Canada is a constitutional monarchy with a federal system, a parliamentary government,
and strong democratic traditions. Many of the country's legal practices are based
on unwritten custom, but the federal structure resembles the U.S. system. The
1982 Charter of Rights guarantees basic rights in many areas.
Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, serves as a symbol of the nation's
unity. She appoints a governor general, who serves as her representative in Canada,
on the advice of the prime minister of Canada, usually for a 5-year term. The
prime minister is the leader of the political party in power and is the head of
the cabinet. The cabinet remains in office as long as it retains majority support
in the House of Commons on major issues.
Canada's parliament consists of an elected House of Commons and an appointed
Senate. Legislative power rests with the 301-member Commons, which is elected
for a period not to exceed 5 years. The prime minister may ask the governor general
to dissolve parliament and call new elections at any time during that period.
Federal elections were last held in November 2000. Vacancies in the 104-member
Senate, whose members serve until the age of 75, are filled by the governor general
on the advice of the prime minister. Recent constitutional initiatives have sought
unsuccessfully to strengthen the Senate by making it elective and assigning it
a greater regional representational role.
Criminal law, based largely on British law, is uniform throughout the nation
and is under federal jurisdiction. Civil law is also based on the common law of
England, except in Quebec, which has retained its own civil code patterned after
that of France. Justice is administered by federal, provincial, and municipal
Each province is governed by a premier and a single, elected legislative chamber.
A lieutenant-governor appointed by the governor general represents the Crown in
Principal Government Officials
Head of State--Queen Elizabeth II
Governor General--Adrienne Clarkson
Prime Minister--Jean Chretien
Minister of Foreign Affairs--William Graham
Ambassador to the United States--Michael Kergin
Ambassador to the United Nations--Paul Heinbecker
Canada maintains an embassy in the United States at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW, Washington, DC 20001 (tel. 202-682-1740).