• The governing body of a nation
• Makes laws, carries out laws

• Lists the things the government has control over, the limits of these powers, and individual people's rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.
• Consists of the BNA act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Canada's current governement system

1. Parlimentary democracy
2. Federation
3. Constitutional Monarchy

• The head of state is the Crown (currently Queen Elizabeth II)
• She is represented in Canada by the Governer General

• The premier in the provinces, the chief minister of the Crown, and the head of the Cabinet
• Relies on advisors and staff in the PMO (Office of the Prime Minister)
• Currently Stephan Harper

• Choose and discipline Cabinate members
• Directs the activities of the legislature
• Has the right to be consulted on all important Cabinet decisions
• Controls appointments to the Senate and to the Judiciary
• Can recommend that Parliment be adjourned or dissolved and an election called

• The Bureaucracy
• Groups of permanent employees who preform ongoing business of government
• AKA the Crown Corperation
• Ideally non-political
• BC ferries, BC Hydro, RCMP, Canada Post, etc.

1. Governer General
2. House of Commons
3. Senate

• When Cabinate ministers must display full support for the Prime Minister and the decisions of the government

• AKA conscience vote
• When the Prime Minister allows Party MP's to act on their own opinion to support or reject a bill according to the wishes of their consituents

• When parties make sure their members vote as the party wishes in the legislature

The person that makes sure members of their party

• Are in the House of Commons for important votes
• Votes as the party requires

• AKA the Upper House
• 105 members appointed/chosen by the Governer General on the advice of the Prime Minister
• AKA we don't vote for them
• They are the final barrier between voting for a bill and putting the bill into place
• Seats are allotted regionally based on population
• Ex. Ontario has more seats in the Senate than PEI

• If a seat in the Senate becomes vacant (i.e. All members must retire at age 75) the Prime Minister often gives the seat to a loyal member or their party
• A sort of reward for years of loyalty and support

• When the ruling party has more than half (+50%) of the total number of seats in the legislature
• +155/308

• When the ruling party has more seats than any other party, but the other parties combined have more seats than the government

Coalition Government

• In which two or more political parties enter into a formal agreement to govern together
• Can occur when no single political has a majority of MPs
• 2 or more parties will form a coalition and together excecise a majority in the House

• A system of governemnt in which people freely choose in elections who will govern them 
• The principals and ideals of such a governement including free speech and the rule of law

• Someone who works for a government department

• Organised groups of indivicuals with common interests and concens who attempt to pressure political decision makers
• AKA interest groups

• A person hired to represent the interests of a pressure groups by influencing policy decision mkers in a group's favour

• Government officials and administators