Government study guide

Formative quiz

Executive branch 

• Prime minister 

• Cabinet  

Prime minister 

• Head of Canadian government  

• Need to be elected as leader, party elects you 

• Must be elected as a member of parliament in the riding you represent 

• Have the most seats in the House of Commons 

The cabinet 

• Members are appointed by the prime minister from members of their party who are MP’s or senators 

• They have two jobs: represent people who live in their riding as an MP and help the prime minister run the country 

• Each member is given a portfolio, giving them a role to represent. It is a government department, which that minister will run 

Legislative branch 

• Power – create, change, and repeal laws and regulations 

• Members – parliament, senators and members of parliament (MPs)  

Bill 

A proposed law 

MPs 

• Belong to the house of commons 

• Each MP represents the voters of one riding (constituency or voting district) 

• District size based on population (roughly the same amount of people in each area) 

• Represent your voice in the House of Commons 

• 338 seats 

• 338 ridings/constituencies 

• Representation by population 

MPs work 

• Influence legislations through debates in the House of Commons and during party committee meetings to examine legislation 

• Vote on bills 

• Can introduce their own legislations, called “private members bills” 

Majority  

Wins the majority of seats in the House of Commons (51%) 

Minority  

• Wins most seats, but not the majority 

• They must make alliances to pass laws to ensure they have over 51% of votes

Minority bills 

• Hard to pass laws 

• Needs to listen to opposition and compromise so the other party will vote for their bill 

Official opposition 

• Next greatest amount of seats 

• Creates debates 

• Asks tough questions when new laws are proposed 

• Look out for different views and perspectives of Canadians 

Senators 

• 105 in Canada’s federal system 

• Upper house 

• Leaders: community leaders that ensures parliament acts upon the best interests of Canada 

• Appointed 

• Give provinces and minority groups a bigger voice 

• Speak based on conscience  

How senators get their job 

• Appointed by government general upon advice of the prime minister 

• Allowed to serve until the age of 75 

What do senators do 

• Upper house in Canada’s bicameral parliamentary democracy 

• Unites diverse groups of accomplished Canadians in service of their country 

• Shapes Canada’s future, suggests improvement and fix mistakes 

• When senate speaks, House of Commons listens 

• Bill must go through senate 

Supreme court 

• Nine judges from four different regions 

• Prime minister and cabinet nominates judges, those judges are reviewed by a committees of MPs 

• Committees chose the best three 

• Prime minister picks one of the three 

Judicial branch 

• Rights are respected, independent decisions to uphold rights of Canadians in constitution and charter of rights and freedom 

• Judges interprets law and applies to situations 

• Answers question about laws 

• Resolve conflict that does not lead to violence 

• Provides predictable patterns of behavior and treatment of individuals 

Political parties 

• Have a platform, a statement in what they believe in 

• Share values on how the country should be run 

• Stand for political issues 

• Hope to win the most seats 

• Many parties in Canada because of diversity 

Lobby groups 

• Similar interests and try to reach a common goal 

• Meets with officials to influence them on issues that are important to companies/organizations that employs them 

Media 

• Various public ways that we share news around the world 

• Connects the world with government happenings and varying perspectives on issues as they arise 

• Gives public a chance to share their opinions 

Electoral process 

• Must be a Canadian citizen 

• The age of 18 or older 

Electoral officers 

Voting process is legal/ functioning