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Guide to Government

Learn about the Governor General, the levels of government in Canada, and the three branches of government. Understand the roles and responsibilities of each level and branch, and how bills become laws. Discover the power of the Prime Minister and the importance of Cabinet solidarity.

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Guide to Government

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  1. Guide to Government

  2. Canada is a Constitutional Monarchy • We recognize the king or queen as the head of state

  3. Who is the Governor General? • Governor General is the monarch’s representative in Canada • Responsibilities: • Calls elections (after 5 years) • Reads the speech from the throne each session of Parliament (ideas and laws the government hopes to pass in a session or sitting).

  4. Governor General Julie Payette • Julie Payette has served since 2 October 2017 • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recommended her • businesswoman, former member of the Canadian Astronaut Corps and engineer, completed two spaceflights lasting more than 25 days in space, served as chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency and has served as capsule communicator at NASA Mission Control Center in Houston.

  5. Levels of Government • Government in Canada is organized into three levels: federal, provincial, and municipal each with its own set of responsibilities. 

  6. Federal • the federal government is responsible for issues that affect Canada as a whole country such as international relations, immigration, criminal law, taxes, national defense, and foreign policy.

  7. Provincial • the provincial government is responsible for issues that affect the province as a whole such as education, health care, the environment, agriculture, and highways.

  8. Municipal • The municipal government decides on issues concerning their community such as public parks, libraries, social services, local police and fire services, garbage removal, recycling, and public transportation.

  9. Branches of Government • Three branches work together to govern Canada: the executive, legislative and judicial branches. • The branches of government operate at both the federal and the provincial levels because both provincial and federal governments are constitutionally recognized

  10. Legislative • the law-making branch • This branch is formally known as the Parliament of Canada and includes the House of Commons, and the Senate.

  11. Executive • The executive branch is the decision-making branch, made up of the Monarch represented by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet. • Carries out the laws

  12. Judicial • interprets and applies the law. • operates independently from the other branches of government. • Courts operate at both federal and provincial levels.

  13. Cabinet the group of ministers chosen by the prime minister who decide government policy • Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) the prime minister’s political advisors and staff • Privy Council Office (PCO) the office that organizes the work of the Cabinet

  14. House of Commons • Senate the second legislative body in Parliament consisting of appointed members whose role is to give sober second thought to the passage of bills • House of Commons the first legislative body of Parliament whose members are elected

  15. The Power of the Prime Minister • choose and discipline Cabinet members • directs the activities of the legislature • consulted on all important Cabinet decisions • controls appointments to the Senate and to the judiciary • can recommend that Parliament be adjourned or dissolved and an election called.

  16. Cabinet solidarity Cabinet solidarity is a show of strength Publicly, Cabinet ministers must display full support for the prime minister and the decisions of the government.

  17. Orders in Council • Orders-in-Council make laws or regulations without the necessity of a parliamentary vote. • At the federal level, they are signed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister and Cabinet. • used for Senate appointments, for necessary changes in law, and in the case of real or perceived emergencies.

  18. Orders in Council Could be Used for Good or Evil • Could be used to pass legislation that the house would have stricken down HELP • Passing reform legislation on outdated practices that that right wing politicians would be wary to pass HURT - Passing legislation that the majority of the nation would not be in favour of

  19. 7 Stages for a Bill to Become Law • Three readings in the House of Commons • amended by a committee • has three readings in the Senate • signed by the Governor General (referred to as royal assent) and is proclaimed.

  20. Who is in charge? • majority government has more than half of the total number of seats in the legislature • minority government has more seats than any other party, but the other parties combined have more seats than the government • coalition a formal alliance of political parties

  21. NDP Horgan and GREEN Weaver

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