Canada is a constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy, and federation. The monarch is the head of state, with power shared between federal and provincial/territorial governments.
The head of state is the UK monarch, currently King Charles III, represented in Canada by the Governor General.
The Governor General performs ceremonial duties such as ensuring Canada has a Prime Minister, summoning and dissolving Parliament, giving royal assent to bills, acting as Commander-in-Chief, and representing Canada internationally.
The Prime Minister is the head of government, responsible for running the federal government, setting national policies, and leading the Cabinet.
The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons, chosen after a federal election.
Canada has a bicameral Parliament: the House of Commons (elected lower house) and the Senate (appointed upper house). Both must pass legislation for it to become law.
MPs are elected through a first-past-the-post system across 338 ridings. The candidate with the most votes in each riding wins the seat.
Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister’s advice. They represent major regions and serve until age 75.
The Senate reviews and can amend legislation, conducts studies on national issues, represents regional and minority interests, and acts as a check on the House of Commons.
Federal elections are scheduled every four years on the third Monday in October, though earlier elections can be called under certain circumstances.
Major parties include the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party (NDP), Bloc Québécois, and Green Party.
Provincial and territorial governments handle healthcare, education, natural resources, and more. They have tax-raising powers and manage significant budgets.
Provincial governments have a Premier, a unicameral legislature, and a Lieutenant Governor representing the monarch. They operate similarly to the federal government.
Municipal governments manage local services like urban planning, public transportation, water systems, and emergency services. They derive their powers from provincial legislation.
The judiciary includes the Supreme Court of Canada, Federal Courts, and Provincial/Territorial Courts, along with specialized courts. It is independent of the executive and legislative branches.
The Supreme Court is Canada’s highest court and final court of appeal. It has nine justices and interprets the Constitution, setting legal precedents.
Judges are appointed by the federal or provincial governments. Supreme Court and Federal Court judges are appointed by the federal government, while Provincial Court judges are appointed by provincial governments.
The Constitution is Canada’s supreme law, defining government structure, powers, and citizen rights. It includes Aboriginal and treaty rights.
Key components include the Constitution Act of 1867, the Constitution Act of 1982 (with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms), and various conventions and amendments.
The Charter guarantees fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal protections, equality rights, and language rights. It applies to federal and provincial governments and has greatly influenced Canadian law.
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