royal summons; no house of Parliament (or
are appointed; in Quebec, they must reside,
legislature) is equipped with a self-starter. No
or have their property qualifi cation, in the
federal or provincial bill becomes law without
particular one of Quebec?s 24 senatorial districts
Royal Assent. The monarch has, on occasion,
for which they are appointed. Till 1965, they
given the assent personally to federal acts, but
held offi
ce for life; now, they hold offi
ce until
the assent is usually given by the Governor
age 75 unless they miss two consecutive sessions
General or a deputy, and to provincial acts by
of Parliament. Since 2006, the government has
the lieutenant-governor or an administrator.
introduced bills on several occasions proposing
a constitutional amendment that would limit
The Governor General and the lieutenant-
the tenure of new senators to eight years.
governors have the right to be consulted by
their ministers, and the right to encourage or
The Senate can initiate any bills except bills
warn them. But they almost invariably must act
providing for the expenditure of public money
on their ministers? advice, though there may be
or imposing taxes. It can amend or reject any
very rare occasions when they must, or may, act
bill whatsoever. It can reject any bill as often as
without advice or even against the advice of the
it sees fi t. No bill can become law unless it has
ministers in offi
ce.
been passed by the Senate.
The Institutions of Our Federal Government
33
How Canadians Govern Themselves
lerwo
c Far
liament/Mar
y of Par
o: Libr
Phot
The Senate in session.
In theory these powers are formidable. But the
aff ected by the particular bill under review. This
Senate rarely rejects a bill passed by the House
committee work is especially eff ective because
of Commons, and has very rarely insisted on
the Senate has many members with specialized
an amendment that the House of Commons
knowledge and long years of legal, business or
rejected. In other cases, the Senate has simply
administrative experience. Their ranks include
not adopted bills before the end of a session,
ex-ministers, ex-premiers of provinces, ex-
thereby eff ectively stopping them from
mayors, eminent lawyers and experienced
becoming law.
farmers.
Most of the amendments the Senate makes
In recent decades, the Senate has taken on
to bills passed by the Commons are clarifying
the task of investigating important public
or simplifying amendments, and are almost
concerns such as health care, national security
always accepted by the House of Commons.
and defence, aboriginal aff airs, fi sheries,
The Senate?s main work is done in its
and human rights. These investigations have
committees, where it goes over bills clause by
produced valuable reports, which have often led
clause and hears evidence, often voluminous,
