Canadian citizenship test · Discover Canada chapter 5 · 4 min read

Canada as a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy: federal and provincial powers, the three parts of Parliament, how a bill becomes law, the Sovereign, the Governor General, premiers and the territories. Study notes for the Canadian citizenship test.

Why this chapter matters

Government questions are among the most predictable on the test. The guide opens this section with three key facts: Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Learn what each one means.

A federal state

Canada has federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. Federal and provincial powers were set out in 1867 in the British North America Act, now called the Constitution Act, 1867.

Federalism lets each province shape policies to suit its own people and try out new ideas. Each province has its own elected Legislative Assembly. The three territories have small populations and are not provinces, but their governments do many of the same jobs.

A parliamentary democracy

• Voters choose members for the House of Commons in Ottawa and for the provincial and territorial legislatures. These members pass laws, approve and watch over spending and hold the government to account.
• Cabinet ministers must keep the "confidence of the House" and have to step down if they lose a vote of non-confidence.
• Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (King or Queen), the Senate and the House of Commons. A provincial legislature is made up of the Lieutenant Governor and the elected Assembly.
• The Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet ministers and is responsible for the government's operations and policy.
• MPs are elected, traditionally every four years. Senators are not elected: the Governor General appoints them on the Prime Minister's advice, and they may serve until age 75.
• A bill becomes law only after both chambers pass it and it receives Royal Assent, granted by the Governor General on the Sovereign's behalf.

How a bill becomes law

1. First reading: the bill is treated as read and is printed.
2. Second reading: members debate the bill's principle.
3. Committee stage: a committee studies it clause by clause.
4. Report stage: members may make further amendments.
5. Third reading: members debate and vote on it.
6. Senate: a similar process follows there.
7. Royal Assent: given after both Houses have passed it.

A constitutional monarchy

• Canada's head of state is a hereditary Sovereign (King or Queen) who reigns under the Constitution. The Sovereign is part of Parliament and plays a non-partisan role as the focus of citizenship and allegiance.
• As Head of the Commonwealth, the Sovereign links Canada with other Commonwealth nations.
• The head of government is the Prime Minister, who actually directs the governing of the country. Keep the two roles apart.
• The Governor General represents the Sovereign in Canada, appointed by the Sovereign on the Prime Minister's advice, usually for five years.
• In each province a Lieutenant Governor represents the Sovereign, appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice, also usually for five years.
• In each territory a Commissioner represents the federal government and has a ceremonial role.
• The premier of a province has a role like the Prime Minister's.
• The three branches of government are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Their interplay helps protect rights and freedoms.

Names for provincial and territorial members

Depending on the province or territory, elected members are called MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly), MNAs (Members of the National Assembly), MPPs (Members of the Provincial Parliament) or MHAs (Members of the House of Assembly). The guide does not say which title each province uses, so learn the four titles themselves.

Check yourself

1. Name the three parts of Parliament.
2. Who appoints senators, and on whose advice?
3. What happens at the committee stage of a bill?
4. Who represents the federal government in a territory?
5. Name two responsibilities the federal government and the provinces share.