The document summarizes the three branches of the Canadian government: 1) The legislative branch is made up of Parliament which includes the Governor General, House of Commons, and Senate. Parliament creates and debates laws. 2) The executive branch includes the Queen, Governor General, Prime Minister and Cabinet. It implements and enforces laws. 3) The judicial branch is the court system led by the Supreme Court, which interprets laws and settles legal disputes.

3. Technically, the
Queen of England is
our head of state. On
paper, she has the
final say on all
government decisions
in Canada. This is
called a
constitutional
monarchy. In reality,
the Queen has no
power – she’s a
figurehead.

4. Because the Queen
does not live in Canada,
her representative is
called the Governor
General. Currently, this
is David Johnston.
Again, he has no real
power, but in theory has
to approve all laws
created by the
government.

5. The Canadian government can be divided into 3 “branches”,
each with its own purpose and duties:

6. • This branch consists of the G.G., the
House of Commons (all elected MPs
in Canada reagrdless of party) and
the Senate. Collectively this is
called Parliament.
• Parliament is where all new laws are
read, debated and voted on. This
first occurs in the House of
Commons (the big room where all
the politicians argue) and then goes
to the Senate and finally to the G.G.
for final approval.
• The only role of the Parliament is to
create laws for the good of Canada.

7. • This part of the Legislative Branch
is the one with the real power. It is
in this room or “house” that all
elected MPs meet to make laws.
• It is supposed to be a mini-version
of Canada in that it should
represent Canada’s population
proportions (ie. if BC has 12% of
Canada’s pop, the house should
have 12% representatives of BC)
• the House meets at least once a
year to go through the law making
process.

8. • The Senate is chosen by the
Prime Minister, usually as a
reward for finicial support, and
is supposed to be a final
check on the work of the
House of Commons.
• After a bill has been passed in
the House, it is passed on to
the Senate for them to read,
debate and vote on.
• In reality, the Senate never
vetos the bill. Its role is largely
ceremonial. This has come
under harsh criticism calling
for Senate reform.

9. The last part of Parliament/Legislative Branch is the
Governor General. Once the bill has passed through the
House of Commons and the Senate,it must go to the G.G.
for final approval, or Royal Assent.
Technically, the G.G. can veto the bill but NEVER does.

10. • The Executive Branch includes
all of the “big dogs” of
government. This group
includes the Queen, the G.G.,
the Prime Minister and his/her
Cabinet. The Cabinet is
basically the elite group of MPs
that make proposals for laws.
• The duties of the Executive
Branch are to make sure that
laws that are created are
actually put into action. They
also run the administration of
the government

12. >The Cabinet is a chosen group of MPs (called Ministers) that is
given a department (or Portfolio) of major concern to Canadians.
For example, there is a Minister of Finance, a Minister of
Transportation etc. Each Minister is also given a junior minister to
help with management.
>Cabinet members may have differing opinions in private, but in
public have to present a united front, or “Cabinet Solidarity”
To ensure this unity, a party whip is chosen to keep everyone
together.

15. Santa’s Little Helpers: The Supreme
Court