How Canadians Govern Themselves

Three key facts about Canada's government

There are three key facts about Canada's system of government:

• Canada is a federal state: power is shared between the federal government and the provinces.
• Canada is a parliamentary democracy: Canadians elect representatives to make laws on their behalf.
• Canada is a constitutional monarchy: the Sovereign is the head of state, but governs according to the Constitution and the rule of law.

The Sovereign and the Governor General

As a constitutional monarchy, Canada's head of state is the Sovereign, a part of Canada's system of government that the country shares with other Commonwealth realms. The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years. Each province has a Lieutenant Governor who represents the Sovereign at the provincial level.

The three branches of government

Authority in Canada is divided among three branches:

• The Executive: puts laws into effect. It includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
• The Legislative (Parliament): makes the laws. It is made up of the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons.
• The Judicial: the courts, which settle disputes and interpret the laws independently of the other branches.

Parliament: the House of Commons and the Senate

Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. Most laws begin in the House of Commons.

• The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs), who are elected by Canadians. Each MP represents an electoral district, also called a riding or constituency.
• The Senate is made up of Senators, who are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators traditionally represent the regions of Canada.
• A bill must be approved by both the House of Commons and the Senate, and receive Royal Assent given by the Governor General, before it becomes law.

The Prime Minister and the Cabinet

The Prime Minister is the head of government and is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet ministers, most of whom are members of the House of Commons. Cabinet ministers are responsible for running federal government departments and are accountable to Parliament for their decisions.

Federal and provincial responsibilities

The Constitution divides law-making powers between the federal and provincial governments. There are also municipal (local) governments and the three territories.

• Federal government: national defence, foreign policy, citizenship and immigration, criminal law, currency, and trade between provinces.
• Provincial governments: education, health care, natural resources within the province, highways, and property and civil rights.
• Municipal (local) governments: services such as policing, firefighting, snow removal, libraries and local roads.
• The three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut) have their own governments with powers delegated by the federal government.