Canada, Government of. Canada combines a federal form of government with a cabinet system. The federal form of government was originally patterned on that of the United States, and the cabinet system on that of the United Kingdom (also called Britain).
As a federation, Canada is made up of 10 provinces and 3 territories. The country works out its national problems through its central government in Ottawa, which represents all the people of Canada. Each province has its own government. The territories are self-governing, but the federal government plays a large role in their administration.
The cabinet system of Canada unites the legislative and executive branches of the government. The prime minister and all members of the Cabinet are usually members of the House of Commons. Occasionally, a senator may be in the Cabinet. Ministers are responsible for all their actions to the House of Commons, which is elected by the people. If the House of Commons defeats a piece of important government-supported legislation, or if it passes a vote of no confidence in the government, the prime minister must either resign or request that the governor general call a general election.
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is queen of Canada. She is the official head of state, but a governor general acts as her representative. However, the governor general performs only certain formal and symbolic tasks. The prime minister directs the government.
The people of Canada elect members of the House of Commons. To vote in national elections, a person must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian citizen. Each province sets its own voting requirements for provincial elections. A voter must be at least 19 in British Columbia and at least 18 in other provinces.
Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, but it is not a dependency of the United Kingdom. Canada is independent, self-governing, and equal in rank to the United Kingdom and all other nations.
