THE STRUCTURE OF

CANADA’S GOVERNMENT
Canadian History
 CANADA’S HEAD OF STATE

• At the top of the Canadian government is the monarch – Her

Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II
• She is the most important person in our government, but not the
most powerful

• Because the queen does not live here, she is represented in

Canada by a Governor General
GRAPHIC OF THE STRUCTURE OF
CANADA’S GOVERNMENT

Monarch

Governor
General
 THE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

• Legislative Branch
• Responsible for making the laws

• Executive Branch
• Responsible for administering the laws

• Judicial Branch
• Responsible for enforcing the laws
GRAPHIC OF THE STRUCTURE OF
CANADA’S GOVERNMENT

Monarch

Governor
General

Legislative Executive Judicial

Branch Branch Branch
Responsible for
Responsible for Responsible for
administering
making laws enforcing laws
laws
 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

• Made up of 2 bodies that can make laws (Bicameral)

• House of Commons
• Elected by the people
• Represents the needs of the people
• Senate
• Appointed by the Prime Minister
• Represents the needs of the government and Crown
GRAPHIC OF THE STRUCTURE OF CANADA’S
GOVERNMENT
Monarch

Governor General

Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

Responsible
for making
laws

House of
Commons
Senate
 EXECUTIVE BRANCH

• Prime Minister • Caucus

• Leader of the party with the most seats • All the other elected members of
• Most powerful person in the parliament who belong to the same
government party as the Prime Minister
• Is actually also an MP
• Departments
• Cabinet • Run the departments
• Advisors to the Prime Minister • Not elected; hired; don’t change when
• Elected; members of the Prime the government changes
Minister’s party
• Are in charge of 1 or 2 government
departments; referred to as ministers
GRAPHIC OF THE STRUCTURE OF CANADA’S
GOVERNMENT
Monarch

Governor General

Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

Responsible Responsible for

for making administering
laws laws
House of Prime Minister
Commons Cabinet
Senate Caucus
Departments
 JUDICIAL BRANCH

• Do not change when the government changes

• Judges at all levels are appointed by the Prime Minister
• Supreme Court
• highest court in the country
• Only deals with cases involving the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• Federal Courts
• Deals with any criminal cases (anything where the penalty could be going to jail)

• Provincial Courts
• Deals with any other cases (property disputes, traffic violations, etc.)
 GRAPHIC OF THE STRUCTURE OF CANADA’S
GOVERNMENT
Monarch

Governor General

Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

Responsible Responsible for Responsible for

for making administering enforcing laws
laws laws
House of Prime Minister Supreme Court
Commons Cabinet Federal Courts
Senate Caucus Provincial Courts
Departments