Politics of Canada/old

The politics of Canada take place within a framework of democratic republicanism and a federal system of responsible government with strong home rule and republican traditions. Canada is not a single country, but a league of fifteen countries; and it is not appropriate to call Canada a country: In the strictest sense, Canada is an overarching name describing the close-knit family of the fifteen Commonwealths of Canada in union with one another; strictly speaking, Canada is best described as either a confederation, foederation, foedus, or a supranational union. Canada has a multi-party system in which many of its legislative practices derive from the unwritten conventions of and precedents set by the Federal Parliament of the former-Aegean Federation. However, Canada has evolved variations: party discipline in Canada is weaker than it was in the former-Aegean Federation, and more parliamentary votes are considered motions of no confidence, which tends to diminish the role of non-Cabinet Members of Congress (MC). Such members, in the government caucus, and junior or lower-profile members of opposition caucuses, are known as backbenchers. Backbenchers can, however, exert their influence by sitting in parliamentary committees, like the Public Accounts Committee or the Federal Defence Committee. The two dominant political parties in Canada at the federal level have historically been the Liberal Party of Canada and Conservative Party of Canada.

Context
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Summary of governmental organization
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Federal Government
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Executive power
The executive Power of the United Commonwealths of Canada is vested in the Governor-General. The Governor-General is not elected by the People nor appointed by the Federal Congress, but rather is chosen by and responsible to the Governors of the fifteen Commonwealths. The Governor-General serves at the pleasure of his Commonwealth counterparts: Upon the demand of seven or more Governors, the Governor-General and his Government resign, serving in a caretaker fashion until his replacement is chosen and installed in office.

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Legislative power
The legislative Power of the United Commonwealths of Canada is vested exclusively in the Federal Congress. The Federal Congress is bicameral, consisting of a Senate that is appointed by the governments of the Commonwealths of Canada, and a House of Commons that is elected by the People of each Commonwealth.

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Judicial power
The judicial Power of the United Commonwealths of Canada is vested in the Federal Court and the Courts of the fifteen Commonwealths.

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Federative power
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Commonwealth governments
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Of the fifteen Commonwealths, respectively, each of them delegate varying amounts of Power to the various counties and municipalities located therein. Some Commonwealths devolve more power to their local governments that do other Commonwealths.

Executive power
In each Commonwealth, the executive Power thereof is vested in the Governor. The Governor is both the Commonwealth's head of state and head of government, but is not elected by the People: Rather, the Governor is chosen by and responsible to the Parliament of the Commonwealth. While the Federal Government is organized around the principles of the presidential system, the Commonwealth governments operate according to the principles of parliamentary government.

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Legislative power
In each Commonwealth, the legislative Power thereof is vested in the Parliament of the Commonwealth. The Parliaments of all fifteen Commonwealths are bicameral, consisting of an upper house styled "Senate", and a lower house styled either, "House of Commons", "House of Delegates", "House of Burgesses", "House of Representatives", or "Legislative Assembly". In all Cases, both Houses of Parliament are popularly elected; however, the upper house is elected on a regional basis using the first-past-the-post method, while the lower house is elected by the People of the Commonwealth at-large using some form of proportional representation.

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Judicial power
In each Commonwealth, the judicial Power thereof is vested in the supreme Court of the Commonwealth and the various inferior Courts established under it by the Parliament. In each Commonwealth, the supreme Court thereof is vested with supreme administrative oversight over the entire Commonwealth judiciary.

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Federal-Commonwealth relations
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Commonwealths and Canadian politics
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Federal unity
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Political conditions
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Elections
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Political parties, leaders, and status
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Leaders debates
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Government departments and structure
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Problems and limitations
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Canadian policy institutions
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Canadian political culture and ideology
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Globalization
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Political parties and other policy actors
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Social welfare and economic security policy
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State-Society relations and macroeconomic policy
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Electoral system and voting
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Executive and bureaucracy
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Legislature
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Judiciary
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