THE PARLIAMENT How does it work?. Review: Parliament is the ______ branch… … at the ______ level

THE PARLIAMENTHow does it work?

Review:

Parliament is the ______ branch…

… at the ______ level.

Review:

Parliament is the LEGISLATIVE branch…

… at the ______ level.

Review:

Parliament is the LEGISLATIVE branch…

… at the FEDERAL level.

Review:

There are _____ houses in parliament…

… it is a _____ system.

Review:

There are 2 houses in parliament…

… it is a _____ system.

Review:

There are 2 houses in parliament…

… it is a BICAMERAL system.

The Two Houses

• House of Commons

• Senate

Two Chambers:

House of Commons

Senate

The House of Commons

308 Elected MPs (Members of Parliaments)

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

The House of Commons

• 338 MPs (Members of Parliaments)

• Elected from ridings across Canada

THE SENATE

The Senate

• 105 Senators

• Appointed by Prime Minister

• Rich and powerful?

Lawmaking

The Process

House of Commons

The Senate

Royal Assent

House of Commons

Step 1: Create Bill

• Bill: a proposed law

• Usually created by the governing party

Step 2: First Reading

• Bill read and printed

• No debate

• Vote

• PURPOSE: Formal Public Notice

Step 3: Second Reading

• MPs debate Bill

• Discuss overall ideas

• Vote

• PURPOSE: General Strengths vs. Weakness

Step 4: Committees

• Study / change wordings and details

• Interview witnesses

• Vote

• PURPOSE: Fix details

Step 5: Third Reading

• Bill read with all changes

• Debate final details

• Pass or more changes needed?

• PURPOSE: Discuss final form of bill

Royal Assent

Introduction First Reading Second Reading Committee Third

Reading

The Senate

The Senate

In the senate…

• The same process happens again

• Can send back to Commons

Royal Assent

Introduction First Reading Second Reading Committee Third

Reading

Introduction First Reading Second Reading Committee Third

Reading

It’s a law!!!

• Governor General gives Royal Assent

• Bill is now a law