House Of Commons Members

Question 1

Members of Parliament (MPs)

Answer 1

• Referred to as House of Commons
• Debate and vote on proposed legislation
• Elected to represent voters in a particular riding
• Usually members of a political party
• Acts the way their party leaders tell them to
• MPs are either government side or opposition side

Question 2

Speaker of the House

Answer 2

• Is an MP elected by MPs
• Responsible for keeping order in debates
• Makes decisions on the day-to-day running of the House of Commons

Question 3

Prime Minister

Answer 3

• Leader of the political party that has the most seats in the House of Commons
• Most powerful person in the Parliament

Question 4

Cabinet Ministers

Answer 4

• Prime Minister selects ministers to be responsible for different areas (known as Cabinet ministers)
• Usually chosen from the MPs of the prime minister’s own party,
• Some occasions Senators have served in the cabinet
• Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers direct the government policy

Question 5

Leader of the Opposition

Answer 5

• The leader of the second largest party in Parliament
• Responsible for presenting clear alternatives to government policy

Question 6

Shadow Cabinet

Answer 6

• Members of the shadow cabinet criticize government policy
• They take the same responsibilities as the ministers of the actual cabinet