1. Canada’s Federal Political System
British Monarch
Governor General
Executive Branch
Prime Minister
Cabinet
Legislative Branch
House of Commons
Senate
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Provincial courts
Canada’s Federal Political System
Head of State
Parliament

2. What is the relationship between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Canada’s federal political system?

3. What is the Role of the Executive Branch?
Executive Branch: Made up of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Their role is to put laws into action.
Prime Minister: This is the head of Canada’s government. To be a prime minister you must be the leader of a political party that wins more seats in the House of Commons than any other political party.

4. Cabinet
The cabinet includes individuals who are responsible for specific departments like finance, agriculture and environment. They are responsible for running the day-to-day business of government and they put laws into action.

5. Role of Cabinet
The cabinet includes individuals who are responsible for specific departments like finance, agriculture and environment. They are responsible for running the day-to-day business of government and they put laws into action.
The PM chooses cabinet ministers and he also decides what portfolios to include in the cabinet.
The cabinet proposes most of the ideas that eventually become laws.

6. Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch – Made up of the elected members of the House of Commons (MP’s) and the appointed Senate. Also known as Canada’s parliament. The part of government that makes the laws.
House of Commons: This is the major law making body in Canada’s parliament. The Members of Parliament (MP’s) debate, study and vote on bills proposed for Canada.

7. The Senate
Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister. Prime Ministers tend to appoint Senators that support the PM’s point of view.
The Senate includes people from a variety of political parties as only a few Senate seats become vacant at a time.
Senators can remain in power when Prime Ministers and government change as they are appointed.

8. Role of Senate
Senators represent the interests of Canada’s regions, especially Canada’s minorities.
Canada’s Constitution defines “divisions” for appointing Senators:
Western provinces 24 seats
Ontario 24 seats
Quebec 24 seats
Maritimes 24 seats
Newfoundland and Labrador 6 seats
Territories 3 seats

9. Senate
The Senate gives a “sober second thought” or careful consideration to all legislation that is proposed in Canada. The Senate has the power to reject bills passed by the House of Commons.
Does the Senate undermine our democracy because they are an appointed position that has the power to strike down bills proposed by our elected MP’s?

10. Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch – Made up of Canada’s Courts of Laws with the Supreme Court being the highest court in the land. This is the part of the government that interprets and applies the law by making legal judgments.

11. The Relationship between the 3 branches of Government
The relationship between the three branches of government is ultimately a joint effort to listen to and act upon the concerns of the general public.
The general public has different options in bringing their concerns to the government; they may approach their senator, their Member of Parliament or a cabinet minister.

12. What is the benefit of dividing the “powers” of government between 3 different branches?