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    Canada's Parliamentary and Electoral Systems

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    Dhruv Khanna
    Canada's parliamentary and electoral systems evolved out of decisions made prior to Confederation. Canada has a federal system with two levels of government - federal and provincial. The central Parliament has three parts: the monarch, Senate, and House of Commons. Canada's constitution is comprised of both written elements such as Acts of British Parliament and Canadian Acts, as well as unwritten elements like political parties and the cabinet. Canada uses a first-past-the-post electoral system to elect MPs, with the party that wins the most seats forming the government led by the Prime Minister. Voter turnout in Canada has been declining, especially among younger Canadians.

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    Canada's Parliamentary and Electoral Systems

    Uploaded by

    Dhruv Khanna
    42 views18 pages
    Canada's parliamentary and electoral systems evolved out of decisions made prior to Confederation. Canada has a federal system with two levels of government - federal and provincial. The central Parliament has three parts: the monarch, Senate, and House of Commons. Canada's constitution is comprised of both written elements such as Acts of British Parliament and Canadian Acts, as well as unwritten elements like political parties and the cabinet. Canada uses a first-past-the-post electoral system to elect MPs, with the party that wins the most seats forming the government led by the Prime Minister. Voter turnout in Canada has been declining, especially among younger Canadians.

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    Canada's parliamentary and electoral systems evolved out of decisions made prior to Confederation. Canada has a federal system with two levels of government - federal and provincial. The central Parliament has three parts: the monarch, Senate, and House of Commons. Canada's constitution is comprised of both written elements such as Acts of British Parliament and Canadian Acts, as well as unwritten elements like political parties and the cabinet. Canada uses a first-past-the-post electoral system to elect MPs, with the party that wins the most seats forming the government led by the Prime Minister. Voter turnout in Canada has been declining, especially among younger Canadians.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    42 views18 pages

    Canada's Parliamentary and Electoral Systems

    Uploaded by

    Dhruv Khanna
    Canada's parliamentary and electoral systems evolved out of decisions made prior to Confederation. Canada has a federal system with two levels of government - federal and provincial. The central Parliament has three parts: the monarch, Senate, and House of Commons. Canada's constitution is comprised of both written elements such as Acts of British Parliament and Canadian Acts, as well as unwritten elements like political parties and the cabinet. Canada uses a first-past-the-post electoral system to elect MPs, with the party that wins the most seats forming the government led by the Prime Minister. Voter turnout in Canada has been declining, especially among younger Canadians.

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    Canadas Parliamentary and

    Electoral Systems

    In the Beginning
    Aboriginal systems
    of
    government
    The Six Nations
    Confederacy
    The Indian Act of
    1876

    - Six Nations Flag

    Confederation
    Prior to Confederation, two
    major decision were made that
    would shape Canadas
    government:
    1.Canada would be a federal union
    with two levels of government:
    i. Federal
    ii. Provincial
    2.Canada would have a central
    Parliament with three parts:
    i. Monarch
    ii. Senate
    iii. House of Commons
    3

    Canadas Constitution
    Written Elements of
    the Constitution
    A rule book for our
    government
    Not a single document
    14 Acts of British
    Parliament
    4 British Orders-inCouncil
    7 Canadian Acts
    4

    Canadas Constitution
    Unwritten Elements
    of the Constitution
    Prime Minister
    Political Parties
    Cabinet
    Responsible government

    Queen
    Role of the Monarch
    Head of State
    Constitutional monarchy
    Represented in Canada by
    the Governor General

    Parliament
    Bicameral System
    House of Commons
    Senate

    Evolving Parliament
    1867
    House of Commons: 181
    Senate: 72

    2013
    House of Commons: 308
    (soon to be 338)
    Senate: 105

    Elections in Canada
    Right to vote: every Canadian citizen
    who is at least 18 years old on election
    day
    First-past-the-post electoral system
    308 electoral districts, soon to be 338
    Next fixed election date: October 19,
    2015
    Election campaigns: minimum 36 days
    Canada has had 41 general elections
    since Confederation

    First-Past-the-Post System
    Also known as single member plurality
    The candidate with the most votes is elected.
    The winning party is the one that elects the
    most candidates. Its leader becomes Prime
    Minister.
    The Prime Minister chooses the members of
    the Cabinet.
    The party with the second highest number of
    candidates elected forms the official
    opposition in Parliament.
    10

    Voting in Canada: Three Easy


    Steps
    Step 1: Register
    National Register of Electors: permanent
    list
    Updated continuously by Elections Canada
    How do I get on the Register?
    If we send you a form, fill it out and
    return it for free, OR
    Contact Elections Canada
    Check your registration online at
    elections.ca
    TIP: Voting is easier if youre registered!

    11

    Voting in Canada Three


    Easy Steps
    Step 2: Find out when and where to
    vote
    Voter information card: sent to every
    registered elector
    The VIC tells you where and when to
    vote:
    Addresses (polling station and the
    local Elections Canada office)
    Dates (election day, advance polls,
    voting by mail
    Phone numbers for more info
    If you dont receive a VIC contact us
    to register and find out where to vote
    12

    Voting in Canada Three


    Easy Steps
    Step 3: Go and vote!
    On election day:
    At your assigned poll

    OR
    Before election day:
    At your advance poll
    At any local Elections
    Canada office
    By mail
    REMEMBER: Bring proof of
    identity and address!
    13

    Voter Turnout in Canada

    14

    Who is Voting and Who is


    Not?
    Turnout by Age in the May 2011 Election

    15

    Who is Voting and Who is


    Not?

    16

    Why Does Voting Matter?


    1. Voting is fundamental to democracy: its how citizens
    choose who governs them.
    2. Voting is the only form of participation in which every
    citizen is equal.
    3. It doesnt take very many votes to make a big difference.
    4. Parties pay attention to those who vote.
    5. Low/declining turnout is not distributed equally across
    the population.

    17

    Other Than Voting What Can


    You Do?
    1.

    Get informed

    6.

    Join a political party

    2.

    Read the news regularly

    7.

    Write a letter to your MP

    3.

    Talk to your family or


    friends about politics

    8.

    Start a petition

    9.

    Help out in an election


    campaign

    4.

    5.

    Volunteer for a cause or


    organization you care
    about

    10. Work for Elections Canada


    during an election

    Become active in your


    community

    18

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