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The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch
Propose most laws Prepares the budget Day to day running fo the government Considers interst of the country Oversees government departments Examnines and amends bills with the
Legislative Branch Executive Branch Cacus Cabinet
The Executive Branch
Includes:• Prime Minister ~ head of Government• The Cabinet ~ MPs appointed by the Prime Minister who are the leaders of different government departments or agiencies
(portfolios)
The Executive Branch
What factors do you think the Prime Minister considers when choosing his cabinet?
The Legislative Branch
What does the Legislative Branch do? (brainstorm)
The Legislative Branch
The House of Commons
The Legislative Branch
House of Commons
• Major law-making body• Members debate, study, and vote on bills that ultimately become laws
• 308 seats 154 votes needed in order to go to the senate
The Legislative Branch
Members of the House of Commons
• Members of parliament or MPs are members of the House of Commons
• Voters elected them• Each MP represents the voters in one riding• Most Mps belong to a political party• The party with the most MPs usually forms the
government• The other parties form the opposition
The Legislative Branch
House of Commons Membership
• The House of Commons is composed of 308 seats
• Seats are distributed among the provinces in proportion to population
• Territotial representation is independent of population; each territory is entitled to only one seat. 28 seats in AB.
The Legislative Branch
What happens in the House of Commons
Question Period
• Termed the liveliest part of the day in the HOC• Opposition members question the PM and the cabinet
ministers on governmental decisions and concerns
The Legislative Branch
The Oppositions Role in the HOC
• Create debate• Act as a watch dog• Convey and voice the different
views and perspectives of Canadians
The Legislative Branch
The Senate
The Legislative Branch
Senate Members
• Members are called senators• NOT elected – PM appoints them• Senators can remain in office
until the age of 75
The Legislative Branch
Senator Roles• Senators can propose laws but usually only
consider bills passed first by the HOC. The senate provides a careful second opinion (sober second thought)
• The senate represents the rights of Canada’s regions and minorities
• Cannot propose laws that create or spend taxes• Together with the HOC a bill can become law (both
must vote in favour)• Holds the power to reject bills from HOC – rarely
uses this power
The Legislative Branch
Should senators be appointed or elected?
• Explain your answer in a well constructed paragraph. Please give two reasons why or why not.
The Legislative Branch
The Legislative Branch
