All skills Social Studies

Learn Index · Government and Law Grade 6–8

Canada’s Parliament and federal government

Canada’s federal government has a House of Commons with elected Members of Parliament, an appointed Senate, a prime minister and Cabinet, and the Crown, represented by the Governor General.

Illustrated topic card: Canada’s Parliament and federal government — Canada is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy; Parliament in Ottawa makes federal laws.
Illustrated topic card: Canada’s Parliament and federal government — Canada is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy; Parliament in Ottawa makes federal laws.

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Canada’s federal government

Canada is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The federal government is based in Ottawa, where Parliament meets on Parliament Hill.

Parliament has three parts:

  1. The Crown: the King, represented in Canada by the Governor General
  2. The Senate: the upper house, appointed
  3. The House of Commons: the lower house, elected

All three must approve a bill before it becomes law.

The House of Commons

The House of Commons is the heart of Canadian democracy.

  • It has one Member of Parliament (MP) for each electoral district, also called a riding. Since the 2025 election there are 343 seats; the number changes as the population grows.
  • Voters in each riding elect one MP.
  • MPs debate and vote on bills, represent their communities, and question the government.
  • The Speaker, an MP elected by the other members, keeps order during debates.

The party with the most seats usually forms the government. If it has more than half the seats, it is a majority government. If it has the most seats but less than half, it is a minority government and must win support from other parties to pass bills.

The party with the second-most seats is usually the Official Opposition. Its job is to question and criticize the government and offer alternatives.

The Senate

The Senate has 105 senators, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister. Senators can serve until age 75.

  • Seats are divided by region, so smaller provinces have a stronger voice.
  • The Senate reviews bills passed by the House, studies issues in committees, and can suggest changes.
  • It is often described as a chamber of "sober second thought."

Since 2016, an independent advisory board recommends senators based on merit, and many senators now sit as independents rather than with parties.

The executive: prime minister and Cabinet

The prime minister is the head of government. They are usually the leader of the party that has the confidence of the House of Commons.

The prime minister chooses the Cabinet: ministers who lead departments such as Finance, Health, Defence and Foreign Affairs. Cabinet ministers are usually MPs.

The prime minister and Cabinet:

  • set the government’s priorities
  • propose most bills and the budget
  • run federal departments
  • make many key decisions

Responsible government

Canada’s system is built on responsible government: the government must keep the confidence (support) of the elected House of Commons. If the government loses a confidence vote, such as a vote on the budget, it usually must resign or ask for an election.

Question Period, held each day the House sits, is a key part of accountability. Opposition MPs question the prime minister and ministers about their decisions.

The Crown and the Governor General

Canada’s head of state is the monarch, currently the King. In Canada, the Governor General carries out the monarch’s duties, including:

  • giving Royal Assent to bills so they become law
  • summoning and dissolving Parliament
  • swearing in the prime minister and Cabinet
  • representing Canada at ceremonies

By tradition, the Governor General acts on the advice of the prime minister. Each province also has a lieutenant governor.

What the federal government does

Under the Constitution, the federal government is responsible for:

  • national defence and the military
  • foreign affairs and trade
  • citizenship and immigration
  • criminal law
  • money, banking and the post office
  • Indigenous relations and treaties (shared responsibilities)
  • employment insurance and many national programs

Try it yourself

  1. Find out who your MP is and which party they belong to.
  2. Draw a diagram showing the three parts of Parliament.
  3. Explain the difference between a majority and a minority government.
  4. Watch a few minutes of Question Period. What topics came up?

Quick recap

  • Parliament has three parts: the Crown, the Senate and the House of Commons.
  • MPs are elected; senators are appointed.
  • The prime minister and Cabinet lead the government and must keep the confidence of the House.
  • The Governor General represents the King and gives Royal Assent.
  • The federal government handles national issues such as defence, trade and citizenship.