How Canadians Govern Themselves

Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy, and a federal state. Canada's Head of State is the Sovereign (King or Queen). The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister.

In each of the ten provinces, the Sovereign is represented by the Lieutenant Governor. The three territories have Commissioners.

Canada's system of government is based on the British parliamentary model, known as a parliamentary democracy, in which the power of the government derives from the people through elections.

The Parliament of Canada has three parts: the Sovereign (King or Queen), the Senate, and the House of Commons. Provincial and territorial legislatures are similar, but are unicameral (one chamber only).

The federal government is responsible for matters of national and international concern, including defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law, and citizenship.

The House of Commons is the elected chamber of Parliament. Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by the people in their riding (constituency). The party that wins the most seats in an election normally forms the government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

The Senate is the appointed chamber. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Senate reviews and revises legislation and can initiate bills on its own, except for spending and tax bills.

The Prime Minister is the head of government, responsible for governing the country. The Prime Minister selects Cabinet ministers, who are usually MPs from the governing party. Each Cabinet minister is responsible for running a federal government department.

The Opposition is formed by the party with the second-most seats in the House of Commons. The leader of this party is called the Leader of the Official Opposition.

Canada has three levels of government:

Federal - Responsible for matters of national concern: defence, banking, criminal law, foreign affairs, fisheries, shipping, railways, telephones, pipelines, Indigenous lands, and many others.

Provincial and Territorial - Responsible for education, health care, natural resources, property and civil rights, highways, and municipal government. In the three territories, the federal government has more direct control.

Municipal (Local) - Responsible for local matters such as firefighting, snow removal, local policing, emergency services, recycling programs, local parks, libraries, community water and sewage systems, and local road maintenance. Municipalities are created by provincial legislatures and may be called cities, towns, villages, townships, counties, or regional municipalities.

Each level of government raises money through taxes. The federal government collects income tax, the GST (Goods and Services Tax), and other taxes. Provincial governments collect provincial income taxes, sales taxes, and fees for licences and permits. Municipalities raise money through property taxes and service fees.