Canada has a parliamentary democracy and a federal system of government. Power is shared between the federal and provincial governments. Citizens elect members to the House of Commons and vote in free elections. The leader of the party with the most seats in the House becomes Prime Minister. Canada's head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, represented by the Governor General, while the Prime Minister holds the most domestic political power.

1. Canada’s Government

2. Government Systems &
Types
A Brief Review…

3. Government Systems --
Whose Got the Power?
Unitary--power is held by one central authority
Confederation--association of independent states
that voluntarily agree to certain limitations on their
freedoms by joining together
Federal--power is divided between central authority &
several regional authorities
Which system does Canada have?

4. Government Types --
How Do Citizens
Participate?
Autocratic-- 1 person possesses unlimited power
& citizens have limited role in government
Oligarchic-- small group has control & citizens
have limited role in government
Democratic--supreme power is in the people &
exercised by them directly or indirectly though a
system of representation involving free elections
Which type does Canada have?

5. Two Types of Democratic
Governments
Parliamentary-- the real executive power is in a
legislature, members of the legislature elect the
leader
Leader works with or through the legislature
Presidential-- the leader is constitutionally
independent of the legislature
Leader works separate from legislature
*Which type of democracy does Canada have?

6. Canada’s Government
Federation (federal system)
Parliamentary Democracy
Constitutional Monarchy

7. Leadership
1. Head of State: Monarch of the United
Kingdom, little political power
2. Governor General: stands in for the
monarch due to distance from the UK
3. Prime Minister: holds the most political
power; works closely with the legislature

8. Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II

9. Governor General
David Johnston

10. The Right Honorable
Stephen Harper
(Prime Minister)

11. How the Leader is
Chosen…Governor General: appointed by the
monarch with guidance from the Prime
Minister; serves a 5 year term
Prime Minister: leader of the majority
party in the House of Commons;
indirectly elected by the people

12. Legislature: Parliament
1. Senate (105 seats): members are appointed by the
governor general with advice from the Prime Minister
--not elected by the people; can serve until they are 75 years
old
1. House of Commons (308 seats): members are
directly elected by the people
--serve 5 year terms
--largest political party in the House elects the Prime Minister

13. Role of Citizen in
Government
Citizens must be 18 to vote, voting is not
required by law
Citizens vote for members of the House of
Commons, which indirectly elects the Prime
Minister

14. Canada’s Citizens
 Canada is a democracy.
 As a democracy, its citizens must participate in voting
and elections.
 They elect members of Parliament.
 They elect regional government officials.(provincial
governor)
 They also vote on issues like whether or not Quebec
should be an independent country.
 Separatists are people who want Quebec to
be its own country