Parliament of Canada

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The Parliament of Canada (French: Parlement du Canada ) is the federal legislature of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the capital city of Ottawa, Ontario. It is a bicameral institution, composed of the Senate and the House of Commons. The Parliament is responsible for making laws, representing the Canadian people, and overseeing the government.

Structure

The Parliament of Canada consists of three parts:

• The Monarch, represented by the Governor General
• The Senate
• The House of Commons

Monarch

The Monarch is the ceremonial head of state and is represented in Canada by the Governor General. The current monarch is Charles III, and the current Governor General is Mary Simon.

Senate

The Senate is the upper house of Parliament. It consists of 105 members who are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators represent regions, provinces, and territories of Canada.

House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of Parliament. It consists of 338 members who are elected by the Canadian public in federal elections using a first-past-the-post voting system. Members of the House of Commons are known as Members of Parliament (MPs).

Functions

The main functions of the Parliament of Canada include:

• Making laws
• Representing the Canadian people
• Overseeing the government

Legislative Process

The legislative process in the Parliament of Canada involves several stages: 1. **First Reading**: Introduction of a bill in either the Senate or the House of Commons. 2. **Second Reading**: Debate on the principle of the bill. 3. **Committee Stage**: Detailed examination, debate, and amendment of the bill by a parliamentary committee. 4. **Report Stage**: Consideration of the committee's report and further amendments. 5. **Third Reading**: Final debate and vote on the bill. 6. **Senate Consideration**: If the bill passes the House of Commons, it is sent to the Senate for a similar process. 7. **Royal Assent**: Once both houses pass the bill, it is sent to the Governor General for royal assent and becomes law.

Related Pages

• Parliament Hill
• Prime Minister of Canada
• Governor General of Canada
• Senate of Canada
• House of Commons of Canada
• Members of Parliament (Canada)
• Federal elections in Canada
• Legislation