Government and Government and Law MakingLaw Making

Branches of Government in Branches of Government in CanadaCanada

Source: www.wikipedia.org

Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

Executive Executive

Comprised of the Comprised of the Cabinet and the Cabinet and the

bureaucracy of the bureaucracy of the government that government that

carry out thecarry out thegovernment government

business and laws business and laws of Canadaof Canada

Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

Legislative Legislative

The legislative bodies The legislative bodies of Canada – the House of Canada – the House of Commons and the of Commons and the

Senate Senate

They make and debate They make and debate the lawsthe laws

Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

JudicialJudicial

Comprised of the Comprised of the various federal and various federal and provincial courts of provincial courts of

Canada. Canada.

They decide who broke They decide who broke the law and the the law and the punishment that punishment that

correspondscorresponds

The CrownThe Crown

• As expressed in the constitution, “the Executive Government and As expressed in the constitution, “the Executive Government and Authority of and over Canada is hereby declared to continue and Authority of and over Canada is hereby declared to continue and be vested in the Queen,” and the government acts in her namebe vested in the Queen,” and the government acts in her name

• The term The term The CrownThe Crown is usually used to represent the power of the is usually used to represent the power of the monarchymonarchy

• The Governor General represents the Queen as head of state in The Governor General represents the Queen as head of state in CanadaCanada

• Government ministers are ministers of the Crown; Criminal Government ministers are ministers of the Crown; Criminal prosecutions are made Crown prosecutors in the name of the prosecutions are made Crown prosecutors in the name of the monarchmonarch

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Executive BranchExecutive BranchThe Governor GeneralThe Governor General

• The Monarch appoints the The Monarch appoints the governor general on the advice of governor general on the advice of the Prime Ministerthe Prime Minister

• By convention the governor By convention the governor general usually serves for general usually serves for approximately five years, although approximately five years, although no term has been establishedno term has been established

• Michaëlle Jean is Canada’s current Governor General

The Governor GeneralThe Governor General

• The Governor General is a symbolic and nominal The Governor General is a symbolic and nominal chief executive, acting within the constraints of chief executive, acting within the constraints of constitutional convention and precedentconstitutional convention and precedent

• Before a bill can become law, Royal Assent – the Before a bill can become law, Royal Assent – the

Monarch's approval – is required, which is Monarch's approval – is required, which is preformed by the Governor Generalpreformed by the Governor General

• The Governor General summons, prorogues, and The Governor General summons, prorogues, and

dissolves Parliament dissolves Parliament

• Serves the symbolic role as the Commander-in-Chief Serves the symbolic role as the Commander-in-Chief of Canadian Forcesof Canadian Forces

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The Governor GeneralThe Governor General

• Reads the Speech from the Throne in the Chamber Reads the Speech from the Throne in the Chamber of the Senate, outlining the Government's legislative of the Senate, outlining the Government's legislative agendaagenda

• Appoints the Prime Minister, federal ministers, Appoints the Prime Minister, federal ministers,

Senators, judges, and other officialsSenators, judges, and other officials

• Makes state visits abroad, hosts foreign heads of Makes state visits abroad, hosts foreign heads of state, receives ambassadors and high state, receives ambassadors and high commissioners, meets ceremonial groups, and commissioners, meets ceremonial groups, and awards medals, decorations, and prizesawards medals, decorations, and prizes

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister • Head of the Government of Head of the Government of

CanadaCanada

• The office does not formally The office does not formally exist in the Canadian exist in the Canadian Constitution, where executive Constitution, where executive authority is vested in the authority is vested in the Canadian SovereignCanadian Sovereign

• The current Prime Minister is The current Prime Minister is Stephen Harper Stephen Harper

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister

• Usually the leader of the political party with the most Usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commonsseats in the Canadian House of Commons

• A prime minister does not have a fixed mandateA prime minister does not have a fixed mandate

• The prime minister is, in practice, the most powerful The prime minister is, in practice, the most powerful member of the Canadian governmentmember of the Canadian government

• In modern-day Canada, his duties are those to which the In modern-day Canada, his duties are those to which the constitution refers to as the job of the Governor General constitution refers to as the job of the Governor General (who acts as a figurehead) (who acts as a figurehead)

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister

• The prime minister plays a prominent role in most legislation The prime minister plays a prominent role in most legislation passed by the Canadian Parliamentpassed by the Canadian Parliament

• The majority of Canadian legislation originates in the Cabinet, The majority of Canadian legislation originates in the Cabinet, which is a body appointed by the prime minister largely from which is a body appointed by the prime minister largely from the ranks of his party's MPsthe ranks of his party's MPs

• The Cabinet must have "unanimous" consent on all decisions The Cabinet must have "unanimous" consent on all decisions they make, but in practice whether or not unanimity has been they make, but in practice whether or not unanimity has been achieved is decided by the prime ministerachieved is decided by the prime minister

• An elected Member of Parliament is usually expected to follow An elected Member of Parliament is usually expected to follow strict party discipline and not vote against the party line strict party discipline and not vote against the party line

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The Prime MinisterThe Prime MinisterAs the Monarch or Governor General almost always follows the As the Monarch or Governor General almost always follows the advice of his or her ministers, the Prime Minister essentially advice of his or her ministers, the Prime Minister essentially controls the appointments of the following positions:controls the appointments of the following positions:

Members of Cabinet, vacant seats on the Supreme Court of Members of Cabinet, vacant seats on the Supreme Court of Canada, and vacant seats in the Senate Canada, and vacant seats in the Senate

The Governor General, Lieutenant-Governors, and The Governor General, Lieutenant-Governors, and Commissioners of the Canadian territories Commissioners of the Canadian territories

Ambassadors to Foreign Countries Ambassadors to Foreign Countries Heads of Canadian Crown CorporationsHeads of Canadian Crown Corporations Executive positions such as the head of the Transportation Executive positions such as the head of the Transportation

Safety BoardSafety Board Approximately 3,100 other government positions Approximately 3,100 other government positions Authority over the Canadian militaryAuthority over the Canadian military

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The CabinetThe Cabinet

• A council of ministers A council of ministers chaired by the Prime chaired by the Prime MinisterMinister

• It is the executive It is the executive

committee of the committee of the Canadian governmentCanadian government

• The Cabinet currently The Cabinet currently comprises of 27 Ministers comprises of 27 Ministers of the Crown of the Crown

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The CabinetThe Cabinet

• Advise the Prime Minister and other ministers on any Advise the Prime Minister and other ministers on any and all political mattersand all political matters

• Responsible the general administration of at least one Responsible the general administration of at least one government portfoliogovernment portfolio

• Expected to introduce and defend new legislation Expected to introduce and defend new legislation regarding their portfolioregarding their portfolio

• Answer questions on their job performance from the Answer questions on their job performance from the Opposition Opposition

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

The CabinetThe Cabinet

• Cabinet has almost total control over the Cabinet has almost total control over the legislative agenda of the House of Commonslegislative agenda of the House of Commons

• It is within Cabinet that many of the most It is within Cabinet that many of the most important debates on Canadian policy take important debates on Canadian policy take place place

• Each opposition party appoints what is known Each opposition party appoints what is known as a Shadow Cabinet, with each of its members as a Shadow Cabinet, with each of its members "shadowing" one or more cabinet portfolios "shadowing" one or more cabinet portfolios

Executive BranchExecutive Branch