Canada Works

From the Government of Canada website:

"How Government Works"

 

How government works:

 

Canada is a democratic constitutional monarchy, with a Sovereign as head of State and an elected Prime Minister as head of Government. Canada has a federal system of parliamentary government, where federal, provincial and territorial governments share government responsibilities and functions.

The Monarchy and the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Government carry out federal responsibilities.

 

Constitutional monarchy:

• Sovereign- Queen Elizabeth II: Monarch, Leader of Commonwealth, Canada's formal Head of State, head of both the executive and legislative branches
  • Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
• Governor General- Viceroy - represents the Queen in Canada and carries out the duties of head of state
  • His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston

 

• Executive branch

The executive branch enacts, applies and enforces all federal laws created by the legislative branch. It is composed of the Queen (represented by the Governor General), the Cabinet (a group of high-ranking members of government that includes the Prime Minister) and the administration.

The administration includes all government departments, the armed forces, Crown corporations and other bodies.

• Prime Minister Stephen Harper
• Cabinet - The Canadian Ministry

About Cabinet:

Canada's Cabinet sets the federal government's policies and priorities for the country. Together, its advisors act in the name of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. The Governor General appoints the members of Cabinet on the advice of the Prime Minister. Most members are from the House of Commons. From time to time, a senator may serve on Cabinet to ensure all parts of the country are represented. The Governor General almost always acts on Cabinet's advice.

• Legislative branch

Seen as the highest political institution in Canada's political system, Parliament is the law-making branch of government. It includes the Queen (represented by the Governor General), the House of Commons and the Senate. This branch provides a forum for debating leading political issues, and has the power and responsibility to create laws. The House of Commons is the major law-making body. Its members are elected representatives who debate and vote on proposed laws for Canada The Governor General appoints senators whom the prime minister recommends. Senators discuss and vote on legislation after it passes in the House of Commons. No bill can become law unless it has been passed by the Senate.Senate Committees study important public concerns such as health care, national security and defence, and other economic and social issues.

• Judicial branch

 This branch interprets and applies the law. It includes judges and the courts and operates independently from the other branches of government.

^ This is a very good summary made by the Canadian Government on their updated website about how they work. It takes all the different branches and puts it into an easy to understand form. This is a good way for both Canadians and foreigners to learn the basics about how the Canadian Government works. ^

http://canada.ca/en/gov/system/index.html