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Government
Type:
Federation with
Parliamentary Democracy |
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Capital:
Ottawa |
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Administrative Divisions:
10 provinces
and 3 Union Territories, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba,
New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia,
Nunayut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan,
Yukon Territory. |
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Independence:
1 July 1867
(from UK) |
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National
Holiday:
Canada Day, 1 July (1867) |
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Constitution:
17 April
1982(Constitution Act), originally, the machinery of government
was set up in the British North American Act of 1867, charter of
rights and unwritten customs. |
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Legal
System:
based on
English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system
based on French law prevails, accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with rest reservations. |
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Suffrage:
18 years of
age: universal |
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Executive
Branch:
Chief
of State:
Queen Elizabeth
II(since 1952), represented by Governor General Romeo Le
BLANC(since 8 February 1995) |
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Head of
Government:
Prime Minister Jean
CHRETIEN(since 4 November 1993) |
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Cabinet:
Federal
Ministry chosen by the Prime Minister from among the members of
his own party sitting in Parliament |
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Elections:
None, the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for five-year
term, following legislative elections, the leaders of the
majority party in the House of Commons is automatically
designated by the Governor General to become the Prime Minister. |
Legislative
Branch:
Bicameral
Parliament or Parliament consist of the Senate or Senat
(a body whose members are appointed to serve until reaching 75
years of age by the Governor General and selected on the advice
of the Prime Minister : its normal limit is 104 senators) and
the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301 seats, members
elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections; House of Commons - last held 2 June 1997 (next to be
held by NA June 2002) |
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Judicial
Branch:
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Prime Minister
through the Governor General. |
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Political
Parties and Leaders:
Liberal party
[Jean CHRETIEN], Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE], Reform Party
[Preston MANNING], New Democratic Party [Alexa MCDONOUGH],
Progressive Conservative Party [Joe CLARK]. |
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Flag
Description:
three vertical
bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square) and red
with a red maple leaf centered in the white band. |
