Our Electoral System

Summary

In Canada's First-Past-the-Post electoral system, voters in each riding choose a single representative from a pool of candidates, who may belong to political parties or run as independents. The candidate with the most votes in a riding wins, even if they don't have a majority. The party winning the most ridings forms the government, and its leader becomes the Prime Minister. A majority government has over half the seats, while a minority government holds half or fewer. Passing legislation requires support from more than half the Members of Parliament, highlighting the importance of each vote.

Takeaways

• 😀 Elections in a democracy are contests where candidates campaign for votes to represent the people in government.
• 😀 Canada uses the First-Past-the-Post (Single-Member Plurality) electoral system to determine the winner in each riding.
• 😀 A riding is a small area, and its size and shape can vary based on population and geographic factors.
• 😀 Constituents are the people living in a riding and they vote for a representative during elections.
• 😀 Candidates can be associated with political parties or be independents.
• 😀 In the First-Past-the-Post system, the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins, even without a majority.
• 😀 Canada will elect 338 Members of Parliament (MPs) to sit in the House of Commons during each election.
• 😀 The party that wins the most ridings is likely to form the government, with its leader becoming the Prime Minister.
• 😀 If the governing party has more than half the seats, it forms a majority government; otherwise, it's a minority government.
• 😀 A majority government has more power to pass legislation, while a minority government requires more negotiation and support.
• 😀 Even one vote can determine the winner of a riding, emphasizing the importance of every individual vote.

Q & A

What is the purpose of holding elections in a democracy?

Elections are held to choose government representatives, allowing the people to decide who will represent them in government.

What role do candidates play in an election?

Candidates campaign to gain the support of the public in order to be elected as the representative for a riding. They may be associated with a political party or run as independents.

What is the First-Past-the-Post electoral system?

The First-Past-the-Post system, or Single-Member Plurality, is a voting system where the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins, even if they do not have the support of the majority.

How are ridings determined in Canada?

Ridings in Canada are determined by a combination of population size and geographic factors, such as roads, rivers, and the location of cities and towns.

What are constituents?

Constituents are the people who live within a riding and are represented by an elected official.

What is the significance of the number of ridings in Canada?

Canada is divided into 338 ridings, with each riding electing one member of parliament (MP). The party that wins the most ridings forms the government.

What happens if a candidate does not have the majority of votes in a riding?

Under the First-Past-the-Post system, a candidate does not need the majority of votes, just the most votes compared to the other candidates, to win the riding.

What determines whether a government is majority or minority in Canada?

A majority government occurs if a party wins more than half of the 338 seats in the House of Commons. A minority government occurs if the party wins half or fewer seats.

How is legislation passed in Canada?

For a bill to become law, it must receive the support of more than half of the members of parliament. This can be particularly challenging for a minority government.

Why is every vote important in Canadian elections?

Every vote counts because elections can be decided by very small margins. The difference between winning and losing a riding can even be a single vote, which can impact the outcome of the entire election.