Government and Authority\

Canada's Government Structure

Monarch (Head of State)

King Charles III

Governor General

Mary Simon
Represents the King in Canada

Prime Minister (Head of Gov't)

Mark Carney

Branches

Executive · Legislative · Judicial

The Two Houses (Legislative Branch)

House of Commons — Lower House

Green carpet

342 MPs elected by Canadians

Only MPs or Cabinet can introduce a bill

Only a non-cabinet MP can introduce a Private Member's Bill

Senate — Upper House

Red carpet (fancy)

105 senators appointed on PM's recommendation

Senators can also introduce bills (except money bills)

How a Bill Becomes Law — 5 Steps (repeated in both houses)

1

First Reading — bill is introduced

2

Second Reading & Debate — general debate on the bill

3

Parliamentary Committee — detailed review & amendments

4

Third Reading & Vote — final debate, then a vote

5

Royal Assent — Governor General gives approval; bill becomes law

This process happens in BOTH the House of Commons and the Senate.

Governor General's Role

Powers

Call elections · Appoint senators · Dissolve the House · Give Royal Assent

Duties

Greet foreign guests · Give medals · Listen to & advise the PM

Three Levels of Government

Decision-Making Models

Consensus

How: All members must agree

Pro: Everyone's opinion is heard

Con: Takes too long

Fist to Five

How: Hold up 1–5 fingers to show agreement level; anyone with 3 or lower speaks

Pro: Saves time, quicker than full consensus

Con: Some can't fully express opinions

Majority Rule

How: More than half must agree

Pro: Efficient, practical for large groups

Con: Not everyone is happy; large minority goes unheard

The Powley Decision (R. v. Powley, 2003)

What happened

Steve Powley and his son Roddy, Métis hunters from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, hunted and killed a moose.

They were charged under Ontario law for hunting without a licence — even though they claimed an inherent right to hunt as Métis people.

The case was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Powleys. It confirmed that Métis people have constitutionally protected harvesting rights under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. This was a landmark recognition that Métis rights are inherent — they exist independently of government permission.

Key Terms

Power: The ability to exert control or influence over people and situations

Authority: Power that is recognized by both those who are subject to it and those influenced by it; exercised through legal appointment, particular knowledge, education, or employment status

Consent: Agreement

Indian Act: A federal Act that regulates the lives of First Nation peoples, passed in 1876 and still in effect today

Status Indian: A First Nation person registered under the Indian Act

Inherent Right: A right that is considered to be self-evident or pre-existing

Caucus: A group of members from the same political party

Constituency / Riding: The area in Canada that an MP represents (also called an electoral district)

Legislation: Bills passed by Parliament — they become laws

Royal Assent: tApproval given to a bill by the Governor General on behalf of the monarch

Appeal: Applying to a higher court to reverse a lower court's decision

Policy: A principle or rule that guides decisions and promotes desirable outcomes

Majority: One more than half of a group

Consensus: Agreement reached when all group members support it

Compromise: A settlement of differences where each side gives up part of its demands

Participatory Democracy: Direct participation by people in decisions rather than through elected representatives

Confederacy: A partnership agreed upon by groups of people or nations