Social Studies 9 Government Unit Lesson 4A - Legislative Branch

Summary

This video explores the three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. It highlights the historical concern of unchecked power in a democracy and how splitting power into branches prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful. The legislative branch, responsible for making laws, consists of two chambers: the elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate. The Senate provides a 'sober second thought,' balancing the influence of populous provinces and ensuring long-term, regionally-based representation. The video sets the foundation for understanding Canada's legislative process and the role of elected versus appointed bodies in governance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The three branches of government—executive, legislative, and judicial—serve to limit each other's power.
• 😀 Montesquieu introduced the idea of dividing government power into branches to prevent the rise of tyranny.
• 😀 The legislative branch creates laws and is made up of elected officials in the House of Commons and appointed Senators in the Senate.
• 😀 The House of Commons is the 'lower house' and its number of seats is based on population, with MPs representing different constituencies.
• 😀 The party with the most seats in the House of Commons forms the government, while the second-largest party becomes the Official Opposition.
• 😀 The Speaker of the House of Commons sits at the center, with the governing party to the right and the opposition to the left.
• 😀 The Senate acts as a 'sober second thought,' reviewing laws passed by the House of Commons to ensure they are well-considered.
• 😀 Canadian Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister and serve until the age of 75, allowing them to focus on long-term issues.
• 😀 Canada's Senate provides regional representation, with specific groups of Senators representing different parts of the country.
• 😀 Unlike the U.S. Senate, which is elected, Canada’s Senate aims to reduce the influence of short-term politics by having appointed Senators.

Q & A

What are the three branches of government?

The three branches of government are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Why did Western societies decide to break up government power into branches?

Western societies feared that an elected government could become tyrannical like a monarchy, so the power was divided into branches to limit and balance the authority of each.

What is the role of the legislative branch in government?

The legislative branch is responsible for creating laws. It consists of government officials who debate and pass legislation.

How is legislation created in Canada?

In Canada, legislation is created in the Parliament building, which has two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate.

What does it mean for Canada to have a bicameral legislature?

Canada’s Parliament is bicameral, meaning it has two chambers (the House of Commons and the Senate) where laws are discussed and voted on.

How is the House of Commons organized?

The House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected to represent constituencies. The party with the most seats forms the government, while the second-largest party is the official opposition.

Why is the Senate important in Canada’s legislative process?

The Senate acts as a 'sober second thought,' reviewing legislation passed by the House of Commons to ensure that laws are well-crafted and to prevent hasty decisions.

What is the difference between how senators are selected in Canada and the U.S.?

In Canada, senators are appointed by the Prime Minister and serve until they are 75 years old, while in the U.S., senators are elected by the public.

How does regional representation work in the Canadian Senate?

In Canada, the Senate provides regional representation, with different groups of senators representing Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, the Western provinces, and the territories. This ensures smaller regions have a voice in government.

Why was the Senate created in Canada, and what role does it serve?

The Senate was created to provide a check on the elected House of Commons, ensuring that legislation is reviewed carefully, and to give more regional representation, especially for smaller provinces.