Canadian Govt Questions Pt 2 Flashcards
Constitutional Monarchy
even though the king is the head of state in Canada, his powers are limited by the constitution and laws of the land
Cabinet Portfolio
a department of the goverment, presided over by a cabinet minister- Example Minister of Finance, health, fisheries etc.
Cabinet Solidarity
Once an issue has been agreed upon all Cabinet members are expected to publicly support the issue. If they cannot support it they must resign
Cabinet Shuffle
Cabinet ministers are moved to new portfolios to give the cabinet a new look, change things up.
Shadow Cabinet
members of the opposition who are assigned a specific portfolio to follow/challenge the actual cabinet minister in charge
Backbenchers
government MPs who have not been assigned a specific portfolio
Opposition
The official opposition is the second largest party in the House of Commons. It consists of elected MPs not of the govering party.
Ridings
Canada is divided into 338 ridings or areas that will elect an MP to the commons. The division of the ridings is an attempt to keep population equal (aprox. 100,000 people), although it is not always possible.
Majority Govt
The governing party has more seats 50% of the seats in Parliament. It is a strong advantage, because they can pass bills at will because they
outnumber the opposition. (338 total scats - 170 = majority)
Minority Govt
The Political party that wins more seats than any other party forms the government but it has less than 50% of the seats in Parliament.
Canada currently has a Minority
i. Liberal Government
Non-Confidence Motion
a motion by the opposition that says the government in power has lost the support of the majority of the members in the Commons, therefore it has lost the right to govern.
Member of Parliament
An clected official for the Federal Government
Member of the Legislative Assembly
An elected official for the Provincial Government.
