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Government and Elections

Learn how Canada's constitutional monarchy, Parliament and elections fit together.

Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Parliament consists of the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. Citizens elect representatives in federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal elections.

Key facts

Remember these points

  • Parliament has three parts
  • The Governor General represents the Sovereign in Canada
  • Canada is divided into electoral districts called ridings
  • Voting is by secret ballot
  • Responsible government depends on the confidence of the elected assembly
Source

These original CanadaHomeHub notes are based on Discover Canada — The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.

Read this chapter on Canada.ca →