Foundations of the Canadian Government

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Foundations of the Canadian Government
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Canadian Government

• Canadas government can be described as having
  four features
• Representative Democracy
• Constitutional Monarchy
• Federal System
• (Multi) Party System

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Representative Democracy

• Demo people cracy power to rule/govern
• 2 kinds
• Direct citizens vote in referenda (to make
  decisions)
• Originated in Ancient Greece (everyone involved)
• Representative people vote to choose their
  leaders, and the leaders make decisions for them.
  
• Governments are accountable to the people.

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Constitutional Monarchy

• Head of state is Queen Elizabeth II
• Monarchs power is limited by a constitution.
• Monarch is a figurehead. (mainly symbolic)
• Represented by the Governor General
• Country is led by a prime minister, not a
  president.

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Governor General Michelle Jean
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Federal System

• Three levels of government
• Federal (most power)
• Provincial
• Municipal
• All levels of government can make laws, but the
  Federal government prevails when the laws are in
  conflict.
• Residual Powers Decision making not in the 1867
  constitution given to the Federal government.
  (Example Internet, Air Traffic Control)

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Federal System Power is divided between levels
of government.
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(Multi) Party System

• Party system means that Canada has several
  political parties.
• Is this the same as China?
• A political party is a group of people who have
  common beliefs, ideas and plans about the best
  way to govern a country.
• Political ideology Is based on a common set of
  beliefs.

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Party SystemCanadas major political parties
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Minor Parties
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper
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Premier Wen Jiabao Prime Minister Stephen Harper
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