1. What is the structure of Canada’s federal political system?
HOW EFFECTIVELY DOES CANADA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM GOVERN CANADA FOR ALL CANADIANS?
How do the media connect Canadians to their government?
What is the structure of Canada’s federal political system?
What do lobbyists do?
In other words: How effectively does the government work together to represent individuals and collectives? How does Canada involve Canadian in the decision making process and how do citizens take action in communicating their needs to gov’t reps?
Do ind and coll grps have opps to participate in gov’t decision making? Are Canada’s diverse groups and minorities properly represented? Are gov’t members accountable to citizens? Are citizens from all regions equally represented?
Think throughout: Do individual and collective groups have opportunities to participate in gov’t decision making? Are Canada’s diverse groups and minorities properly represented? Are gov’t members accountable to citizens? Are citizens from all regions equally represented?
How do laws become laws? 1

2. Brainstorm
What do you already know about the of the federal government of Canada? What do you know about its structure?

3. Challenge Time!
Try and be the first “group” (2-3 max.) to accurately complete the Branches of Gov’t Chart
You must correctly label the Branches of Government, as well as place the roles in the correct places
DO NOT glue or tape anything into place until Ms. Wells has given you the okay

4. A Federal System
What evidence can you identify that governance in Canada has changed since 1867?
Why a Federal system?
Do we want a diverse gov’t? Why? 4

5. EXECUTIVE BRANCH LEGISLATIVE BRANCH JUDICIARY Public Service
THE CONSTITUTION OF CANADA (p. 22)
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
JUDICIARY
BRITISH MONARCH
HOUSE OF COMMONS
COURTS (FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL & TAX)
GOVERNOR-GENERAL
SENATE
PRIME MINISTER
CABINET
Public Service

6. JUDICIAL BRANCH (JUDICIARY)
Separation of Power
JUDICIAL BRANCH (JUDICIARY)
Applies Laws
Interprets laws
IS a check on the power of the Gov’t and keeps it accountable
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Essentially made up of the PM, his/her cabinet and the public service.
Is responsible for the day- to-day government of Canada.
LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH
Makes Laws
Represents The Interests and rights of Canada’s Regions
Why are the powers of these three branches of government kept separate?

7. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

8. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE CANADIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

9. The Executive Branch
Essentially made up of the PM, his/her cabinet, and the public service (police, fire, teachers..etc).
This branch of government proposes ideas that become can laws
It puts laws into action
It is responsible for the day-to-day governing of Canada.

10. The Executive Branch
The cabinet includes people with responsibilities for running different gov’t departments & agencies
Ex: Health, Finance, Defence
They are called Cabinet Ministers
The PM decides what departments, or portfolios, to include in the cabinet, AND the cabinet Ministers

11. The Cabinet P. 25

12. WHO WANTS TO BE A CABINET MINISTER??
What qualities do you think someone should have in order to be a cabinet minister?
Now choose 5 of the qualities we brainstormed. Which 5 are the most important to you? Rank them in order of importance 1st to last.
Based on the qualities you’ve chosen, create a short Job Placement Ad for a Cabinet Minister position of your choosing.
AKA Minister of Finance, Minister of Defense, Minister of Fisheries, etc.

13. THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

14. What Is The Legislature?
In Canada, the Legislative Branch is composed of the House of Commons, the Senate and the governor general. (AKA: Parliament) and is mostly responsible for making laws (legislative)
While both the H.O.C & Senate are both apart of the law making process, the majority of the legislative power rests in the House of Commons.

15. How Parliament Works

16. House of Commons vs Senate
In partners, use p to complete the H.o.C vs Senate comparative chart

17. The Senate…Is it necessary?
In recent years the importance of the Senate has been widely debated, with many Canadians calling for it’s complete abolishment
Why so much hate for the Senate?

18. Senate Scandals

19. Senate Scandals

20. Over to you…
So, should we just get rid of the Senate all together?

21. How Does a Bill Become a Law?

22. Majority vs Minority Government

24. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

25. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH It interprets laws. It applies laws.
The Judicial Branch of
Government does two things:
It interprets laws.
It applies laws.
It performs these two functions by making legal judgements.

26. Although it lacks legislative power, the judicial branch is an essential part of a democratic political system.
It is charged with the responsibility of interpreting laws in a fair and impartial manner.
All laws apply equally to all citizens
Citizens and governments alike must comply with the law.
This is referred to as the rule of law, and it is fundamental to democracy

27. Canada Supreme Court of Canada (created by Federal Statute;
Judges federally appointed)
Federal Court
Provincial Superior Courts
Appellate division
Trial division
PM – head of gov’t; first elected as leader of pol party, then elected as mp, then party must win most seat in HoC
Cab – ppl with responsibilities for diff gov’t dept and agencies (portfolios) like health, finance, public safety; members of cabinet belong to leading pol party in HoC and are MPs or senators
PM decides which portfolios to include and who runs them
Provincial Courts
Family court
Juvenile court
Small claims court 27

28. Judiciary and the Political System
The political power exercised by the judicial branch is significant.
Both in Canada and the United States use the process of Judicial review typical of most federal systems.
The courts, especially the Supreme Courts, rule on the constitutionality of legislation

29. That was confusing…
This means that if legislation is found not to conform with the spirit of the constitution - interpreted by the court - then that legislation does not take effect.
Such enormous power is granted to the judicial branch to enable it to check the power of the executive and legislative branches.

30. No connections The judiciary must be free of political pressures.
The judicial branch checks the power of the others, rather than serving it.
Judges, then need to be independent of the politcal system
To achieve this, judges are appointed
These are “lifetime” appointments made by the executive.