Politics of Canada | |
---|---|
Polity type | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
Constitution | Constitution of Canada |
Legislative branch | |
Name | Parliament |
Type | Bicameral |
Meeting place | Parliament Buildings |
Upper house | |
Name | Senate |
Presiding officer | Raymonde Gagné, Speaker |
Appointer | Governor General |
Lower house | |
Name | House of Commons |
Presiding officer | Greg Fergus, Speaker |
Executive branch | |
Head of state | |
Currently | King Charles III represented by Mary Simon, Governor General |
Head of government | |
Currently | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau |
Appointer | Governor General |
Cabinet | |
Name | Cabinet of Canada |
Current cabinet | 29th Canadian Ministry |
Leader | Prime Minister |
Deputy leader | Deputy Prime Minister |
Appointer | Governor General |
Ministries | 29 |
Judicial branch | |
Name | Court system of Canada |
Supreme Court | |
Chief judge | Richard Wagner |
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The politics of Canada functions within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions.[1] Canada is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch is head of state. In practice, executive authority is entrusted to the Cabinet, a committee of ministers of the Crown chaired by the Prime Minister of Canada that act as the executive committee of the King's Privy Council for Canada and are responsible to the democratically elected House of Commons.[2]
Canada is described as a "full democracy",[3] with a tradition of liberalism,[4] and an egalitarian,[5] moderate political ideology.[6][7][8] Extremism has never been prominent in Canadian politics.[9][10][11][12] The traditional "brokerage" model of Canadian politics leaves little room for ideology.[a][13] Peace, order, and good government, alongside an Implied Bill of Rights, are founding principles of the Canadian government.[14][15] An emphasis on social justice has been a distinguishing element of Canada's political culture.[16][17][18] Canada has placed emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusiveness for all its people.[19][20]
The country has a multi-party system in which many of its legislative practices derive from the unwritten conventions of and precedents set by the Westminster parliament of the United Kingdom. The two dominant political parties in Canada have historically been the Liberal Party of Canada and the current Conservative Party of Canada (as well as its numerous predecessors).[21] Parties like the New Democratic Party, the Quebec nationalist Bloc Québécois and the Green Party of Canada have grown in prominence, exerting their own influence to the political process.[21]
Canada has evolved variations: party discipline in Canada is stronger than in the United States and United Kingdom, and more parliamentary votes are considered motions of confidence, which tends to diminish the role of non-Cabinet members of parliament (MPs). Such members, in the government caucus, and junior or lower-profile members of opposition caucuses, are known as backbenchers. Backbenchers can, however, exert their influence by sitting in parliamentary committees, like the Public Accounts Committee or the National Defence Committee.
... most Canadian governments, especially at the federal level, have taken a moderate, centrist approach to decision making, seeking to balance growth, stability, and governmental efficiency and economy ... .
First Past the Post in Canada has favoured broadly-based, accommodative, centrist parties ... .
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