The-Government-and-Politics-of-Canada-加拿大政治概况 .ppt

Unit16TheGovernmentandPoliticsofCanada1

HistoricalBackgroundTwomajorforeigninfluences:BritainandtheUnitedStatesStrongprovincialgovernmentswerepersuadedtojoinintotheCanadian“confederation”underspecialfavors(e.g.BC)2

ProvincialGovernmentProvincialgovernmentoperatesonthesamemodelasthefederalgovernmentatalowerlevel.Leader:Premier省总理LegislativeAssembly立法议会3

DifferencesfromBritainandAmericaFreedomofspeechandfreedomofinformationaremuchmorevaluedincontemporaryCanadathaninBritainWell-beingandlibertyofindividualssacrificesforthegreatergoodofthecommunity:gunsSlogans:America:aspireto“life,libertyandthepursuitofhappiness”;Canada:foundanationbasedon“peace,orderandgoodgovernment”4

CentralconcernofCanadianpolicy-makers:findaworkablebalancebetweencommunityandindividualrightsReconcilethetwocommunitiesofEnglish-speakingCanadaandFrench-speakingCanadaMostCanadianpoliticsisaboutfindingaconstitutionalarrangementtosatisfythedemandsofQuebecandtherestofCanada.5

StructuresofGovernment“Westminster-style”democracy:parliamentarydemocracyMonarchy:officialheadofstateistheQueen;theQueenisCanada’squeeninherownright;representativeoftheQueenisaGovernorGeneral;ceremonialpower6

FederationTenprovincesandthreeterritoriesjoinedtoformonecountry,eachwiththeirowngovernment.CanadawasthefirstpoliticalcommunitytocombinefederalismwithaBritishsystemofgovernment;laterappliedtootherareasintheBritishCommonwealth,notablyinAustralia,Malaysia,NigeriaandIndia7

WhyBritishmodelispreferredtotheAmericanmodelChecksandbalancesStrength,orderandauthorityWeakVSStrongcentralgovernment8

ParliamentAlowerhouse:theHouseofCommons(300seats)(representativesarevotedbyeachelectoraldistrict)Anupperhouse:theSenate(notelected,recommendedbythePrimeMinister,appointedbytheGover