. Each representative belongs to a political party.

Who carries out executive functions of the Government?

The Cabinet.

Shadow Cabinet?

The MPs from the Official Oppositions who have been chosen to shadow a specific minister from the cabinet.

Who is the Head of government?

The Prime Minister (currently Justin Trudeau).

What is first past the post system in elections?

The candidate with the most votes in each riding is declared the winner. This means that a winning candidate in a riding does not have to win the majority vote, just more than any other single party.

What is the structure of the Federal government?

The federal government includes: 1. The House of Commons - made up of Members of Parliament (MP's), the cabinet, and the prime minister, 2.The Senate - appointed by the PM 3. The governor general

House of Commons?

The group of all members of parliament including the PM, and the cabinet and all elected individuals from Canada's ridings (MP's). No law can become a law without approval of the House of commons.

What are the dangers to the party in power when a minority government occurs?

The party in power cannot pass laws on its own; other parties have the ability to unite and force a new election; the part in power is often forced to form alliances or else far a new election.

What did Canada choose a federal system of government?

The provinces wanted to have some autonomy (especially Quebec).

What is the structure of the Provincial Government?

The provincial government includes: 1. The Legislative Assembly - made up of members elected members (Members of the legislative assembly, or MLA's), the cabinet, the premier (Christy Clarke) 2. Lieutenant governor.

Role of Opposition in House of Commons?

To criticize the policies of government and to help keep it accountable.

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

To govern the country and oversee the cabinet.

Role of the House of Commons?

To introduce and debate legislation.

Governor-General's role?

To represent the queen (head of state). The governor general is chosen by the Prime Minister and appointed by the queen. They have more of a symbolic role and don't really have power. They sign bills (laws) that have been passed by parliament.

Where does the idea for a new bill/law come from?

lobby groups (groups that maybe create petitions etc. to lobby government for change), political parties or individual MPs

How dow the federal government generate money?

taxes

How does the provincial government get money?

taxes and from federal government.