Government and Election Review!. Foundation of Government British roots Representative Democracy –elected representatives make decisions on our behalf.

Government and Election Review!

Foundation of Government

• British roots

• Representative Democracy– elected representatives make

decisions on our behalf

• Constitutional Monarchy– monarch has only the powers laid

out in the nation’s constitution and laws

Federal System

• National government + Provincial and Territorial governments = Canada

Division of Power

•Federal Responsibilities

•Provincial Responsibilities

•Shared Responsibilities•See p. 224

•Residual Powers•areas that did not exist or were not

listed in 1867 are assigned to the federal government

Municipal Government

• Responsibilities– Garbage collection, sewage

treatment, fire protection, water supply and the establishment of schools

• Powers given and taken away by Province

Branches of Government

Executive Branchmake decisions and administer them (through the civil service)

Legislative Branchmake laws

Judicial Branchinterpret and administer the law

Executive Branch

• Makes decisions and administers them (through the civil service)

• Federal– Governor General, Prime Minister,

Cabinet, Civil/Public Service

• Governor General – mostly ceremonial, Royal Assent

• Prime Minister – head of government, nation, political party

Executive Branch

• Cabinet – MPs chosen by PM to lead government ministries– Cabinet shuffle– Cabinet solidarity– Party whip

• Public Service– employees who perform the on-

going business of government

Legislative Branch

• Makes laws• Federal

– Governor General, House of Commons, Senate

• House of Commons – 308 MPs– Constituency– Caucus– Speaker of the House– Free Vote

Legislative Branch

• Senate– Appointed by GG on PM’s

recommendation• Patronage• Selected regionally

– “sober second thought”

Provincial Government

Federal British Columbia

Governor General Lieutenant Governor

Prime Minister Premier

Cabinet Cabinet

House of Commons Legislative Assembly

Member of Parliament (MP)

Member of Legislative Assembly

(MLA)

Senate No Equivalent

How a Bill Becomes a Law• See p. 237

• Bill Drafted – by MP or Senator, but usually Cabinet

• First Reading - bill is introduced

• Second Reading - bill is debated and possibly changed• multi-party committee studies bill

(Committee Stage)

• Third Reading - bill is accepted or rejected (vote)

• Senate – may suggest changes

• Royal Assent – GG signs it; bill is now law

Elections

• Eligibility Requirements– 18 years old and a Canadian citizen

• Three Stages: Campaigning, Voting, and Tabulating

• PM asks GG to call an election– At least once every five years– Reasons: government is popular, test for

support, catch the opposition at a bad time, vote of non-confidence, or budget defeated

Elections

• First Past the Post – whoever has the most votes wins– Pros: simple, easy to understand– Cons: all or nothing, fewer people may have

voted for winner than others

• Proportional Representation– % of votes = % of seats– Pros: more representation from other parties– Cons: little local representation, minority

governments

Types of Governments

• Majority Government – more than 50% of seats from the same party– Pros: stable, consistent, efficient

• Minority Government – ruling party has less than 50% of the seats– Pros: responsive, accountable,

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