How Canadians Govern Themselves

Canada's system of government has three key features: Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.

Canada has four kinds of government: federal, provincial, territorial and municipal.

The jobs of the federal and provincial governments were set out in 1867 in the British North America Act. Today this law is called the Constitution Act, 1867.

The federal government looks after national and international matters, such as defence, foreign policy, trade and communications between provinces, money (currency), navigation, criminal law and citizenship.

The provinces look after education, health, highways, natural resources, municipal government, and property and civil rights.

Two areas are shared between the federal government and the provinces: agriculture and immigration.

Federalism lets each province choose policies that suit its own people and try out new ideas.

Each province elects its own Legislative Assembly, which is similar to the House of Commons in Ottawa.

The three northern territories are not provinces, but their governments and assemblies do many of the same jobs.

Voters choose members of the House of Commons in Ottawa, and members of the provincial and territorial legislatures. These elected members pass laws, approve and watch over spending, and hold the government to account.

Cabinet ministers answer to the elected members. They must keep the "confidence of the House", and they must resign if they lose a non-confidence vote.

Parliament is made up of three parts: the Sovereign (the King or Queen), the Senate and the House of Commons.

A provincial legislature is made up of the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly.

At the federal level, the Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for how the government works and for its policies.

The House of Commons is the representative chamber. Its members of Parliament are elected by the people, traditionally every four years.

The Governor General appoints senators on the advice of the Prime Minister, and they can serve until they are 75 years old.

Both the House of Commons and the Senate look at and review bills. A bill is a proposal for a new law.

A bill becomes law only after both chambers pass it and it receives royal assent. The Governor General gives royal assent on behalf of the Sovereign.

First reading (step 1): the bill is treated as read for the first time, and it is printed.

Second reading (step 2): members debate the main idea (principle) of the bill.

Committee stage (step 3): committee members study the bill one clause at a time.

Report stage (step 4): members can make further changes (amendments) to the bill.

Third reading (step 5): members debate the bill and vote on it.

Senate (step 6): the bill goes through a similar process in the Senate.

Royal assent (step 7): once both Houses have passed the bill, it receives royal assent.

Citizens have both the right and the responsibility to take part in decisions that affect them. Canadians who are 18 or older should vote in federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal elections.

Canada's Head of State is a Sovereign (King or Queen) who inherits the role and must reign according to the Constitution, under the rule of law.

The Sovereign is part of Parliament and does not take sides in politics. The Sovereign is the focus of Canadians' citizenship and allegiance.

Canada keeps two roles clearly separate: the Sovereign is the head of state, and the head of government is the Prime Minister. It is the Prime Minister who actually directs how the country is governed.

In Canada, the Governor General represents the Sovereign. The Sovereign appoints the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice, usually for five years.

In each of the ten provinces, a Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign. The Governor General appoints each Lieutenant Governor on the Prime Minister's advice, normally for five years.

Government has three branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The way they work together, while sometimes being in tension with each other, helps protect Canadians' rights and freedoms.

Every province and territory has an elected legislature that passes its laws. Depending on the place, its members are called MLAs, MNAs, MPPs or MHAs.

In a province, the Premier plays a role like the Prime Minister's, and the Lieutenant Governor plays a role like the Governor General's.

In each of the three territories, a Commissioner represents the federal government and has a ceremonial role.