The Government in Canada

Canada is a constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation. Administratively, it is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

As a Commonwealth nation, Canada has Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. She is represented by the Governor General as she does not live in Canada. The prime minister is the head of government and he is usually the current leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a plurality in the House of Commons.

Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and Cabinet, all of whom are sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, and become Ministers of the Crown. The Prime Minister exercises vast political power, especially in the appointment of other officials within the government and civil service. The federal parliament is made up of the Queen and two houses: an elected House of Commons and an appointed Senate. Each member in the House of Commons is elected by simple plurality in a "riding" or electoral district.