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Comparing Political Systems:Canada versus the United States
Christopher SandsG. Robert Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-U.S.
Business and Economics
Study Canada 2014Ottawa, OntarioJune 26, 2014
Canada versus USA
Canada's Rick Nash, left, levels Team U.S.A.'s Brian Rafalski during the Feb 21 game at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)
Why Compare?
Different Systems• What do they have in
common, and why?
Similar Systems• What is different about
them, and why?
Photos of Hillary Farr, David Visentin, Drew and Jonathan Scott. Source: HGTV
Politics
“The ubiquity of the relationship between the governor and the governed, of ruler and ruled, leads students of politics to single out power as the basic characteristic of human behavior of interest to them.
“Who exercises power? For whose benefit? In what manner? To what ends? According to what principles, if any? By what right? Such questions occupy the philosophy of politics. They are also the concern of prime ministers, presidents, and princes."
V.O. Key's definition of politics, taken from Politics, Parties, and Pressure Groups. Fifth Edition. (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1964) page 2
Common Principles
• Magna Carta (1215)• Glorious Revolution of 1688• Contract Governance• Representative Democracy• Federalism• Religious Liberty• Immigrant/Settler Societies
Constitutions
United States• 1787• Bill of Rights• Separation of Powers• Powers not granted to the
federal government are reserved to the states
• All states have their own constitutions
Canada• 1867 British North America
Act / 1982 Canadian Constitution Act
• Charter of Rights• Powers enumerated, those
not enumerated are federal• Only one constitution
Presidential versus Parliamentary
United States • Voters choose
Representatives, Senators, and Electoral College (which elects the President)
• President hires Cabinet, Senate confirms
• President nominates judges including Supreme Court, Senate confirms
Presidential versus Parliamentary
Canada• Voters elect a Parliament,
Parliament elects a government
• Executive-Legislative Fusion; all cabinet drawn from legislature
• Senators and judges appointed by Prime Minister
Presidential versus Parliamentary
United States • Voters choose
Representatives, Senators, and Electoral College (which elects the President)
• President hires Cabinet, Senate confirms
• President nominates judges including Supreme Court, Senate confirms
Canada• Voters elect a Parliament,
Parliament elects a government
• Executive-Legislative Fusion; all cabinet drawn from legislature
• Senators and judges appointed by Prime Minister
Executive Branch
United States• President and VP are only
elected officials• Political appointees steer
public service
Canada• Prime Minister is leader of
party with a majority of seats in Parliament…or a plurality
• Professional civil service
Legislatures
Congress• Bicameral• Direct election• House of Representatives by
population; Senate by state• Committee Hearings,
filibusters
Parliament• Bicameral• Direct election of MPs• House of Commons by
population; Senate appointed
• Weak committees, Question Period
House of CommonsPARTY STANDINGS
41st Parliament
Province / Territory C.P.C.
N.D.P.
Lib. B.Q.*
Green
*Ind. Vac
antTota
l
Alberta 24 1 1 2 28British Columbia 21 12 2 1 36Manitoba 11 2 1 14New Brunswick 8 1 1 10
Newfoundland and Labrador 2 5 7
Northwest Territories 1 1Nova Scotia 4 3 4 11Nunavut 1 1
Ontario 71 20 10 1 1 3 106
Prince Edward Island 1 3 4Quebec 5 56 8 4 2 75Saskatchewan 13 1 14Yukon 1 1
TOTAL 160 98 35 4 2 4 5 308
For further information, contact the Journals Branch - 613-992-2038
Last Update: June 10, 2014
*A political party must have at least 12 Members in the House of Commons to be a “recognized party” for the purposes of parliamentary proceedings.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/House/PartyStandings/standings-E.htm
Commons Reform?Commons Seats Percentage of Commons Percentage of Population
Alberta 28 9.1 10.9
British Columbia 36 11.7 13.3
Manitoba 14 4.5 3.6
New Brunswick 10 3.2 2.2
Newfoundland & Labrador 7 2.3 1.5
Nova Scotia 11 3.6 2.8
Nunavut Territory 1 0.3 >0.1
Ontario 106 34.4 38.7
Prince Edward Island 4 1.2 0.4
Quebec 75 24.4 23.2
Saskatchewan 14 4.5 3.1
Northwest Territories 1 0.3 >0.1
Yukon Territory 1 0.3 >0.1
SenateProvince or Territory Number of
Senators
British Columbia 6
Alberta 6
Ontario 24
Quebec 24
Manitoba 6
Saskatchewan 6
Nova Scotia 10
Newfoundland and Labrador
6
New Brunswick 10
Northwest Territories 1
Prince Edward Island 4
Yukon 1
Nunavut 1
Total 105
Judiciary
United States• State and local judges
elected• Federal judges appointed
and confirmed by the Senate
• Overlapping jurisdiction• Common Law foundations• Constitutionality
Canada• PM appoints judges• Criminal code federal• Provinces fund and
administer provincial courts• Separate and distinct
jurisdictions• Common and Civil Law • Constitutionality after 1982• Americanization?
Issues
• Compare and debate aboriginal rights
• Land claims in Canada• Mainstreaming versus
tradition• Economic and social
development
Issues
• Afghanistan War• Compare roles and
responsibilities• Why did Canada
participate?
Issues
• Kyoto Accords and Copenhagen Process
• What did Canada, US agree to do?
• What role did energy sector play in each country?
• Energy infrastructure
Issues
• Immigration reforms• Role of French and even
Mandarin in Canada versus Spanish in the USA
• Citizenship tests• Family reunification (US)
versus Points System (Canada)
Issues
• Health care• Single payer, medical
personnel as civil servants in Canada (govt funding but limited funds)
• Private insurers, independent medical care in US (more money, and more R&D, but higher costs)
Comparing Political Systems:Canada versus the United States
Christopher SandsG. Robert Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-U.S.
Business and Economics
Study Canada 2014Ottawa, OntarioJune 26, 2014