Scribd
Upload
3 views

CanadianGovtSystem

Uploaded by

ssoulzzzzfrl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views

CanadianGovtSystem

Uploaded by

ssoulzzzzfrl
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 11

Canada

HEAD OF STATE
QUEEN OF CANADA
(Elizabeth II)
Parliament Hill
Ottawa
PARLIAMENT

Upper House
“Chamber of sober second thought”

Lower House
SENATE
• 105 Members
• Lifetime appointment by Prime
Minister
• UNELECTED, UNEQUAL &
INEFFECTIVE.
House of Commons
(MPs)
308 members

Government Loyal Opposition Other MPs


*party with the second largest number
(Majority/Minority) of seats
*party with the most seats

Prime Minister MPs are elected to


Leader of the governing
party represent a riding
CABINET (electoral district) as well
Mostly but not necessarily as their Party in the House
government MPs
of Commons
Prime Minister Cabinet
• Leader of the governing • Selected by the PM
party
• ‘De-facto’ Head of State

Majority Government - >155 seats


Minority Government - <155 seats
• Called by ruling gov’t to gain a new or better
‘mandate’
• Called when Parliament is dissolved after no
confidence vote.
• Maximum of 5 years between elections
KEY TERMS
• Majority Gov’t
• Minority Gov’t
• Confidence of the House
• Party Discipline
• Governor General
• Cabinet
• House of Commons
• Senate
• Seat
• Loyal Opposition
The Canadian Party System
• Traditionally 2 dominant parties
1. Conservative
2. Liberal
• More regional parties in recent history
» Bloc Quebecois - Quebec
» Reform Party - Western Canada
• Third party
» Off-centre
» Spoiler (Reform, NDP)
• Strong Party Discipline
• Only ‘card-carrying’ members vote in
leadership elections
Recent Federal Elections
• 2 consecutive Conservative minorities
– Reform - Alliance - Conservative
• Liberal Minority from 2004-2006
• Liberal Majorities from 1993 - 2004
• Conservative Majorities 1984-1993
(‘Golden Age’ of Conservatism -
Reagan, Thatcher & Mulroney)

You might also like