Foundations of the Canadian Government

Canadian Government Canada’s government can be described as having four features: Representative Democracy Constitutional Monarchy Federal System (Multi) Party System

Representative Democracy Demo = people + cracy = power to rule/govern 2 kinds: Direct = citizens vote in referenda (to make decisions) Originated in Ancient Greece (everyone involved) Representative = people vote to choose their leaders, and the leaders make decisions for them. Governments are accountable to the people.

2011 Election

House of Commons seats distribution * Majority Government

2008 Election

2008 Election 143 77 49 37 2 Conservative Liberal BQ NDP I 2006 Election 124 103 51 29 1 Conservative Liberal BQ NDP I Minority government – is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when the governing political party does not have a majority (155) of the overall seats (308) in the parliament.

Voter Turnout at Federal Elections (2008 – 1974) Year Voter turnout percentage 2011 61% 2008 59% 2006 64% 2004 60% 2000 1997 67% 1993 70% 1988 75% 1984 1980 69% 1979 1974 71%

1 7 2 3 6 4 5 2008 Election - Match the leader a. Michael Ignatieff Liberal Party b. Elizabeth May Green Party c. Stephen Harper Prime Minister (Conservative) d. Homer J. Simpson Duff Beer Party of Springfield e. Christy Clark B.C. Premier (Liberal) f. Jack Layton NDP g. Gilles Duceppe Bloc Québécois 1 7 2 3 6 4 5

David Johnston Canada’s Governor General Replaced Michelle Jean as Governor General in September 2010. Former President of the University of Waterloo Harvard and Cambridge University graduate Taught law at Queens University Author of several books

Federal System Three levels of government: Federal (most power) Provincial Municipal All levels of government can make laws, but the Federal government prevails when the laws are in conflict. Residual Powers – Decision making not in the 1867 constitution given to the Federal government. (Example – Internet, Air Traffic Control)

Constitutional Monarchy Head of state is Queen Elizabeth II Monarch’s power is limited by a constitution. Monarch is a figurehead. (mainly symbolic) Represented by the Governor General Country is led by a prime minister, not a president.

Queen Elizabeth II

Power is divided between levels of government. Federal System: Power is divided between levels of government.

(Multi) Party System Party system means that Canada has several political parties. Is this the same as China? A political party is a group of people who have common beliefs, ideas and plans about the best way to govern a country. Political ideology – is based on a common set of beliefs.

Party System Canada’s major political parties

“First Past the Post” The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in their riding. Don’t have to have a majority, just have to beat the other candidates in total vote count Seen as simple and straightforward, but doesn’t always reflect the views of the population

“Proportional Representation” Another option is proportional representation. This would mean that each party would get the same number of seats as they would the percentage of popular vote. The difficulty is keeping local representation in these cases.