Canada's political institutions: the essentials for the citizenship test
How Canadians govern themselves, federal elections and the justice system take up a good part of the Discover Canada guide (pp. 28 to 37). Here are the essentials, summed up from our study sheet 2.
The 3 key features of Canada's system of government
- Federal state: a federal government, provincial and territorial governments, and municipal governments.
- Parliamentary democracy: the people elect their representatives.
- Constitutional monarchy: the Sovereign (King or Queen) is head of state.
Parliament, in 3 parts
| Part | Role |
|---|---|
| The Sovereign | Head of state, represented in Canada by the Governor General, appointed for about 5 years on the Prime Minister's advice |
| The Senate | Senators appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice; they serve until age 75 |
| The House of Commons | Members of Parliament elected by the people every 4 years, one per electoral district |
How a bill becomes law
- First reading: the bill is introduced and printed.
- Second reading: MPs debate the principle of the bill.
- Committee stage: clause-by-clause review.
- Report stage: MPs can propose amendments.
- Third reading: final debate and vote.
- Senate: the same process in the Senate.
- Royal Assent: the Governor General approves the bill on the Sovereign's behalf.
Key roles
| Role | To remember |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Head of government (not head of state); picks the Cabinet ministers; accountable to the House |
| Governor General | Represents the Sovereign federally |
| Lieutenant Governor | Represents the Sovereign in each province; appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice |
| Commissioner | Represents the federal government in each of the 3 territories |
| Leader of the Opposition | Heads the Official Opposition, His Majesty's Loyal Opposition |
After an election
- The party with the most seats is invited to form the government.
- Majority government: the governing party holds at least half of the seats. Minority: fewer than half.
- A government defeated on a confidence vote must resign.
To vote, you must be a Canadian citizen, be at least 18 on election day and be on the voters list. Voting is secret.
Who does what?
| Level of government | Examples of responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Federal | Defence, foreign policy, currency, criminal law, citizenship, immigration (shared) |
| Provincial | Education, health care, natural resources, highways, property, civil rights, immigration (shared) |
| Municipal | Social services, public transit, recycling, snow removal, firefighting |
Good to know: since the 2025 election, the House of Commons has 343 MPs, one per electoral district, so 343 ridings. This number has changed since the latest edition of the guide, which says 308. The Senate has 105 senators.
Test yourself
Summary taken from our study sheet 2; see the Discover Canada guide, pp. 28 to 35.