1. Structure and Electoral Process
Canadian Government
Structure and Electoral Process

2. What You NEED To Know! The Political Spectrum and the Ideologies
The different levels of Government
The responsibilities of each level
The different branches of Government
What some current political parties stand for
How the Electoral System works

3. The Political Spectrum

4. The Political Spectrum
Left Wing
Right Wing
Moderate

5. Political Ideologies

6. The Ideologies Communism Socialism
Revolutionary, sharing of all resources; ultimate goal: no class or status; strong gov’t control in economy
Believe in the good of the whole over the good of the individual; support social programs/welfare state

7. The Ideologies Continued…
Liberalism
Conservatism
Believe in personal freedoms, social programs; some government control in economy
Believe in tradition, some personal freedom; strongly support smart finances over social programs

8. The Ideologies Continued
Fascism
Strong state control over everything; no personal freedoms, obedience to the state; one party and one leader

9. The Political Spectrum – So where do the Ideologies fit?
Communism
Socialism
Liberalism
Conservatism
Fascism

10. Political Parties in Canada
Liberals
Conservatives
NDP
Bloc Quebecois
Support individual freedoms, social programs, multiculturalism, free trade
Balance between programs and budget, free trade
Social programs, gov’t sponsored healthcare, education
Quebec separatist party

11. Structure of the Canadian Government
Canadian Government is divided up into three different levels; each level has its own responsibility
Additionally, the government is also divided up into different branches, with each branch responsible for a different aspect of governing

12. Government Structure

13. The Levels of Canadian Government
Federal
Provincial
Municipal
Foreign policy, immigration, taxation, currency, defense, EI, postal system
Health care and education (federally funded), police, resources, road + bridges, housing
Libraries, local police, fire departments, building permits, parks + rec, garbage/recycling

14. Structure of the Federal Government
Canadian Government is broken up into three separate branches, each responsible for it’s own part of governing
Executive – executes/makes decisions
Legislative – makes new laws
Judicial – enforces the laws

15. Structure of Federal Government

16. The Executive Branch
Prime Minister – head of government; represents Canada in matters of national importance, develops relationships with other nations etc.
Cabinet – members of the majority party, given a specific portfolio (ie. Minister of Finance)
Backbenchers – members of parliament who don’t have a specific office
Shadow Cabinet – Critics of the current members of Cabinet

17. Structure of the Federal Government

19. The Legislative Branch
The House of Commons – elected by Canadians, serve for 5 years, vote on bills
The Senate – appointed, final check on bills passed on the house of commons
The Governor General – Queen’s representative in Canada; a figure head, mostly for ceremonial purposes

20. The Senate – A Side Note
Men and women are appointed to the Senate not for their skills or abilities, but for loyal support or service to the government (patronage)
Critics of this system want a Senate that follows the “Triple – E” process: Elected, Equal (not voting on party lines), and Effective (they do little other than review bills passed in the house of commons)

21. The House of Commons – A Side Note
For a bill to become law, it must go through a number of steps before it is signed by the Prime Minister and the Governor General
First Reading – bill is read and printed
Second Reading – bill is debated
Committee Stage – members break the bill down part by part (clause)
Report – Members are allowed to make other amendments to the bill
Third Reading – Members debate one last time and votes are cast
Senate – Bill goes through the Senate in a similar fashion
Royal Assent – Bill is signed by the GG

22. Structure of the Federal Government

23. The Judicial Branch
Supreme Court of Canada – highest court; decisions are binding and final, must pass a law to reverse these decisions
Provincial Courts – have own Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Small Claims Court, and Trial Division

24. The Electoral Process

25. The Electoral Process
Areas are divided up into ridings (areas containing roughly 100,000 people – not according to actual land area)
The people vote at polling stations
Winners are determined by the First Past the Post (FPTP) – someone wins when they have more votes than every other candidate

26. The Electoral Process
The winning government is the party First Past the Post (with the most votes)
Can win one of two primary ways:
Majority – having more than half the seats in parliament
Minority – having more votes than any other party, but less than half the seats (ie. The last election)

27. The Electoral Process
After all votes have been counted, we are usually left with two primary parties:
The Government – the party elected to make decisions for Canada
The Official Opposition – the party with the next most votes, who will attempt to keep the current government accountable for its actions