Chapter/Unit 1

Government of Canada
VOCAB
Govern
To make decisions as a government and put
decisions into action
Political System
a coordinated set of principles, laws, ideas, and
procedures relating to a particular form of
government, or the form of government itself:
EXAMPLE:
Democracy is a political system
Executive Branch
The part of government that is
responsible for putting laws
into action
Made up of the Prime Minister,
and the Cabinet
Legislative Branch
The part of government that makes laws. Also called
Canadas Parliament
Made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) and they
are elected by Voters
MPs debate and vote on Bills to make them become
laws.
 Judicial Branch

Part of the government that interprets or

describes and applies the law by making
legal judgements.
Interprets and applies all law in Canada.
The judicial branch is responsible for
making sure that the rights of all Canadians
are respected.
Cabinet
Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that,
along with the Canadian monarch, that forms the government
of Canada.
 Prime Minister
the head of an elected government

Leader of a specific party

Justin Trudeau - Prime Minister, Liberal

Member of Parliament (MP)
338 elected members of the House of Commonscalled
members of parliament (MPs)

each represent an electoral district, commonly referred to as

a riding,
Senator
Appointment by the
Governor-General on advice
of the Prime Minister;

Senators meet in the Senate

Senators may serve until they

are 75
Constituency
A group of citizens (Constituents) in a specific
area who elect a representative to the House
of Commons

Most commonly called a Riding

Example: Taber is part of the Bow River

Riding
Constituent
Someone who lives in a riding
and is represented by an
elected official in that riding

Example: Bow River Riding

Constituents are represented
by Martin Shields
(Conservative)
Popular Vote
The total votes cast in an election

Important** Different from total seats won in an election

Representative Democracy
system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on
representatives to pass laws for them

This would be voting for MPs in your riding

Accountability
Answerable to someone for your actions

You are observable and transparent with intentions

Democratic governments should be accountable to their

citizens