to changes in legislation or government policy.
from groups and individuals who would be
The Senate usually does this kind of work far
34
The Institutions of Our Federal Government
more cheaply than Royal Commissions or task
at least as many members in the Commons
forces because its members are paid already
as it had in the Senate before 1982. The
and it has a permanent staff at its disposal.
constituencies vary somewhat in size, within
prescribed limits.
The House of Commons
Political Parties
The House of Commons is the major law-
making body. In each of the country?s
Our system could not work without political
308 constituencies, or ridings, the candidate
parties. Our major and minor federal parties
who gets the largest number of votes is elected
were not created by any law, though they are
to the House of Commons, even if his or her
now recognized by the law. We, the people,
vote is less than half the total. The number
have created them ourselves. They are voluntary
of constituencies may be changed after every
associations of people who hold broadly similar
10-year census, pursuant to the Constitution
opinions on public questions.
and the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act
which allot parliamentary seats roughly on the
The party that wins the largest number of
basis of population. Every province must have
seats in a general election ordinarily forms the
ogan
y Gro
liament/Rar
y of Par
o: Libr
Phot
The House of Commons in session.
The Institutions of Our Federal Government
35
How Canadians Govern Themselves
government. Its leader is asked by the Governor
the same salary as a minister. The leader of any
General to become prime minister. If the
party that has at least 12 seats also gets a higher
government in offi
ce before an election comes
salary than an ordinary member of the House
out of the election without a clear majority,
of Commons.
it has the right to meet the new House of
Commons and see whether it can get enough
Each of these recognized parties ? including
support from the minor parties to give it a
the government and the offi
cial Opposition ?
majority. This happened in 1925?26, 1962, 1965,
gets public money for research.
1972, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Why? Because we want criticism, we want
The second largest party (or the largest party
watchfulness, we want the possibility of an
in the instance when the government in offi
ce
eff ective alternative government if we are
does not win the highest number of seats
displeased with the one we have. The party
but is able to form a government with the
system refl ects the waves of opinion as they rise
support of minor parties) becomes the offi
cial
and wash through the country. There is much
Opposition and its leader becomes the person
