The Three Branches of the Canadian Federal Government

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The Three Branches of the Canadian Federal
Government

• Have your notes and textbook ready )

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(No Transcript)
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Canadas Constitution

• Is the written law that describes all governance
  in Canada
• It sets out the role of the governor general and
  the different roles of the three branches of
  government
• Executive
• Legislative
• Judicial
• Also sets out other important institutions in
  Canada
• See Cartoon pg. 21

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The Executive Branch

• THE PART OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING
• LAWS INTO ACTION
• Includes
• The Prime Minister (PM) - head of Canadas
  government
• The Cabinet - made up of leaders of different
  government departments or agencies (also called
  portfolios) - They are MPs or Senators that are
  chosen by the Prime Minister
• See a list of all Steven Harpers Cabinet
  Ministers on pg. 24

What factors do you think the prime
minister takes into account when appointing
the cabinet ministers?
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Steven Harpers Cabinet
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The Executive Branch

• Role
• Proposes most laws
• Puts laws into action
• Runs the day-to-day business of government
• See Cartoon pg. 23

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The Legislative BranchAKA - Canadas Parliament

• THE PART OF GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES LAWS
• Includes
• House of Commons - the major law making body.
  They debate, study and vote on laws called BILLS.
  Made up of elected MPs (Members of Parliament)
• Senate - represent the interests and rights of
  Canadas regions, and especially Canadas
  minorities. The Senates job is to give second
  thought to a bill. They pretty much do what the
  House of Commons does all over again.
• Governor General - represents Britains Monarch
  in Canada

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House of Commons in Session
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The Legislative Branch

• Role
• Makes laws
• Represents the interests and rights of Canadas
  regions.
• See Cartoon pg. 26

Why might the role of the Senate to represent
minorities be important to governance in Canada?
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The Judicial Branch

• THE PART OF GOVERNMENT THAT INTERPRETS AND
  APPLIES THE LAW BY MAKING LEGAL JUDGEMENTS
• Includes
• ALL Canadas Courts of Law (Supreme and
  Provincial/Territorial Courts)
• The Supreme Court is the highest (most powerful)
  - it has the final word on all legal questions in
  the country.
• Role
• To apply and interpret laws
• See Cartoon pg. 34

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Supreme Court and its Judges