Chapter 1 - Government

• BNA Act


  The set of rules that created Canada from the Colonies and became Canada's first Constitution. It was renamed the Constitution Act when repatriated in 1982.
• Constitution Act, 1867


  The new name for the BNA Act: the constitutional authority of the division of responsibilities between the federal and provincial governments.
• Constitution Act, 1982


  This law brought the Canadian constitution home from Britain and put it under Canadian control. It included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The constitution applies to all of Canada, but Quebec has not officially signed it.
• Parliament


  The lawmaking body of British-style governments.
• Legislative, Executive, Judicial


  The three branches of our national government.
• House of Commons


  The branch of parliament with the most power. The political party with the most members of parliament chooses the Prime Minister. The house where most of the important laws are created.
• Senate


  The branch of parliament that generally reviews legislation passed by the House of Commons. The house that represents the regions through appointed members.
• MP


  Member of Parliament - one MP is elected by each constituency of about 100,000 voters.
• PM


  Prime Minister - the leader of the party that gets the most votes in an election.
• Cabinet


  Persons appointed by the PM to head the ministries of government and act as official advisers.
• Governor General


  The monarch's representative in Canada. The governor general gives royal assent to bills (signs them) before they become law, performs ceremonial duties, and ensures that the country always has a Prime Minister.
• Riding


  An electoral district (or constituency) of about 100,000 voters at the federal level.
• Ministry


  A government department under the direction of a cabinet minister.
• Cabinet Minister


  An MP or MLA that is placed in charge of a specific government department, ex. Energy, defense, education, health, etc.
• Political Party


  A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy.
• Public Service


  A group of permanent employees who perform the ongoing business of government. These people are not elected and do not pass legislation.
• Elected


  A person who is chosen by voting in an election.
• Appointed


  People who are given their jobs by leaders. They are not elected.
• Upper House


  The Senate: a legislative body appointed by the Governor General upon the advice of the PM.
• Lower House


  The House of Commons: a legislative body elected by the people.
• Representative Government


  The people are represented in government, but not necessarily by elected officials.
• Responsible Government


  Elected officials who are responsible to the people through routine elections.
• Minority Government


  The ruling political party does not have enough elected member to out-vote the opposition parties if they vote as a bloc and therefore this government is very unstable.
• Majority Government


  Government by a political party which has enough elected members to out vote all opposition parties combined (that is, more than 50% of the seats).
• Private Member's Bill


  Sometimes individuals rather than the leading party attempt to introduce a Bill in the House of Commons.
• Democracy


  Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representative
• lobbyist


  someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that the lobbyists favor
• press gallery


  An area in the senate and house of commons set aside for reporters (especially in a legislative hall).
• media


  term applied to agencies of mass communication, such as newspapers, magazines, and telecommunications
• Triple E reform


  Elected, equal, effective - suggested change to senate
• Royal assent


  a bill must be signed by the Queen's representative in order for it to become law