How Canadians Govern Themselves

High yield

Two pages that generate a large share of the test. Know the three key facts and the three branches cold.

Guide pages 28–29

The three key facts

There are federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments.
Federal and provincial responsibilities were defined in 1867 in the British North America Act, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867.
Federal responsibilities: defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law, citizenship.
Provincial responsibilities: municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, highways.
Shared jurisdiction: agriculture and immigration.
The three territories do not have the status of provinces, but their governments carry out many of the same functions.

Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (Queen or King), the Senate, and the House of Commons.
The House of Commons is the representative chamber, made up of MPs elected by the people, traditionally every four years.
Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve until age 75.
No bill becomes law until it has been passed by both chambers and received royal assent, granted by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign.
Cabinet ministers must retain the confidence of the House and resign if defeated in a non-confidence vote.
Provincial legislatures comprise the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly.

1. First Reading — the bill is considered read for the first time and is printed.
2. Second Reading — members debate the bill's principle.
3. Committee Stage — committee members study the bill clause by clause.
4. Report Stage — members can make other amendments.
5. Third Reading — members debate and vote on the bill.
6. Senate — the bill follows a similar process in the Senate.
7. Royal Assent — the bill receives royal assent after being passed by both Houses.

The Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign, who reigns in accordance with the Constitution — the rule of law.
The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, who actually directs the governing of the country. This distinction is a favourite test question.
The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years.
In each of the ten provinces the Sovereign is represented by the Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years.
In the three territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role.
In each province the Premier has a role similar to the Prime Minister; the Lieutenant Governor has a role similar to the Governor General.
Other constitutional monarchies include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Jordan and Morocco.

Executive — the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Legislative — the Senate and the House of Commons.
Judicial — the Supreme Court of Canada (nine judges appointed by the Governor General), the Federal Court of Canada and provincial courts.

MLAs — members of the Legislative Assembly (most provinces).
MNAs — members of the National Assembly (Quebec).
MPPs — members of the Provincial Parliament (Ontario).
MHAs — members of the House of Assembly (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia).