Branches of Branches of Government :Government :

The Executive BranchThe Executive Branch

Executive Branch (middle)Executive Branch (middle) Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

Recall: The Three Recall: The Three Branches of GovernmentBranches of Government

1.) Legislative Branch = makes laws

2.) Executive Branch = implements laws

3.) Judicial = enforcement of laws

Components of Executive Components of Executive BranchBranch

Governor GeneralGovernor General

Prime MinisterPrime Minister

CabinetCabinet

The BureaucracyThe Bureaucracy

1. Who’s Who: 1. Who’s Who: TheThe Governor Governor

GeneralGeneralWe are all aware of the role of the We are all aware of the role of the Governor GeneralGovernor General

Know that he/she are a part of the Know that he/she are a part of the executive branchexecutive branch

Mostly symbolic duties such as Mostly symbolic duties such as receiving new ambassadors and receiving new ambassadors and awarding the Order of Canada to awarding the Order of Canada to people who have made outstanding people who have made outstanding contributions to public lifecontributions to public life

2. Who’s Who: 2. Who’s Who: TheThe Prime MinisterPrime Minister

Central Figure & head of Central Figure & head of Canadian governmentCanadian government

Powers are enormous Powers are enormous but not outlined in any but not outlined in any documentdocument

Include:Include: a.) party leadershipa.) party leadership b.) appointmentb.) appointment c.) governmental c.) governmental

organizationorganization d.) dissolutiond.) dissolution

PM Role: 1.) Party PM Role: 1.) Party LeadershipLeadership

Has the power to approve someone Has the power to approve someone from his own party running in an from his own party running in an election to become an MPelection to become an MP

When a party wins an election, it can When a party wins an election, it can be said that the voters have given be said that the voters have given that party a mandate that party a mandate (command or (command or instruction on how to proceed)instruction on how to proceed)

PM can therefore count on support of PM can therefore count on support of his MP’s (solidarity)his MP’s (solidarity)

Utilize caucus meetings to iron out Utilize caucus meetings to iron out issuesissues

PM Role: b.) Power of AppointmentPM Role: b.) Power of AppointmentAppoints Governor generalAppoints Governor generalAppoints cabinet members through Appoints cabinet members through

Governor GeneralGovernor GeneralEach province is represented in Each province is represented in

cabinetcabinetDecides the size of the cabinetDecides the size of the cabinetAll races, genders, minority groups All races, genders, minority groups

etc. representedetc. represented

PM Role: PM Role: c.) Government Organizationc.) Government Organization

PM appoints cabinet ministers PM appoints cabinet ministers and has power to create or and has power to create or abolish portfolio’sabolish portfolio’s

Will often pick his most trusted Will often pick his most trusted cabinet members to form an cabinet members to form an inner cabinet for every day inner cabinet for every day decision making decision making

Cabinets can be shuffled by PM Cabinets can be shuffled by PM to freshen things upto freshen things up

PM Role: d.) Power of PM Role: d.) Power of DissolutionDissolution

PM is able set the time of PM is able set the time of election to his liking, government election to his liking, government can be dissolved before set can be dissolved before set election date if a minority election date if a minority government is defeated in a vote government is defeated in a vote of non-confidenceof non-confidence

The government serves a The government serves a maximum five year termmaximum five year term

Prime Minister’s Prime Minister’s OfficeOfficeCarry out everyday functions of government Carry out everyday functions of government

(answer phones, mail, schedules etc.)(answer phones, mail, schedules etc.)Made up of appointed staff (overseen by Made up of appointed staff (overseen by

PM’s secretary)PM’s secretary)Ensure PM has positive public image and Ensure PM has positive public image and

good relations with the mediagood relations with the media Advise PM on how policies will affect party Advise PM on how policies will affect party

popularitypopularityHead of PMO known as Principal SecretaryHead of PMO known as Principal Secretary

Good friend to PM & recommends patronage Good friend to PM & recommends patronage appointmentsappointments

Privy Council OfficePrivy Council OfficeIs a public service not affiliated Is a public service not affiliated

with any partywith any partyEyes and ears of cabinetEyes and ears of cabinetTop figure = Clerk of Privy CouncilTop figure = Clerk of Privy CouncilVery influentialVery influentialCoordinating meetings and Coordinating meetings and

relaying decisionsrelaying decisionsProvide impartial research and infoProvide impartial research and info

3. Who’s Who: 3. Who’s Who: TheThe CabinetCabinetMembers of cabinet called ministers who are Members of cabinet called ministers who are

responsible for portfolio’s (approx. 30 responsible for portfolio’s (approx. 30 members)members) Ex. Transportation, Finance, Justice, etc.Ex. Transportation, Finance, Justice, etc.

Selected by the PM and are his closest advisorsSelected by the PM and are his closest advisors PM tries to represent each province in minister choicesPM tries to represent each province in minister choices

Cabinets form committees to discuss planning Cabinets form committees to discuss planning and priorities (eg. Raising taxes, going to war)and priorities (eg. Raising taxes, going to war)

Initiate and guide laws through H of CInitiate and guide laws through H of CCabinet members must fully support decisions Cabinet members must fully support decisions

(cabinet solidarity) in public or must resign their (cabinet solidarity) in public or must resign their positionposition

Ministers agree to secrecy regarding meetingsMinisters agree to secrecy regarding meetings

Cabinet Cabinet Continued…Continued…

Backbenchers: MP’s who are not Backbenchers: MP’s who are not cabinet memberscabinet members

The leader of the opposition The leader of the opposition organizes the Shadow Cabinet to organizes the Shadow Cabinet to critique the PM’s workcritique the PM’s work

A key agency linked with the Cabinet A key agency linked with the Cabinet is the treasury board (cabinet is the treasury board (cabinet committee)committee)

Purpose is to monitor budgets of the Purpose is to monitor budgets of the governmentgovernment

3. What’s What: 3. What’s What: TheThe Ministries or Ministries or

BureaucracyBureaucracyOne in every five Canadians One in every five Canadians

works for the governmentworks for the governmentDivided into several branchesDivided into several branchesFour major structures a.) Four major structures a.)

government departments, b.) government departments, b.) crown corporations, c.) regulator crown corporations, c.) regulator agencies, d.) advisory bodies.agencies, d.) advisory bodies.

Song!

Bureaucracy Bureaucracy continued…continued…

-- Government departmentsGovernment departments

-- 23 departments each led by 23 departments each led by Cabinet Cabinet ministerminister

-- Ex. Transportation, National Ex. Transportation, National Defense, Defense, JusticeJustice

- Crown CorporationCrown Corporation

-- a business owned by the a business owned by the governmentgovernment

-- Ex. Canadian National Railway Ex. Canadian National Railway

Bureaucracy Bureaucracy continued…continued…

- Regulatory Agencies:Regulatory Agencies:

- set rules and regulations by which - set rules and regulations by which businesses in Canada must operatebusinesses in Canada must operate

- Ex. Canadian Transport - Ex. Canadian Transport CommissionCommission

- Advisory Bodies:Advisory Bodies:

- Royal Commissions or task forces - Royal Commissions or task forces set up to examine a specific issueset up to examine a specific issue

- Ex. Royal Commission on Canadian - Ex. Royal Commission on Canadian UnityUnity