Canada as a
Constitutional Monarchy
• Canada is a constitutional
monarchy.
• This means that the powers of
the monarchy in Canada are
limited by the Constitution.
• The Constitution is a set of basic
principles, laws and rules that
explain the powers and duties of
the government and the rights and
freedoms of the citizens.
• Our formal head of state is a
monarch - Elizabeth
• As our Queen does not live in
Canada, she appoints, under the
advice of our Prime Minister, a
Governor General to represent her
authority in Canada.
•
• The Governor General is usually
appointed for a five-year term.
• The office of Governor General is now
largely ceremonial.
• The Governor General meets foreign
dignitaries, accords medals, honours
and decorations, signs bills passed in
Parliament, and opens Parliament with
a formal address known as the Speech
from the Throne.
Canada as a
Parliamentary Democracy
• Canada is also a parliamentary democracy.
In such a system, the citizens elect the
Members of Parliament to represent them
in governing the country.
• The main function of Parliament is to
legislate, that is to make laws for the
country. In addition, Parliament controls the
executive branch of the government, i.e.
the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
• This control of the executive by the
legislature is what we mean by
responsible government.
• Our Parliament consists of the Queen,
represented by the Governor General,
the House of Commons or the Lower
House, and the Senate or the Upper
House.