Canada has a constitutional democracy with three branches of government: the executive branch headed by the Prime Minister, the legislative branch consisting of the elected House of Commons and appointed Senate, and the judicial branch headed by the courts. While Canada has a monarch, the Queen is represented by the Governor General and is not involved in everyday governance, maintaining a role as a safeguard for democracy. Citizens elect representatives to the House of Commons on their behalf, as a direct democracy is not practical for a large nation.

1. The Federal
Government
STRUCTURE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY

2. Roots of the Canadian Government
The principal features of our democratic government is that
it is both
A) Representative (not Direct)
B) A Constitutional Monarchy

3. Representative
- Democracy literally means “rule by the people”
- Direct Democracy means that every eligible citizen participated
directly by voting in all the decisions that affected society
(Greeks)
- In a REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY citizens allow elected
officials to act on their behalf
- Why?

4. Constitutional Monarchy
- Recognition of the monarch (Queen
Elizabeth II) as the Head of State, represented
by the Governor General
- Not involved in everyday affairs (eg. Royal
assent) BUT represents a safeguard for our
democracy
- The Crown has ultimate power/authority to
ensure that no one can ignore the law (not
even the PM)

6. Governor General
- Because the Queen has lots to do,
she has an appointed representative
to rule on her behalf in Canada.
- This person is called the Governor
General. They are appointed by the
Prime Minister. GG. David Johnston

7. How our Government Runs: The
Parliamentary System
- Because our government is Democratic, we have a
parliament that acts on behalf of the citizens
- The Parliament is made up of all the elected
representatives from throughout Canada. They are known
as Members of Parliament (MP’s)
- Canada’s Head of Government is the Prime Minister. He is
the leader of the elected party.

8. How our Government is structured
- Our Federal Government has three “Branches”
1) Executive Branch: has the power to administer and carry out laws, eg:
- setting the budget, making purchases for national defense,
running the day to day operations of Canada etc.
2) Legislative Branch: has the power to make and amend laws
- setting employment insurance levels, creating taxes on carbon
emissions
3) Judicial Branch: Has the power to decide who has broken those laws and how
to set penalties

9. Executive Branch: PM
- Comprised of the Prime
Minister, the Cabinet, and
the Governor General

11. Legislative Branch: House of Commons
- The House of Commons is
where the elected MP’s meet
to pass legislation and
govern the country
- Heated debates between
MP’s of different parties

12. Legislative Branch cont.: The Senate
- The Senate overlooks Bills (pieces of legislation) that have
been passed by the House of Commons. Very rarely do they
refuse a bill that has been passed by the H.O.C.
- The Senate is not an elected body. Members of the Senate
are appointed by the Prime Minister.
- Being chosen for the Senate is seen as a “reward” for
public service. Senators can hold office (and collect their
nice large salaries $$$) until they are 75. Some people think
the senate should be abolished…

14. Judicial Branch
- The Judiciary is separate from the other two branches to
ensure that the government acts within the boundaries of
the Constitution and the law.
- Judges act as "referees" of private rights and interpreters
of the Constitution
- Supreme Court, Federal Court, Provincial Court, Tax Court