The Branches and Levels of Canadian Government

Legislative Branch
1. Federal
  1. Also known as the Parliament; consists of the Monarch/Queen (represented by the Governor General), the House of Commons, and the Senate
    1. A bill must be given Royal Assent by the Governor General to become a law
  2. Bills must be approved by both the House of Commons and the Senate to become a law
    1. Senate (The Upper House of Parliament)
      1. Thought of as the "Second Sober Thought"; as bills must be approved by the Senate to become a law
      2. Members of the Senate are appointed by the Governor General (advised by the Prime Minister) and represent different regions of Canada
        There are currently 338 seats
        If majority of the members disagree they have the power to delay bills
      3. Proposes, amends, or repeals bills passed by the House of Commons or generate new bills
        There are some restrictions for the Senate on proposing bills, for example, they cannot introduce bills that impose taxes
        Only the House of Commons has the power (to introduce bills that the Senate cannot), though the Senate can change or reject those bills
      4. A bill can be introduced by the government or as a private member's bill to either the House of Commons or the Senate
        Cabinet ministers may also propose bills to the House of Commons
    2. The House of Commons (The Lower House of Parliament)
      1. Can make, change, and repeal laws
      2. Members of Parliament (MP's) are elected by public
        There are 105 Members of the Senate
        They meet in the House of Commons to discuss and vote on public issues
        During second and third readings of a bill, the MP's debate and vote on bill
      3. Unofficially the most powerful part of the Legislative branch
  3. Center Block on Parliament Hill
  4. Makes laws for all of Canada (dealing with matters such as income tax, monetary policies, national defense and other areas)
2. Provincial
  1. Consists of Lieutenant-Governor (the Queen's provincial representative) and Legislature; in Ontario Members of Provincial Parliament (MPP's) are elected, different provinces (and territories) refer to the legislature with other titles
    1. Members represent the people in their constituencies and the people's interests
    2. Members of Provincial or Territorial Legislature are able to introduce and change laws by drafting bills and voting
      1. The bill goes through an introduction and three readings before being passed as a law
        The Lieutenant-Governor must sign the bill for it to become a law (referred to as royal assent)
        Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell
  2. Legislative Assembly of Ontario
  3. Makes laws regarding provincial prisons, natural resources, hospitals or health care and more
3. Municipal
  1. City councillors have the power to create bylaws on issues specific to that community (such as the construction of buildings in a neighbourhood or relating to garbage disposal and other responsibilities delegated by the federal government)
  2. Members of Council, City Officials, and committees make recommendations to the City Council who then creates or alters bylaws (based on those recommendations)
    1. Decisions are finalized in a meeting and the bylaw is enacted
      1. There is no representative for the Head of State at in the municipal level
      2. The Richmond Hill Council Chamber in which council meetings are held
    2. The mayor also signs bylaws discussed in meetings
    3. The mayor implements the plans, policies and objectives of the city council
4. Has the power to make laws and amend them; they introduce and pass legislation for all Canadians
  1. All levels of Government can create, change, and repeal laws though each level focuses on different areas or issues
Executive Branch
1. Federal
  1. Consists of the Governor General (representing the Queen/Head of State), the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet
    1. Cabinet ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister and assigned a specific portfolio (ex. finance, defense, justice, etc.)
      1. Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet ministers
      2. Cabinet ministers ensure their departments (depending on their portfolio) obey the law as well as plan, decide on, and implement government policies
      3. The Prime Minister and Cabinet control the daily running of the federal government
        The Prime Minister, leader of Canada, speaks on behalf of all Canadians and his/her political party
        Justin Trudeau, Canada's current Prime Minister
    2. The
    3. The Governor General is responsible for fulfilling the role of the Queen if she were in Canada
      1. Current Governor General Julie Payette
2. Is responsible for executing and overseeing the plans and laws made by the legislative government
  1. Enforces laws created by legislative branch
3. Provincial
  1. Consists of the Lieutenant-Governor, the Premier, and the Provincial Cabinet
    1. The Premier and Provincial Cabinet control the daily government on a provincial level
      1. Kathleen Wynne and her Cabinet MInisters
      2. Ontario's Premier Kathleen Wynne
4. Municipal
  1. The mayor is elected in each municipality and is the head of council
    1. The mayor has statutory duties and executive powers including leading the council by recommending plans to the council to improve the municipality and holding council meetings
    3. Dave Barrow, the Mayor of Richmond Hill
Judicial Branch
1. Federal
  1. The Supreme Court of Canda
    1. Canada's final and highest court of appeal; all judgments made are final
    3. Deals with conflicts deemed highly important to public or is an important issue or question with the law that should be addressed
    4. Affects all the branches of government and their development
    5. Has nine judges including the The Chief of Justice
  2. Also other federal courts (ex. the Federal Court of Appeal and the Tax Court of Canada)
  3. Only level of government able to appoint and pay judges from superior/upper-level provincial courts
2. Interprets laws in case of disputes and judge who is innocent or guilty of breaking a law and deciding on a penalty
3. This branch is independent from the legislative and executive branch to ensure the rule of law (an element of democracy) is kept; the members of Parliament are not above the law
4. Deal with all matters regarding law in Canada, including Aboriginal, administrative, constitutional, criminal law and more
  1. Composed of courts and the judiciary
5. Provincial
  1. Consists of provincial courts (ex. the Ontario Court of Justice) and lesser courts
    1. The Supreme Court hears appeals from the superior provincial and territorial courts as well as the other federal courts
    2. Superior Courts are highest level of provincial and territorial courts; they can review decisions made by other provincial courts
      1. Deal with most serious criminal offences
  2. Settle conflicts within their provincial jurisdiction (includes most criminal offences, money and family issues
    1. People arrested (for criminal offence) by police then go to court for trial
6. Municipal
  1. At a local level, police officers have a role in the judicial branch
    1. York Regional Police
      1. Separated into different districts for each city (Richmond Hill is district #2)
        Map showing how the region is divided into the four districts
      2. Main goal is to achieve a safe environment for citizens by preventing crime
    2. Enforce laws (created by all three levels of legislative government) everyday in public by penalizing people that break them (ex. giving tickets to drivers for speeding)

Nächster

The Branches and Levels of Canadian Government

Beschreibung

Zusammenfassung der Ressource

Medienanhänge

ähnlicher Inhalt

	Erstellt von Stephanie Lum vor mehr als 6 Jahre