Lesson 16: Types of Government

Key Vocabulary

• Democracy: A government system where people vote to choose their leaders. In a democracy, the citizens have the power to make decisions about their country by voting for representatives.

• Autocracy: A type of government where one person has all the power. This leader makes decisions without asking the people.

• Monarchy: A government ruled by a king, queen, or emperor. Power is usually passed down through family, and the monarch may have real power or just be a figurehead.

• Republic: A system of government where people choose their leaders through elections. Unlike a monarchy, there is no king or queen, and the leaders must follow rules set by the people.

• Constitution: A set of important laws that explain how a country is run. It protects people's rights and explains what the government can and cannot do.

• Prime Minister: The head of the government in countries like Canada. The Prime Minister is the leader who makes decisions and runs the country, chosen by elected representatives.

• Federalism: A system where power is shared between the central government and smaller areas like provinces or states. In Canada, the federal government works with provincial governments to make decisions.

• Circumpolar Region: Countries located near or in the Arctic Circle, such as Canada, Russia, and Norway.

• Pacific Rim: Countries that are around the Pacific Ocean, like Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

Canada's Government System

Canada has a unique type of government that combines two systems: a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Let’s break these down to understand how they work.

Constitutional Monarchy

In a constitutional monarchy, there is a king or queen (called the monarch) who is the official head of state, but they do not make the laws or run the government. Instead, they mostly have a ceremonial role. The monarch of Canada is also the monarch of the United Kingdom, but their powers are very limited in both countries. The rules for how the monarch can act are written in the Constitution, which is the highest law in the country.

Parliamentary Democracy

In a parliamentary democracy, the people vote for representatives to speak and make decisions on their behalf. In Canada, these elected representatives meet in Parliament, where they debate and pass laws. The leader of the government is the Prime Minister, who is chosen from the elected representatives. The Prime Minister is the most powerful person in the Canadian government, making important decisions and leading the country.

How Does Canada's Government Work?

Canada’s government is divided into two levels: federal and provincial. The federal government looks after things that affect the whole country, like immigration, national defense, and foreign policy. The provincial governments take care of things that are important to their region, like education and healthcare.

1. The Monarch: The King or Queen is Canada’s official head of state but doesn’t have any real power. Their role is mostly ceremonial, like giving royal assent to laws.

2. The Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the head of government and makes most of the decisions for the country. They are chosen by elected members of Parliament from the political party with the most seats.

3. The Governor General: The Governor General represents the monarch in Canada. They perform ceremonial duties, like opening Parliament and giving royal approval to new laws.

4. Members of Parliament (MPs): These are the people that Canadians vote for during elections. They represent the people in their communities and help make laws.

5. Elections: Every four years, Canadian citizens over the age of 18 vote in elections to choose their MPs. The political party with the most elected MPs forms the government, and their leader becomes the Prime Minister.

Indigenous Governance in Canada

Canada also recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples to govern themselves in certain areas. For example, the creation of Nunavut was an important moment for Indigenous governance. In Nunavut, many decisions are made by local leaders who follow their traditions and laws, while still being part of Canada’s federal system. This shows how Canada’s government system can include different forms of governance.

Government Systems in Circumpolar Countries

The circumpolar region includes countries near the Arctic Circle, such as Russia, Norway, and Greenland (part of Denmark). Each of these countries has its own way of governing, and their systems are different from Canada’s in some interesting ways.

Russia: Semi-Presidential Republic

Russia’s government is called a semi-presidential republic, which means that power is shared between a President and a Prime Minister. The President has a lot of power and is responsible for big decisions like national security and foreign relations. The Prime Minister helps run the day-to-day operations of the government.

• Current President: Vladimir Putin

• How the Government Works: The people of Russia vote for the President, but the President has the most control over government decisions, much more than in Canada. The Prime Minister of Russia is appointed by the President.

• Comparison to Canada: Unlike Canada, where the Prime Minister is elected by the Parliament, Russia’s President has much more control. In Canada, power is shared more equally between different parts of the government, while in Russia, the President is very powerful.

Norway: Constitutional Monarchy and Parliamentary Democracy

Norway, like Canada, is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. This means that Norway has a king who acts as the head of state, but the government is actually run by elected officials, just like in Canada.

• Current Monarch: King Harald V

• Prime Minister: The leader of the government is the Prime Minister, elected by Norway’s parliament.

• Elections: In Norway, elections are held every four years, and the Prime Minister is chosen from the party that wins the most seats in parliament. One key difference is that Norway uses proportional representation for elections, meaning that seats in parliament are given based on the percentage of votes a party gets.

• Comparison to Canada: Both Norway and Canada have a parliamentary democracy, but Canada uses a first-past-the-post voting system, where the candidate with the most votes in each area wins. Norway’s system makes sure that the number of seats each party gets reflects the number of votes they received.

Greenland (Part of Denmark): Self-Governing Territory

Greenland is part of Denmark but has self-rule, meaning that it governs itself in most areas except for things like foreign affairs and defense, which Denmark controls. Greenland’s government is a parliamentary democracy, and the people elect their leaders to make decisions for them.

• Government System: Greenland has its own Prime Minister, who is chosen by the elected parliament. The parliament makes decisions about Greenland’s internal matters, such as education and healthcare.

• How the Government Works: Although Greenland governs itself, it is still officially part of Denmark. Denmark oversees issues like defense and international relations, but Greenland controls most other areas of government.

• Comparison to Canada: Greenland’s self-government is similar to how Nunavut in Canada operates. Nunavut has a lot of control over its local matters, but it is still part of Canada and follows federal laws. Both Greenland and Nunavut show how self-government can work within a larger country.

Government Systems in Pacific Rim Countries

The Pacific Rim includes countries that are near or on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries have different types of governments, and we can compare them to how Canada is run.

Japan: Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary Government

Japan has a constitutional monarchy, like Canada, but with some differences. In Japan, the Emperor is the official head of state, but the role is completely ceremonial, meaning the Emperor has no real political power. The government is run by elected leaders.

• Emperor of Japan: The Emperor is a symbol of the country but doesn’t get involved in making laws.

• Prime Minister: The government is led by the Prime Minister, who is chosen by elected representatives in Japan’s parliament, called the National Diet.

• How the Government Works: Japanese citizens vote in elections to choose members of the Diet. The Prime Minister is selected from the party that has the most seats in the Diet, just like in Canada.

• Comparison to Canada: Both Japan and Canada are constitutional monarchies with parliamentary democracies. The biggest difference is that Japan’s Emperor has no role in government, while Canada’s monarch has some ceremonial duties (like approving laws). Another difference is Japan’s voting system, which uses a mix of first-past-the-post (like Canada) and proportional representation (like Norway).

Australia: Federal Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy

Australia’s government is very similar to Canada’s. It is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, meaning it has a king or queen as the head of state and elected officials who run the government.

• Current Monarch: The same as Canada’s monarch, King Charles III.

• Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the leader of the government and is chosen by members of Australia’s parliament.

• Federal System: Like Canada, Australia is a federal country. This means the government is split into two levels: the federal government (which handles things like defense and immigration) and state governments (which handle things like education and healthcare).

• Comparison to Canada: Australia’s government is very similar to Canada’s in many ways. Both countries share the same monarch and have a federal system. However, Australia’s states have more power in certain areas compared to Canada’s provinces, and their voting system for electing representatives differs slightly.

New Zealand: Parliamentary Democracy and Constitutional Monarchy

New Zealand also has a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy, like Canada and Australia. The monarch is the official head of state, but the government is run by elected leaders.

• Current Monarch: The same as Canada’s monarch, King Charles III.

• Prime Minister: The Prime Minister is the head of the government and is chosen by members of New Zealand’s parliament.

• Mixed-Member Proportional System: New Zealand has a unique voting system called mixed-member proportional representation, where people vote for both a party and a local representative. This makes sure the number of seats each party gets in parliament reflects the percentage of votes they received.

• Comparison to Canada: New Zealand shares a monarch with Canada, but its voting system is different. Canada uses first-past-the-post, where the candidate with the most votes wins. New Zealand’s system ensures that parties get seats in parliament based on how many votes they get overall, which can lead to more balanced representation.

Comparing Canada’s Government to Other Systems

Now that we’ve learned about the government systems in circumpolar and Pacific Rim countries, let’s compare them to how things work in Canada. Although many countries share some similarities with Canada’s government, there are also important differences in how leaders are chosen, how laws are made, and how power is divided.

Similarities to Other Countries

Many countries, like Norway, Australia, and New Zealand, have systems that are very similar to Canada’s. Here are a few ways they are alike:

• Constitutional Monarchy: Just like in Canada, countries like Norway, Australia, and New Zealand have a monarch (a king or queen) as the ceremonial head of state. These monarchs don’t make laws or run the government. Instead, elected leaders do that.

• Parliamentary Democracy: In all of these countries, the government is run by elected representatives who meet in a parliament. The leader of the government (the Prime Minister) is chosen from the political party that wins the most seats in parliament.

• Federalism: Countries like Australia and Canada divide power between different levels of government. In Canada, the federal government shares power with the provinces, while in Australia, it shares power with the states. This makes sure that both the central government and local governments have control over certain things.

Key Differences

Even though Canada’s government is similar to those of many countries, there are some important differences:

• Russia: Russia has a semi-presidential republic, where the President has a lot more power than the Prime Minister. In Canada, the Prime Minister is the most powerful leader, and power is more balanced between different parts of the government.

• Voting Systems: Canada uses a first-past-the-post voting system, where the candidate with the most votes in an area wins a seat in parliament. Countries like Norway and New Zealand use proportional representation systems, which means the number of seats a party gets in parliament is based on the percentage of votes they receive. This can lead to more balanced representation, as even smaller parties get some seats.

• Indigenous Governance: Canada stands out because it works to include Indigenous governance within its system. For example, Nunavut has a special government that gives more power to Indigenous people living there. Other countries, like New Zealand, also recognize Indigenous rights and have systems that include Indigenous decision-making, but Canada’s approach to Indigenous governance is unique.

How Canada Stands Out

Canada’s government system is special in the way it combines different elements. It is a constitutional monarchy, but the monarch has very limited power. It is also a federal system, meaning that provinces have control over important areas like healthcare and education. One of the most unique aspects of Canada’s system is how it tries to respect and integrate Indigenous governance. This gives Indigenous groups the ability to have a say in how they are governed while still being part of Canada’s larger federal system.

Case Study: Indigenous Governance in Canada and New Zealand

Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of a country, and they often have their own ways of governing and making decisions. In countries like Canada and New Zealand, Indigenous governance plays an important role. These countries have worked to include Indigenous peoples in their government systems, but they do this in different ways.

Indigenous Governance in Canada

In Canada, there are many different Indigenous groups, such as the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit. Each of these groups has its own cultures, traditions, and ways of making decisions. Canada recognizes the importance of allowing Indigenous peoples to govern themselves in certain areas. This is known as self-government.

One example of Indigenous self-government is in Nunavut, a territory in northern Canada. Nunavut was created in 1999 to give the Inuit people more control over their land and their government. In Nunavut, many of the decisions are made by local Inuit leaders, although the territory is still part of Canada and follows Canadian laws. This balance allows the Inuit to preserve their culture and traditions while working with the federal government.

Canada also has treaties and agreements with many Indigenous groups. These treaties recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples to make decisions about their land, resources, and communities. Indigenous governance in Canada is an important part of the country’s overall system, and it helps ensure that Indigenous voices are heard in decisions that affect them.

Indigenous Governance in New Zealand

In New Zealand, the Indigenous people are the Māori, who have lived in the country for thousands of years. The Māori also have a strong system of self-government, and New Zealand recognizes their rights through the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840. This treaty is a formal agreement between the British Crown and Māori chiefs, which promised to protect Māori land and give them the right to govern themselves.

Today, the Māori have representatives in New Zealand’s parliament and are involved in decisions about their land and culture. The Treaty of Waitangi plays a big role in how the government works with Māori communities. It allows them to have a say in how New Zealand is run and protects their rights as the original people of the land.

Comparing Canada and New Zealand

Both Canada and New Zealand have worked to include Indigenous governance in their systems, but they do this in different ways. In Canada, Indigenous groups often have self-government through treaties and agreements, like the creation of Nunavut for the Inuit people. In New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi is the main agreement that ensures the Māori people have a role in governance.

Both countries show how Indigenous peoples can be included in modern government systems while still keeping their traditions and ways of life. This is important because it helps protect Indigenous cultures and ensures that their voices are part of the decision-making process.

Conclusion

Throughout this lesson, we’ve explored the different types of governments around the world, focusing on the circumpolar and Pacific Rim countries. We’ve learned about how countries like Canada, Russia, Norway, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand govern themselves, and how these systems compare to Canada’s government.

Key Takeaways

• Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, with a monarch as the ceremonial head of state and elected officials who make laws and run the government.

• Many countries, like Australia and Norway, have similar systems to Canada, with a monarch and a parliament, but some differences, like the way they vote or divide power.

• In other countries, like Russia, power is more centralized, with the President holding more control compared to Canada's system, where power is balanced between different parts of the government.

• We also saw how countries like Greenland (part of Denmark) and Nunavut in Canada give more self-government to Indigenous peoples, allowing them to make decisions about their own land and communities.

Why This Matters

Understanding different types of governments helps us see how leaders make decisions that affect people’s lives. It also helps us appreciate the way Canada’s system works and how it compares to others around the world. Every country has its own way of doing things, and by learning about these systems, we can become more informed about the world and think critically about how governments should serve their people.

Reflecting on Canada’s Government

Canada’s government is unique because it combines a monarchy with a democracy and includes the voices of Indigenous peoples. It’s important to think about how this system affects our daily lives, from how laws are made to how services like healthcare and education are provided. We also see that other countries have different systems that work for their people, and understanding these differences helps us become more engaged and informed citizens.