C A N A D I A N G OV E R N M G OV E R E N TC H A P T E R G 3

CANADIAN LAW 2104GOVERNMENT AND LAW MAKING

GOVERNMENT IN CANADA

• Canada is a federal state (system) a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy

CANADA’S FEDERAL SYSTEM

• Confederation• Canada became a country on July 1, 1867• 4 colonies of British North America (NS, NB, Canada East

(Quebec) and Canada West (Ontario) joined or confederated to form Dominion of Canada

• Over time other provinces and territories joined

CANADA’S FEDERAL SYSTEM

• Becoming a nation was difficult• Provinces were very different from each• To bring them together into one nation it was

decided to create a federal state or system.

LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT• Canada’s government is divided into three levels:federal government (national level – the whole

country)provincial government (provincial/territorial level)municipal government (community/town/city

level)• Each level of government is responsible for

different tasks.

THREE DISTINCT BRANCHES

• Federal and Provincial governments comprised of three distinct branches• Executive• Legislative• Judiciary

• Each branch plays a role in making, interpreting, and enforcing laws in Canada

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

•This branch of government is responsible for ‘running the country’ – it implements and enforces the laws created by the legislative branch•Comprised of • Prime Minister, • Cabinet (elected MP’s, MHA’s, appointed by PM. Eg

Minister of Justice),• Public or Civil service

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

• Sets Policies• Proposes and Administers Laws• Controls government spending

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH(PARLIAMENT)

•This branch of government is responsible for initiating, approving or rejecting laws in Canada•Consists of:• House of Commons (lower house)• Senate (upper house)

•At provincial level it is same, but parliament is usually called the Legislature, or Legislative Assembly, with no Senate

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

THE JUDICIARY

• Part of government but independent of other two branches• Made up of justices or judges who adjudicate

disputes, interpret the law, and decide on punishments in the court system• Justices are apolitical and independent• Higher court justices (Supreme Court of Canada)

are appointed by federal government• Trial court justices at the lower level are

appointed by provincial governments

THE JUDICIARY