Senate of Canada

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CAsenate

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Senate of Canada Sénat du Canada
44th Canadian Parliament
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Type
Type	Upper house of the [[Parliament of Canada]]
History
Founded	1867
Leadership
Speaker	George Furey
Representative of the Government in the Senate	Marc Gold
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate	Donald Plett
Structure
Seats	105
Elections
Voting system	Appointment by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister
Last election	N/A
Meeting place
Senate of Canada Building, Ottawa, Ontario
Website
Senate of Canada

The Senate of Canada (French: Sénat du Canada ) is the upper house of the Parliament of Canada, which also comprises the House of Commons and the Sovereign. The Senate is modeled after the House of Lords of the United Kingdom and serves as a chamber of "sober second thought," providing a final check on the legislation passed by the House of Commons.

History

The Senate was established in 1867 under the British North America Act, 1867, now known as the Constitution Act, 1867. It was created to provide regional representation and to review legislation passed by the House of Commons.

Composition

The Senate is composed of 105 members who are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators must be at least 30 years old, own property worth at least $4,000 in the province for which they are appointed, and reside in that province. Senators may serve until the age of 75.

Functions

The primary function of the Senate is to review and revise legislation proposed by the House of Commons. The Senate also has the power to introduce its own bills, except for money bills, which must originate in the House of Commons. Additionally, the Senate conducts investigations into national issues and provides a forum for regional representation.

Committees

The Senate operates several committees that focus on specific areas such as finance, legal and constitutional affairs, and social affairs, science and technology. These committees play a crucial role in examining legislation and conducting in-depth studies on various issues.

Criticisms and Reforms

The Senate has faced criticism over the years for being undemocratic due to its appointed nature. Various reforms have been proposed, including electing senators, imposing term limits, and changing the appointment process. However, significant reforms have yet to be implemented.

Related Pages

• Parliament of Canada
• House of Commons of Canada
• Governor General of Canada
• Prime Minister of Canada
• Constitution Act, 1867
• Senate reform in Canada
• House of Lords