Difference between revisions of "Fundamentals of Canadian Law"

Canadians vote for people to represent us in government. The people who get the most votes become our elected representatives. It is their job to make the laws.

When Canadians vote, we give consent to the <span class="noglossary">party</span> that wins the ''<span class="noglossary">election</span>'' to make our laws.

The elected politicians can propose new laws or bills. A "bill" is what a law is called before it becomes a law. These bills are debated in <span class="noglossary">order</span> to decide whether or not they should become laws. The goal of the debate is to explore all possible effects of a bill, both good and bad. After the debate there is a vote. If the majority of our elected representatives vote for the bill, it can become a law.

===Changing the laws===

If you want a law to change, you can work with other Canadians to seek change through peaceful means. Canadians write letters, organize political protests, work with  political  parties, or join groups of people who have the same ideas as they do. Working in this way, groups may succeed in persuading  the government to change a law. Changing a law takes a lot of time and work but Canadians believe that slow, peaceful change is best.

To vote in any <span class="noglossary">election</span> you must:

*be a Canadian citizen,

*be at least 18 years old on <span class="noglossary">election</span> day, and

*be on the voters’ list.

 

To vote in a BC <span class="noglossary">election</span>, you must have lived in the province for the six months before voting day. To find out how to get on the voters list for a federal <span class="noglossary">election</span>, go to Elections Canada, online at [http://www.elections.ca www.elections.ca].

==Levels of government==

In Canada there are three levels of government: ''federal'', ''provincial'', and ''municipal''. The Canadian constitution describes what the federal government is responsible for, and what the provincial governments are responsible for. The provincial governments can give some of their responsibilities to the municipalities.

We have a federal government for the whole country. It is called the Government of Canada. The elected representatives of the federal government are Members of Parliament, often called MPs. They meet in Ottawa. The leader of the federal government is called the Prime Minister.

The Parliament in Ottawa has two sections: the House of Commons and the Senate. The House of Commons is where Members of Parliament debate and vote in <span class="noglossary">order</span> to make laws. The purpose of the Senate is to <span class="noglossary">review</span> proposed laws to make sure they are the best they can be.

British Columbia, like other provinces, has a provincial government. In BC the elected ''representatives'' of the provincial government are Members of the ''Legislative Assembly'', often called MLAs. They meet at the legislature in Victoria. The leader of the provincial government is called the Premier.

We also have local government in our cities and towns. The elected representatives are called councilors. They meet at City Hall or Town Hall. The leader of the municipal government is called the Mayor.

The federal government has the power to make laws that affect the whole country. Examples are citizenship and immigration laws and criminal laws.  

Provincial governments, such as the Province of British Columbia, have the power to make laws that apply only in that province. Examples are landlord and tenant laws, and laws about employment.  

Municipalities, cities and towns have the power to make local laws about such things as streets, parking and noise. The laws for municipalities, cities and towns are called ''bylaws''.

 

 

 

{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}