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Government and Law Making

Government and Law Making. Branches of Government in Canada. Source: www.wikipedia.org. Branches of Government. Executive Comprised of the Cabinet and the bureaucracy of the government that carry out the government business and laws of Canada. Branches of Government. Legislative

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Government and Law Making

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  1. Government and Law Making Branches of Government in Canada

  2. Source: www.wikipedia.org

  3. Branches of Government Executive Comprised of the Cabinet and the bureaucracy of the government that carry out thegovernment business and laws of Canada

  4. Branches of Government Legislative The legislative bodies of Canada – the House of Commons and the Senate They make and debate the laws

  5. Branches of Government Judicial Comprised of the various federal and provincial courts of Canada. They decide who broke the law and the punishment that corresponds

  6. Executive Branch The Crown • As expressed in the constitution, “the Executive Government and Authority of and over Canada is hereby declared to continue and be vested in the Queen,” and the government acts in her name • The term The Crown is usually used to represent the power of the monarchy • The Governor General represents the Queen as head of state in Canada • Government ministers are ministers of the Crown; Criminal prosecutions are made Crown prosecutors in the name of the monarch

  7. Executive Branch The Governor General • The Monarch appoints the governor general on the advice of the Prime Minister • By convention the governor general usually serves for approximately five years, although no term has been established • Michaëlle Jean is Canada’s current Governor General

  8. Executive Branch The Governor General • The Governor General is a symbolic and nominal chief executive, acting within the constraints of constitutional convention and precedent • Before a bill can become law, Royal Assent – the Monarch's approval – is required, which is preformed by the Governor General • The Governor General summons, prorogues, and dissolves Parliament • Serves the symbolic role as the Commander-in-Chief of Canadian Forces

  9. Executive Branch The Governor General • Reads the Speech from the Throne in the Chamber of the Senate, outlining the Government's legislative agenda • Appoints the Prime Minister, federal ministers, Senators, judges, and other officials • Makes state visits abroad, hosts foreign heads of state, receives ambassadors and high commissioners, meets ceremonial groups, and awards medals, decorations, and prizes

  10. Executive Branch The Prime Minister • Head of the Government of Canada • The office does not formally exist in the Canadian Constitution, where executive authority is vested in the Canadian Sovereign • The current Prime Minister is Stephen Harper

  11. Executive Branch The Prime Minister • Usually the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Canadian House of Commons • A prime minister does not have a fixed mandate • The prime minister is, in practice, the most powerful member of the Canadian government • In modern-day Canada, his duties are those to which the constitution refers to as the job of the Governor General (who acts as a figurehead)

  12. Executive Branch The Prime Minister • The prime minister plays a prominent role in most legislation passed by the Canadian Parliament • The majority of Canadian legislation originates in the Cabinet, which is a body appointed by the prime minister largely from the ranks of his party's MPs • The Cabinet must have "unanimous" consent on all decisions they make, but in practice whether or not unanimity has been achieved is decided by the prime minister • An elected Member of Parliament is usually expected to follow strict party discipline and not vote against the party line

  13. Executive Branch The Prime Minister As the Monarch or Governor General almost always follows the advice of his or her ministers, the Prime Minister essentially controls the appointments of the following positions: • Members of Cabinet, vacant seats on the Supreme Court of Canada, and vacant seats in the Senate • The Governor General, Lieutenant-Governors, and Commissioners of the Canadian territories • Ambassadors to Foreign Countries • Heads of Canadian Crown Corporations • Executive positions such as the head of the Transportation Safety Board • Approximately 3,100 other government positions • Authority over the Canadian military

  14. Executive Branch The Cabinet • A council of ministers chaired by the Prime Minister • It is the executive committee of the Canadian government • The Cabinet currently comprises of 27 Ministers of the Crown

  15. Executive Branch The Cabinet • Advise the Prime Minister and other ministers on any and all political matters • Responsible the general administration of at least one government portfolio • Expected to introduce and defend new legislation regarding their portfolio • Answer questions on their job performance from the Opposition

  16. Executive Branch The Cabinet • Cabinet has almost total control over the legislative agenda of the House of Commons • It is within Cabinet that many of the most important debates on Canadian policy take place • Each opposition party appoints what is known as a Shadow Cabinet, with each of its members "shadowing" one or more cabinet portfolios

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