Canada has a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. This means that the country recognizes a monarch (currently King Charles III) as the ceremonial head of state, represented domestically by the Governor General, while the head of government is the Prime Minister
. Key features of Canada's government:
- Constitutional Monarchy: The monarch's role is largely ceremonial and symbolic, with executive authority exercised by the Governor General on the monarch’s behalf. The Governor General performs duties such as granting royal assent to laws and appointing the Prime Minister, based on established conventions
- Parliamentary Democracy: The legislative branch, called Parliament, is bicameral and consists of three parts: the Crown (monarch), the Senate (appointed members), and the House of Commons (elected members). Laws must be approved by both the Senate and the House of Commons and receive royal assent to become law
- Federal System: Canada’s government is divided into three levels:
- Federal government , led by the Prime Minister, responsible for national and international matters such as defense, foreign affairs, and criminal law.
- Provincial and territorial governments , each led by a Premier, responsible for areas like education and healthcare.
- Municipal governments , led by mayors, handling local services such as parks, libraries, and local police
- Executive Branch: Led by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, responsible for implementing laws and policies. Cabinet ministers are accountable to Parliament
- Judicial Branch: Independent courts interpret and apply laws, with the Supreme Court of Canada as the highest court
In summary, Canada’s government combines a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, operating within a federal system where powers are shared among federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal governments
