Though whats up there are many similarities between the politics of Canada and the politics of the United States, there are also important differences. Many of the differences and similarities were the foundation for debates in the 19th century about how "republican" or even Americanized Canada should become.^[1] Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm (see Monarchy in Canada) with a federal system of parliamentary government, and strong democratic traditions. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties/Parishes/Boroughs, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      Politics of the United States takes place in a framework of a presidential... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ...

Key among the differences are Canada's use of the parliamentary system rather than the US congressional system, related differences regarding the separation of powers and powers of the head of government (President vs. Prime Minister), and the much greater American role of a written Constitution (as interpreted by the Supreme Court). Both nations have a federalist system with strong powers controlled by the states/provinces. Canada lacks the historic commitment to republicanism that characterizes American political values, though the differences have been lessening due to political reforms. The US lacks the commitment to biculturalism characteristic of Canada, though this difference has been lessening due to a fast-growing Spanish-speaking population. Overall, both nations have a very similar system of political, cultural and social values. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... A presidential system, or a congressional system, is a system of government of a republic where the executive branch is elected separately from the legislative. ... It has been suggested that Balance of powers be merged into this article or section. ... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ...

Origin of differences

There is much discussion, particularly in academic circles, of the differences and similarities between US and Canadian politics. There are a number of explanations for why Canadian and US politics are different:

American Revolution and republicanism

Christie notes, "Until recently influential historians of early Upper Canada have sought to highlight a single climate of opinion which was antidemocratic, anti-American, and wholly prescribed by the conservative values of the political and social elite. This uniform portrayal...has been challenged by Jane Errington's The Lion, the Eagle, and Upper Canada." According to these authors, Canada and the U.S. shared many similar political values in 1776 regarding rights, then diverged, and now have started to converge to a common outlook on political rights and responsibilities. To the extent that antidemocratic elites blocked republicanism in Canada by suppressing revolts in 1837 and other points, there was divergence. Thus it is Errington's view that in the 20th century the deference to British elites and hierarchical modes of deference have fallen away in Canada. However, recent survey research conducted by Michael Adams and summarized in Fire and Ice (2003) tends to confirm continuing differences in American and Canadian political values[1]. Adams points to a "counter-revolutionary tradition" in Canadian politics, in contrast to the "revolutionary tradition" of the U.S. (Neidhardt, 2005). Michael Henry Adams, Canadian writer and researcher. ...

Some believe that the differences date to the American Revolution. This view was the dominant one in most of the studies of Canadian history. With the creation of the United States, the founders of that nation embraced republicanism and rejected the British monarchy, aristocracy and the Westminster system. In contrast, Loyalist refugees from the United States exerted a strong influence in Canada, bringing with them a degree of republicanism and democratic opposition to aristocracy. The Loyalist refugees were closely watched. Lieutenant-Governor Parr wrote, March 8, 1788, "Whatever Loyalty these Lawyers may have brought with them from the States, is so strong tinctured with a Republican Spirit; that if they meet with any encouragement it may be attended with dangerous consequences to this Province. One of them (Sterns) aims at being the Wilkes of Nova Scotia" (Clark, 132). The fears were exaggerated for the Loyalists who basically were loyal to the Crown, and sought a role in the British Empire. John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that... Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, with an emphasis on liberty, rule by the people, and the civic virtue practiced by citizens. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom and in the British overseas territories. ... The Houses of Parliament in London The Westminster system is a democratic, parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the United Kingdom system, as used in the Palace of Westminster, the location of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The republicanism that motivated the Americans stressed independence, innovation and the rejection of class systems, as well as fear of corruption and devotion to civic duty. Many Americans (led by Thomas Jefferson) feared a strong central government similar to Britain. Indeed the Jeffersonians repeatedly denounced their Federalist opponents like Alexander Hamilton for being too monarchical and undemocratic. Canada, whose Anglophone population included a large proportion of United Empire Loyalists chose a more pragmatic, non-ideological path. George Woodcock has argued (in The Century that Made Us: Canada 1814–1914) that Americans are revolutionaries, dedicated to an ideology they believe makes their country the best in the world and a beacon of democracy, while Canadians are rebels who want chiefly to be left alone with their own traditions and loyalties. Social class describes the relationships between people in hierarchical societies or cultures. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757–July 12, 1804) was an Army officer, lawyer, Founding Father, American politician, leading statesman, financier and political theorist. ... The name United Empire Loyalists is given to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War. ... George Woodcock (May 8, 1912 - January 28, 1995) was a Canadian writer. ... An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ...

The difference between the origins of the two nations is often said to be illustrated by the contrast between a key phrase in the American Declaration of Independence, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," and a key phrase in the Canadian 1867 constitution, "Peace, Order, and Good Government." U.S. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence is the document in which the Thirteen Colonies declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so. ...

Well over half the Nova Scotia settlers in 1776 were Yankees from New England. (Christie) When the militia refused to turn out to defend Nova Scotia against a possible Yankee invasion (which never came), one captain reported in late 1775 to the governor, "I made it my constant employment...to converse with Many of the Inhabitants of the several Townships through which I passed--in order to discover their Principles--Views --Sentiments--Wishes--Hopes & Fears. Very sorry am I to report on this occasion that their Principles are Republican. Their Views, to Subvert the English Constitution in this Province" (Clark, 61). Nor was republican sentiment limited to Nova Scotia, for as S. D. Clark reports, "The English-speaking residents of Montreal were prepared, in the spring of 1775, to go about as far in resisting British authority as were most of the residents of the other colonies" (Clark, 81). The term Yankee currently refers to people from or in New England; by extension it is applied to any resident of the Northeast (New England, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Great Lakes states), to any Northerner during and after the American Civil War, or to other citizens of the United States. ... This article is about the region in the United States of America. ...

Fragment thesis

The fragment thesis, first advocated by Louis Hartz and later applied by Gad Horowitz to Canada, argues that a nation's political culture is the product of the immigrants who formed that nation. Thus the American political tradition originates with those leaving Britain, either because of religious persecution or to pursue trade and make money. Neither of these groups was keen on powerful government and they were much affected by the writings of British political philosophers such as John Locke and the advocates of republicanism. By 1800 most of the English speakers in Canada were Loyalists who were defeated in the American Revolution and chose exile in British Canada rather than life in the new United States. They called themselves United Empire Loyalists. French Canada comprised peasants loyal to an autocratic monarchy and, especially, an authoritarian and highly traditional Catholic Church. Canada's population thus was originally far more conservative than the US. In the late 19th century, however, Canada was a destination of Eastern European socialists and British Fabians and trade union members who have given modern Canada a somewhat stronger leftist bent than the United States. Many of the American draft dodgers who arrived during the Vietnam War may also have contributed to Canada's anti-American political culture, although that contribution may well have consisted of replacing Canadian socialism's traditional class analysis with American identity politics. 1919-1986 Author of The Liberal Tradition in America and other works of political theory and political science. ... Gad Horowitz (b. ... This article is about John Locke, the English philosopher. ... Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, with an emphasis on liberty, rule by the people, and the civic virtue practiced by citizens. ... For the township in Canada, see Loyalist, Ontario In general, a loyalist is an individual who is loyal to the powers that be. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies that... The name United Empire Loyalists is given to those American Loyalists who resettled in British North America and other British Colonies as an act of fealty to King George III after the British defeat in the American Revolutionary War. ... The Fabian Society is a British socialist intellectual movement best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning in the late 19th century and then up to World War I. Similar societies exist in Australia and New Zealand. ... Their actions were criminal offences and once they had left the country draft dodgers could not return or they would be arrested. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

Laurentian thesis

The Laurentian thesis ascribes the differences between Canada and the United States to a period much earlier than the revolution. It argues that the differences are based on differing trade patterns. While the US' trade in its early years ran almost entirely north-south along the eastern seaboard, Canadian trade patterns ran east-west along the St. Lawrence River. This thesis was advocated by Donald Creighton. This dependence on one river led to the domination of Canada by Ontario and Quebec and the peripheralization of the Maritimes and the West. Categories: US geography stubs ... The Saint Lawrence River (French fleuve Saint-Laurent) is a large west-to-east flowing river in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. ... Donald Grant Creighton, CC, MA, BA (July 15, 1902 – December 19, 1979) was a noted Canadian historian. ...

Religious thesis

The religious thesis ascribes the differences between Canadian and American political cultures to the differing religious make up of the countries. The United States for most of its history was overwhelmingly radical Protestant, with most of its people belonging to churches that were evangelical and non-hierarchical. In Canada by contrast the Anglican Church dominated English Canada while the Roman Catholic Church dominated Quebec. Both of these churches were hierarchical in nature, leading, it is argued, to Canada's long standing predisposition to deference towards authority. In recent decades however, the Catholic Church in Quebec has grown much weaker, and Canadians have been seen as less deferential to authority than they had been in the past. Methodists moved in large numbers from the United States to Canada in the early years of the 19th century, causing some alarm among conservatives who feared they also brought republican and democratic ideals that threatened the hierarchical Canadian system. In 1827 Archdeacon Strachan's published his "Ecclesiastical Chart." He complained "the teachers of the different denominations . . . are for the most part from the United States, where they gather their knowledge and form their sentiments; indeed the Methodist teachers are subject to the orders of the Conference of the United States of America, and it is manifest that the Colonial Government [cannot] . . . prevent them from gradually rendering a large portion of the population . . . hostile to our institutions, both civil and religious." The Methodists finally cut their ties with the U.S. [Lower p. 183] English visitors were often shocked at the egalitarianism found in Canada. They decried "Republicanism", and the invasion of American attitudes. As Lower notes, the critics "rarely realized that equality was in the very essence of pioneer life." [Lower p. 202] The word evangelicalism usually refers to a broad collection of religious beliefs, practices, and traditions which are found among conservative Protestant Christians. ... The Anglican Communion is a world-wide organisation of Anglican Churches. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins to the original Christian community founded by Jesus Christ and led by the Twelve Apostles, in particular Saint Peter. ...

Meanwhile organized religion in the U.S. has retained enormous strength, but with a weakening of the more liberal denominations, and a strengthening of the more conservative fundamentalist, evangelical, Mormon and Catholic elements. Thus organized religion in Canada has weakened and become more liberal, while organized religion in America has strengthened and become more conservative -- to the extent, some argue (including Michael Adams in his recent book, "Fire and Ice") that Canadians today are less deferential to authority than are Americans.

Staples thesis

The staples thesis, introduced by Harold Innis argues that Canada became a distinct entity based upon the exploitation of certain staples by the Europeans. New France and then Canada until about 1800 was completely dependent upon the fur trade for its existence. Since it was dependent upon exports to Europe no revolutionary zeal took hold there. Innis argues that the borders of the fur trade very closely reflect the borders of modern Canada. The fur trade was eventually superseded by the timber trade and the wheat trade but the close links with Europe remained. The staples thesis is a theory of Canadian economic development. ... Harold Adams Innis (November 5, 1894-November 8, 1952) was a professor of political economy at the University of Toronto and the author of many seminal works on Canadian economic history and on media and communications. ... An Alberta fur trader in the 1890s. ... Timber in storage for later processing at a sawmill Timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use—from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use—as structural material for construction or wood... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. compactum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum T. timopheevii References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 For the indie rock group see: Wheat (band). ...

Court or Statist thesis

This thesis developed by Michigan State University professor Gordon T. Stewart in his book The Origins of Canadian Politics: a Comparative Approach argues that the differences in Canada's political culture stem from developments which occurred between 1760 and 1848 in the Canadas: sharp partisan battles, intense use of patronage, strong one-man dominance in party leadership, and a "statist" orientation. Responsible government in the central Canada came only after a "prolonged, violent and bitter struggle," unlike the maritime provinces or other British settler colonies. The struggle between Loyalist, British monarchical, and French-Canadian values led to a unique political culture. Michigan State University (MSU) is a public university in East Lansing, Michigan. ...

Division of powers

Both countries are federations. In Canada the sub-units are known as provinces and territories; in the United States they are known as states and territories. There is also one U.S. federal district — the District of Columbia. A map displaying todays federations. ... Federal districts are subdivisions of a federal system of government. ... ...

Between 1848 and 1854, a significant and articulate minority of conservatives in Upper Canada advocated constitutional changes modeled on the American federal-state system and the US Constitution. They critiqued Canada's imitation of British parliamentary government as both too democratic and too tyrannical. It destroyed the independence of the appointed governor and Legislative Council and further concentrated power in the Cabinet. This critique led many conservatives to argue that the American model of checks and balances offered Canada a more balanced and conservative form of democracy than did British parliamentary government. These "republican conservatives" debated a series of constitutional changes, including annexation to the United States, an elected governor, an elected Legislative Council, a federal union of British North America, and imperial federation, within this framework. These conservatives had accepted "government by discussion" as the appropriate basis for political order. A historiographical tradition that stresses the existence of a conservative, pro-British, and anti-American political culture in Upper Canada cannot do justice to the extent, thoughtfulness, and discerning nature of political debate in this period. [McNairn 1996]

Some consider the Canadian government to be more decentralized. Canada is one of the few countries in the world where the combined budgets of the provinces exceed that of the federal government, if one ignores transfer payments organized by the federal government. Canadian provinces are responsible for most of Canada's social safety net, including health care, welfare, and education. The social safety net is a term used to describe a collection of services provided by the state (such as welfare, universal healthcare, homeless shelters, and perhaps various subsidized services such as transit), which prevent any individual from falling into poverty beyond a certain level. ...

In the United States residuary or reserve power (i.e., power not enumerated in the constitution) is reserved to the states. Originally, Canadian residuary power was reserved to the federal government by the British North America Act, so that Canadian government was highly centralized. In 1896 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled that the federal government could exercise its residuary power only to safeguard "peace, order and good government". However, Prime Ministers as recent as Jean Chrétien have used such powers in milder forms, such as in the Black v. Chrétien case. The British North America Acts 1867–1975 are a series of Acts of the British Parliament dealing with the government of Canada. ... The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. ... In Canada, the phrase peace, order and good government (in French, paix, ordre et bon gouvernement), called POGG for short, is often used to describe the principles upon which that countrys Confederation took place. ... Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, usually known as Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ...

The British North America Acts had assigned property and civil rights to the provinces at a time when responsibility for these rights involved little more than regulating civil law. However, once the federal government lost its reserve power, new areas of government activity such as labour laws, pensions, and social insurance became the responsibility of the provinces, as regulators of civil rights, rather than of the federal government. Standards of social service soon varied widely from province to province. The British North America Acts 1867–1975 are a series of Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom dealing with the government of Canada, which was known as British North America until 1867. ... Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ...

In order to reduce these differences, national programs in fields of provincial jurisdiction, such as health care, have gradually been negotiated between the federal government and the provinces, and are coordinated by the federal government, which largely finances them through transfers to the provinces (chiefly the Canada Health and Social Transfer; territories receive an additional transfer to compensate for higher costs in the North). Provinces retain the option of raising their own taxes to pay part of these programs, although they may be unable to make use of this expedient for economic or other reasons. Provinces may also withdraw from these programs; Alberta has considered leaving the national health care program. Finally, provinces retain other powers in the areas covered by national programs. The Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) was a system of block transfer payments from the Canadian federal government to provincial governments to pay for health care, post_secondary education and welfare, in place from the 1996-97 fiscal year until the 2004-05 fiscal year. ... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [province]) Area Ranked...

The provinces have exclusive jurisdiction in many fields which are federal responsibilities in the United States. Primary and secondary education are the most prominent, each province's education system being unique, most noticeably in secondary education. Quebec is responsible for handling immigration into Quebec, and other provinces have the option of taking responsibility for immigration. Quebec also collects its own corporate and personal income taxes. (Other provinces have their personal income taxes collected by the federal government, and all but Alberta and Ontario have their corporate income taxes collected by the federal government.) Quebec runs a pension plan parallel to the Canada Pension Plan; other provinces also have these options. In the United States education is the sole responsibility of the states (although many public and private schools receive some federal funding) and all but seven states collect an income tax. Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program. ...

In the past, the Canadian federal government has periodically deducted health and social transfers to provinces which strayed from federal standards for health care and social programs. This has proven controversial in Canada, however by comparison the American federal government has used the threat of withholding federal highway funds in a much more aggressive manner, threatening to withdraw funding to any state which fails to enact various non-highway-related policies mandated by the federal government. In contrast, Canadian government threats to withdraw health and social funds have generally been done on rationale that is restricted to issues directly related to health care and social programs. Interstate Highways in the lower 48 states. ...

In the United States the federal government exerts a great deal of power but because of the checks and balances in the US system this control is often tempered by the different branches. While in Canada the criminal code is federal legislation, US states may make criminal laws, creating differences in everything from gun control measures to capital punishment. While each state has its own police force, unable by law to arrest in another state, several Canadian provinces contract with the federal police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, to provide provincial police services. The doctrine and practice of dispersing political power and creating mutual accountability between political entities such as the courts, the president or prime minister, the legislature, and the citizens. ... Mountie redirects here. ...

United States federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, become involved when criminal acts cross state juristicions. U.S. Federal law enforcement also work with the the state and local police forces concurrently where federal and state laws have been violated. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a federal criminal investigative, intelligence agency, and the primary investigative arm of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). ...

Legislature

The United States has a bicameral legislature made up of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Each state has equal representation in the Senate, regardless of population, and representation based on its population in the House of Representatives. American state governments are like smaller copies of the federal government—only Nebraska has a unicameral legislature; the rest are bicameral. Like the United States, Canada also has a bicameral legislature made up of the Queen, The Senate and the House of Commons. Canadian provinces had bicameral legislatures. Over time, however, they have eliminated their upper houses, and are now all unicameral. In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... Seal of the U.S. Senate Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      Senate composition following 2006 elections The United States Senate is... Seal of the House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ... The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, proclaimed by King George V, November 21, 1921. ... The Senate of Canada (French: Le Sénat du Canada) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the House of Commons. ... The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. ... Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber. ...

The Canadian Senate is also an unelected body that unlike the elected US Senate does not generally have a record of representing provincial interests. Seats in this Senate are allocated based on the relative equality of regions rather than individual provinces. It also acts as a body of review or "sober second thought". Canadian Senators tend to adopt a longer term view regarding legislation and has generally been more progressive in many ways than their elected counterpart the House of Commons. This is said to be because Canadian Senators have a term of office that ends only upon reaching the age of 75, or by their removal according to the Constitution of Canada. The Senate of Canada (French: Le Sénat du Canada) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the House of Commons. ... The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada. ...

Similarly, executive power is consistent between states and provinces and the federal government in both countries. American governors are similar in role to the American president. In Canada however, there is a separation between the Head of State (The Queen of Canada represented by her Governor General at the Federal level and Lieutenant-Governors at the provincial) and the Head of Government (Prime Minister at the federal level and Premiers at the provincial). While in the U.S., the president and each governor is both head of government and head of state simultaneously. The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, proclaimed by King George V, November 21, 1921. ... The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneure générale du Canada or Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative in Canada of the Canadian Monarch, who is Canadas Head of State; Canada is one of sixteen Commonwealth realms, all of which share a single... A Lieutenant Governor or Lieutenant-Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), is the Minister of the Crown who is head of the Government of Canada. ... In Canada, a Premier is the head of government of a province. ...

Provincial premiers are also comparable to the Canadian prime minister, as are Lieutenant-Governors to the Governor General of Canada. However, an additional difference between the American Executive offices and the Canadian is that the President of the United States of America is a separate office from those of the state governors. In Canada the executive authority in the right of Canada, as well as in the right of each province is vested in the monarch simultaneously. There is only one shared monarch, represented by the Governor General and Lieutenant-Governors repectively. The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The distinctions between "head of state" and "head of government" are not largely relevant in day-to-day governance in Canada, as the Governor General, Lieutenant-Governors, and Queen are largely symbolic figurehead offices. In the United States the Lieutenant Governors of states and the national Vice President often perform similar symbolic duties. What is relevant in the Canadian context, however, is how the reserve powers of the monarchical offices come to be exercised by the head of government directly, which in turn consolodates the power of the latter position. Forecastle with figurehead Grand Turk Figurehead is a carved wooden decoration, often female or bestiary, found at the prow of ships of the 16th to the 19th century. ... A Lieutenant Governor is a government official who is the subordinate or deputy of a Governor or Governor-General. ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... A reserve power is a power that may be exercised by the head of state of a country in certain exceptional circumstances. ... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ...

Many would consider the Canadian government to be highly centralized due to the fact that the Prime Minister's Office controls an inordinate amount of power within the government. Though the Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen of Canada, the Prime Minister is responsible for advice regarding the appointment of the Governor General, Cabinet, Supreme Court Justices of Canada, and the nomination of Canadian Senators. The Cabinet, as a committee, of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada may, by an act in council, also establish treaties, declare war, and is responsible for advice on the use of other executive powers by the Queen's representative (the Governor General). The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, proclaimed by King George V, November 21, 1921. ... The Prime Minister of Canada (French: Premier ministre du Canada), is the Minister of the Crown who is head of the Government of Canada. ... Michaëlle Jean, CC, CMM, COM, CD, DUniv (honoris causa), D.Litt (honoris causa) , (born September 6, 1957, in Port-au-Prince, Haïti) is the current Governor General of Canada. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... The Supreme Court of Canada (French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian justice system. ... The Privy Council Office as it appeared in the 1880s The Queens Privy Council for Canada (French: Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada) is the council of advisers to the Queen of Canada, whose members are appointed by the Governor General of Canada for life on the... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... The Governor General of Canada (French: Gouverneure générale du Canada or Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative in Canada of the Canadian Monarch, who is Canadas Head of State; Canada is one of sixteen Commonwealth realms, all of which share a single...

Municipal powers

In both nations municipalities have no constitutional rights independent of state or provincial government. That is they are "creatures of their province/state" and at any time the state legislature can intervene in local affairs. Provinces and states may thus merge and divide cities at will, without consultation, and may ignore results of any referendum at the municipal level. For details of a current controversy, see either the Toronto, Ontario article, and a discussion of the 1998 amalgamation by the Ontario government or Montreal, Quebec which was amalgamated in 2002 by the Quebec Government. Template:Hide = Motto: Template:Unhide = Diversity Our Strength Image:Toronto, Ontario Location. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 4th... This article needs cleanup. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water...

provincial powers and Quebec Canadian provinces may opt in or out of several national programs, especially those which are the results of federal-provincial negotiation. The province which has opted out of the most programs is Quebec. Quebec is primarily French-speaking and like Louisiana in the US, follows French civil law. Quebec's public pension and social insurance schemes are kept in separate funds from those of the rest of Canada, and are managed by the powerful Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which often provides investment capital to Quebec-based businesses that are deemed strategic by its government. Quebec also regulates immigration to its territory, and has refused entry to people who had been accepted by the federal government for immigration to Canada. Other provinces have the option of instituting systems like Quebec's, and governments of both Ontario and Alberta have expressed interest in doing so. Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Official languages French Government - Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault - Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 75 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 2nd - Total 1,542,056 km² - Water... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec manages public pension plans in the Canadian province of Québec. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 4th... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [province]) Area Ranked...

The politics of Quebec tend to revolve around the question of Quebec nationalism. On several occasions, this has led to debate about Quebec's separation from Canada, to create a new French-speaking, sovereign, nation state, associated in an economic union with Canada inspired by the European Union. The major provincial political parties in Quebec are divided on the question, often called the National Question in Quebec. The Parti Québécois is independentist, while the Liberal Party of Quebec is federalist. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Quebec nationalism is the subject of many international studies together with the contemporary nationalism of Scotland, Catalonia and other non-sovereign regions of the world. ... The Quebec sovereignty movement is a political movement aimed at attaining independent statehood (sovereignty) for the Canadian province of Quebec. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... A nation-state is a specific form of state, which exists to provide a sovereign territory for a particular nation, and which derives its legitimacy from that function. ... The Quebec sovereignty movement is a political movement aimed at attaining independent statehood (sovereignty) for the Canadian province of Quebec. ... In Quebec, the National Question (in French la Question nationale) is an expression referring to the reflexion over the status and autonomy of the Quebec State. ... The Parti Québécois (PQ) is a political party that advocates national sovereignty for the Canadian province of Quebec and secession from Canada, as well as social democratic policies and has traditionally had support from the labour movement. ... Quebec The Quebec sovereignty movement is a movement calling for the attainment of sovereignty for Quebec, a province of the country of Canada. ... The Parti libéral du Québec (Liberal Party of Quebec), or PLQ, is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Quebec. ... Quebec federalism, in regards to the future of the Quebec people, defends the concept of Quebec remaining within Canada as opposed to Quebec sovereigntism, proponent of Quebec independence (most often, but not for all followers, along with an economic union with Canada similar to the European Union). ...

There is no state in the United States, by contrast, where state politics is so dominated by a party with the goal of separation from the USA. Puerto Rico, which is a non-state commonwealth within the United States, shares some parallels with the Quebec situation, as its population is primarily Spanish-speaking (as opposed to the English-speaking USA). Nevertheless, at the last plebiscite, Puerto Ricans voted to remain a commonwealth, with that option narrowly getting more votes than the option of becoming a state, and with the option of political independence coming in a very distant third. In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a commonwealth is an organized territory that has established with the Federal Government a more highly developed relationship, usually embodied in a written mutual agreement. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Ballots of the Argentine plebiscite of 1984 on the border treaty with Chile A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita, originally a decree of the Concilium Plebis) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a commonwealth is an organized territory that has established with the Federal Government a more highly developed relationship, usually embodied in a written mutual agreement. ...

Equalization payments

Federal tax revenue contributes to an equalization fund which makes 'provincial equalization payments' to the poorer regions to ensure that comparable levels of service are provided throughout the country at comparable rates of taxation. Seven of the ten provinces currently receive such payments. British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta are the only provinces which do not. Equalization payments are cash payments made in some federal systems of government from the federal government to state or provincial governments with the objective of offsetting differences in available revenue (commonly referred to as fiscal disparities) or in the cost of providing services. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 4th... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [province]) Area Ranked...

The negotiations of provincial relief, and the draining of human capital (properly individual capital) from poorer provinces to richer ones, are constant concerns of Canadian provincial premiers. In the post-World-War-II period, Atlantic Canada lost many people to Central Canada (especially Ontario) and to Western Canada (to mostly Alberta in the 1970s and 80s oil boom, and to British Columbia later). Human capital is a way of defining and categorizing the skills and abilities as used in employment and as they otherwise contribute to the economy. ... Individual capital comprises inalienable or personal traits of persons, tied to their bodies and available only through their own free will, such as skill, creativity, enterprise, courage, capacity for moral example, non-communicable wisdom, invention or empathy, non-transferable personal trust and leadership. ... Central Canada, defined politically. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Latin: Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor James K. Bartleman - Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 106 - Senate seats 24 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area Ranked 4th... Motto: Fortis et liber(Latin) Strong and free Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Official languages English (see below) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong - Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 28 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (split from Northwest Territories) (8th [province]) Area Ranked... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km...

From time to time, Canadian premiers have made intolerant remarks about this situation in public. Former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein once famously offered any unemployed person "a free bus ticket to Vancouver" (to exploit that government's more generous assistance). Former Ontario Premier Mike Harris once famously referred to Atlantic Canada as "welfare bums". Both reflected underlying resentment of making payments to poorer regions, often voiced by constituents in the generally more politically conservative provinces, who feel they are paying for the social assistance in these other places. Ralph Phillip Klein MLA (born November 1, 1942), leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, is the current premier of the Canadian province of Alberta. ... Vancouver (pronounced: ) is a city in south-western British Columbia, Canada. ... Michael Deane Harris (born January 23, 1945, in Toronto, Ontario) was the twenty-second Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. ... The four Canadian Atlantic provinces. ...

Although these politics of 'have' and 'have-not' states are also present in the United States, there is less subsidy of the latter by the former, and more appreciation of the role 'have-not' states play in providing labor to 'have' states, and in serving in the military. Federal taxation and wealth transfers do redistribute wealth between the 'have' and 'have-not' states, but primarily on an individual basis rather than statewide. Differences in cost of living between wealthier and less wealthy states creates controversy, as an individual living in a wealthier state may be forced to subsidize a resident of a poorer state, despite having a lower real income (but higher nominal dollar income.) The dispute over the Alternative Minimum Tax is primarily related to this issue. A cost-of-living index measures differences in the price of goods and services over time. ... Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a tax system that is part of the federal income tax system in the United States. ...

Political parties

There are four political parties with seats in the Canadian House of Commons, and two in the US Congress. Both countries continue to use a first past the post system of electing representatives. This can sometimes work to exaggerate regional differences and interests, whether in the name of Quebec or of the southern "Dixiecrats". The rise of the Bloc Quebecois party and the decline of the Progressive Conservative party very drastically changed the political landscape of Canada. Before that, federal politics were dominated by two parties, as in the US; the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals, though the Liberals held power for the vast majority of the 20th century, and were commonly referred to as "Canada's natural governing party" as a result. The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... The plurality voting system, also known as first past the post, is a voting system used to elect a single winner in a given election. ...

The vote-splitting effect on the Canadian parliamentary system has often resulted in governments that have an absolute majority of representatives elected by far less than half of the overall popular vote, and effectively accountable to no one until the next election. For example, in the 1997 Canadian federal election the government of Jean Chrétien won a majority of seats in the House of Commons despite winning only 38 per cent of the popular vote. In the 1979 Canadian federal election Progressive Conservative Joe Clark won a minority government with a lead of 22 seats over Pierre Trudeau's Liberals, despite the Progressive Conservatives winning only 35.9 percent of the vote compared to the Liberal's 40.1%. However, the Tories had won the most votes in seven provinces and the difference was almost entirely due to the Liberals' strong lead in Quebec. These instances led some in Canada to demand proportional representation to create a more representative parliamentary system. In the United States, similar results can be produced by the presence of third parties or by the Electoral College. George W. Bush became president with fewer votes than his opponent, Al Gore, because he carried states with more Electoral College votes, while Bill Clinton became president with less than half the popular vote in 1992 and 1996 because of the presence of a strong third party. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... 36th Parliament The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, usually known as Jean Chrétien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ... The House of Commons after the 1979 election The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons. ... Charles Joseph Joe Clark, PC, CC, AOE, MA, LLD (born June 5, 1939) was the sixteenth prime minister of Canada, from June 4, 1979, to March 3, 1980. ... For other uses, see Pierre Elliott Trudeau (disambiguation). ... Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation, or PR), is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes that groups of candidates (grouped by a certain measure) obtain in elections and the percentage of seats they receive (usually in legislative assemblies). ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...

In both countries it is rare for individuals to get elected from outside of one of the main established parties. In Canada, because of the parliamentary system, independent candidates can rarely aspire to much influence in government, or aspire to any high executive office, although exceptions occur in cases of minority governments, as in 2005. Likewise, in the United States it is difficult for third parties or independents to be represented in the United States at any level below the presidency (this usually requires an exceptional personal popularity, such as Jesse Ventura in Minnesota, or great wealth, such as that of Ross Perot), third parties have played important roles in many presidential elections. Since the Second World War alone, parties led by Strom Thurmond, George Wallace, and Ross Perot have obtained significant percentages of the popular vote for the presidency. Other third parties which played important roles in post-World War II presidential elections were Strom Thurmond's Dixiecrats and George Wallace's American Independent Party. In more modern times, the rise of the Reform Party of H. Ross Perot in 1992, and the rise of the Green Party in 2000, could both be said to have 'split the vote' and thus exercised considerable influence. By contrast, new parties have been significantly influential in recent Canadian politics, with both the Reform Party and Bloc Québécois holding the status of Official Opposition (Canada) within a decade of their formation. Jesse Ventura (born July 15, 1951, as James George Janos), also known as the body, The Star, The Mind, and Governor Body, is an American politician, former professional wrestler, Navy UDT veteran, actor, and former radio and television talk show host. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ... Henry Ross Perot (born June 27, 1930) is a billionaire American businessman from Texas, who is best known for seeking the office of President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... James Strom Thurmond (December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) was an American politician who served as governor of South Carolina and as a United States Senator representing that state. ... George Corley Wallace, or officially George C. Wallace, Jr. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... James Strom Thurmond (December 5, 1902 – June 26, 2003) was an American politician who served as governor of South Carolina and as a United States Senator representing that state. ... The Dixiecrats were a white supremacist splinter-party of the Democratic Party in the mid-20th century who were determined to protect what they saw as the southern way of life against an oppressive United States federal government. ... George Corley Wallace, or officially George C. Wallace, Jr. ... The American Independent Party is a California political party. ... The Reform Party of the United States of America (abbreviated Reform Party USA or RPUSA) is a political party in the United States, founded by Ross Perot in 1995 who said Americans were disillusioned with the state of politics – as being corrupt and unable to deal with vital issues – and... Henry Ross Perot (born June 27, 1930) is an American businessman billionaire from Texas best known as a candidate for President of the United States (in 1992 and 1996). ... In United States politics, the Green Party has been active as a third party since the 1980s. ... The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party founded in 1987. ... The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... Her Majestys Loyal Opposition (French: LOpposition Loyale de Sa Majesté) in Canada is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the Canadian House of Commons that is not in government either on its own or as part of a governing coalition. ...

The four Canadian political parties currently represented in the House of Commons are:

• the Liberal Party of Canada which held power from 1993 until 2006
• the Conservative Party of Canada which won a minority government in 2006
• the Bloc Québécois which is an exclusively regional Quebec party
• the New Democratic Party which is similar to a European social-democratic party, with some 'green' elements, including strong affiliations with Canadian trade unions, the peace movement and ecology activists

Despite the fact that the Canada features more political parties than the United States, the political culture of both nations and the lack of proportional representation tends to encourage broad-based coalition parties, rather than more narrowly-divided ideological parties, as found in many European states. The separate existence of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Canadian Alliance party was widely criticized by many members of the Canadian political right as a needless division, and the two parties eventually agreed to merge in 2003. Red Tories however, maintained that the new party was more in the mould of the US Republican party than it was of the older Conservative tradition in Canada. The presence of the Red Tories and the NDP in Canadian politics remains the biggest key difference between Canadian and American political party culture, though it can be argued that views similar to those espoused by the NDP are held by a minority element of the Democratic Party, such as the "progressive" caucus. It is worth noting that the NDP has historically not held much influence at the national level, always placing a rather distant third (or more recently fourth) in national elections. Likewise, provinces in which the NDP has been elected to power, such as British Columbia and Saskatchewan usually feature only two standing political parties, thus making provincial NDP parties often more ideologically moderate than their federal counterpart. The Liberal Party of Canada (French: ), colloquially known as the Grits (originally Clear Grits), is a Canadian federal political party. ... The Conservative Party of Canada (French: Parti conservateur du Canada), colloquially known as the Tories, is a right-leaning conservative political party in Canada, formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in December 2003. ... The Bloc Québécois is a centre-left federal political party in Canada that is devoted to the promotion of sovereignty for Quebec. ... The New Democratic Party (NDP; Nouveau Parti démocratique in French) is a political party in Canada with a progressive social democratic philosophy that contests elections at both the federal and provincial levels. ... A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Canadian Alliance, formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance, was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Red Tory is a nickname given to a political tradition in Canadas conservative political parties. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Progressivism is a term that refers to a broad school of international social and political philosophies. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo - Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 36 - Senate seats 6 Confederation July 20, 1871 (6th province) Area Ranked 4th - Total 944,735 km... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: From many peoples strength) Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart - Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (Split from NWT) (9th (province)) Area Ranked 7th...

Both countries have generally seen a shift in ideology towards the center in recent years, especially among parties of the left. Both Clinton-era Democrats and Chrétien-era Liberals have moved to dominate the center of the political spectrum, at the expense of harder left factions. This strategy has provided great long-term success for the Liberal Party of Canada, but less so for the Democratic Party of the United States.

In the United States, splits in the solidarity of 'the right' and 'the left' have generally been rather temporary, and quickly re-formed by binding together new coalitions, despite a more distinctive and enduring "liberal vs. conservative" culture that tends to make American political culture more dualistic. However, one of the most important changes in American politics over the last 40 years has been the switch in allegiance of many Southern white voters from the Democrats to the Republicans.

Bureaucracy

A key and often unnoted difference between Canada and the United States is the role of professional bureaucrats. In Canada, as in the UK, very few appointed officials lose their jobs during a shift of government even to a new party. While the Prime Minister of Canada has power within his government, these powers do not extend to the unionized public service.

In the United States, by contrast, over 2500 jobs are direct appointments of the President of the United States, cabinet ministers need not be drawn from elected Members of Congress/Parliament, and "the whole top rank of every federal department is swept away and replaced" with each election. This is very different from the UK public service and Canadian public service situation, and creates very different dynamics, most notably in the conduct of Ministers vs. Secretaries: The Byzantine civil service in action. ...

A British or Canadian Minister is often in his or her job for a short time, not a specialist in the particular area of government, and must trust his or her Deputy Minister to convey his or her requests to the bureaucracy underneath.

An American Cabinet Secretary always takes one job for the duration of the Administration, unless they are replaced or resign from the government entirely, and must be confirmed by the Senate, a process considerably less automatic than in Canada since the Senate may be controlled by the opposition party. Cabinet Secretaries are generally specialists in their fields, and have great power to replace their assistants, which extends considerably farther down into the agencies they control than in Canada. Originally nearly all civil service positions were assigned by patronage. However, since the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, the majority of the civil service, especially at the lower levels, is appointed by merit and belongs to the American Federation of Government Employees labor union. These jobs of these employees, like in Canada, are not dependent upon election results. ... The United States Pendleton Act established the United States Civil Service Commission now called the Office of Personnel Management and placed most federal employees on the merit system and marked the end of the spoils system. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The American Federation of Government Employees is an American labor union representing over 600,000 employees of the federal government. ...

While there are plenty of globally-experienced Americans appointed by each President, they are of course different people, and tend not to be 'insiders' to international institutions, which engage in constant diplomatic and interest-group intrigue, requiring constant attention.

Centralization of power

In Canada the "checks and balances" are very different from those in the United States. It may be argued that the Prime Minister within Canada has vastly more power than the American President does. Since Canada's legislative and executive branches draw from one another, the Governor General (the representative of Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II) rarely exercises the real legal powers available. Such instances are usually brought on by, or the cause of, constitutional crisis' such as King-Byng Affair, the last instance of a Governor General actively and independently exercising power over a Canadian government. A Governor-General (in Canada always, and frequently in India prior to the abolition of the last monarchy, Governor General) is most generally a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above ordinary governors [1]. The most common contemporary usage of the term is to refer to the... The Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Canada, proclaimed by King George V, November 21, 1921. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... A constitutional crisis is a severe breakdown in the smooth operation of government. ... Mackenzie King requested a dissolution of Parliament. ...

In Canada the Prime Minister must always have the largest group of supporters in the Canadian House of Commons in order to retain her/his position, as a result the Prime Minister's Office maintains strict discipline over his/her party caucus. This control has been tightened since 1968 as governments have consolidated power in the Office of the Prime Minister. The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... A caucus is most generally defined as being a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. ... In Canada, the Office of the Prime Minister is one of the most powerful parts of the government. ...

In the United States there are often periods of cohabitation where Congress is controlled by a different party than the White House. The president also has very limited control over the members of congress and must often bargain and make deals for support there. On the other hand, the Prime Minister does not have the luxury of cohabitation. If a majority of the House of Commons votes against the government on a matter of confidence, the Prime Minister must resign or call an election. The Prime Minister of a minority government, therefore, is in a far more precarious position than any American president, whose term is guaranteed by law. The minority Clark government of 1979–80 is famous for having attempted to govern as if it held a majority in the House of Commons; it fell in nine months. Charles Joseph Joe Clark, PC, CC, AOE, MA, LLD (born June 5, 1939) was the sixteenth prime minister of Canada, from June 4, 1979, to March 3, 1980. ...

The centralization of power in Canada has certain benefits and certain liabilities when compared with the American system. A clear line of authority means it is very clear who in government is responsible for any given issue. Unlike in the US, the Prime Minister is wholly accountable for the economy, security and other national concerns. The rigid control of Members of Parliament in Canada also serves to discourage corruption and reduce the influence of money in on Canadian Members of Parliament. Unlike American Senators and even Representatives, MPs do not need to raise great deals of money (one of the reasons why is described in the next section), and because they are far less powerful there is far less interest from companies to donate to them. While there is still great advantage in companies and unions donating to political parties as a whole, campaign finance reform in Canada recently outlawed such practices. The advantages of the US system include that it is more flexible and more representative as each congressperson can make their own decisions on each issue. This leads to greater regional representation by each party and helps discourage the proliferation of third parties which occurs often in Canada, although one may reasonably question whether the absence of third parties is on the whole an advantage.

Judicial system

The membership of the federal judicial branch in Canada is also closely controlled by the Prime Minister, who gives the final advice for the Queen in Council's appointment of Supreme Court judges. In the US, by contrast, all judicial appointments must be approved by the Senate. In an effort to democratize the Canadian system, borrowing from the US example, a process of convening a multi-party committee to publicly "review" Supreme Court appointments in Canada was established. However, the committee holds no veto power, unlike the US Senate.

Judicial activism has been a concern in both countries. However, prior to 1982, the Canadian judicial branch was far less powerful than the US one because Canada had nothing comparable to the US Bill of Rights. However, in 1982 under the urging of then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was added to the constitution giving the courts far more power. However, in Canada's charter there is a notwithstanding clause, which allows any government to protect a bill from certain areas of the charter for a period of five years. This has never been used by the federal government however, and the Supreme Court has also ruled that the Charter does not apply to the civil law. Judicial activism is the tendency of some judges to take a flexible view of their power of judicial interpretation, especially when such judges import subjective reasoning that displaces objective evaluation of applicable law. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image of the United States Bill of Rights from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration The United States Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution. ... For other uses, see Pierre Elliott Trudeau (disambiguation). ... The Charter, signed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1981. ... Section Thirty-three of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the Constitution of Canada. ...

Size of constituencies and campaign financing

The approximately 32 million Canadians are represented by 308 elected federal members of Parliament, or about 1 for every 100,000 Canadians of all ages. The number of seats in Parliament is readjusted every ten years, based on the results of the most recent census, and ensuring that the provinces do not fall below certain historical levels of seats. In contrast, the approximately 300 million Americans are represented by 535 elected federal legislators (435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 senators), or about 1 for every 500,000 people; seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned so that the total always remains at 435. In the current distribution of seats in the American House of Representatives, seven states currently have only one statewide representative. Conversely, no Canadian province has just one Member of Parliament representing the entire province — even Canada's smallest province, Prince Edward Island, is divided into four electoral constituencies. Motto: Parva Sub Ingenti (Latin: The Small Protected By The Great) Capital Charlottetown Largest city Charlottetown Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman - Premier Pat Binns (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 4 - Senate seats 4 Confederation July 1, 1873 (7th) Area Ranked 13th - Total 5...

The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories send delegates to the House who have a voice, and vote in committees, but have no vote on the final passage of legislation. The Canadian territories have just one territorial Member of Parliament and one Senator each, but these are full voting members of their respective legislative bodies.

Furthermore, American candidates for senator must campaign over an entire state, while candidates for president must campaign across the entire country. In Canada, however, each member of Parliament represents a local riding, most of which are compact (only in the far north does sparseness of population create large ridings). Urban ridings in Canada sometimes cover only 5 to 8 km². As well, Canadians do not directly vote for Prime Minister, but only for their local candidate, although in practice the party leaders do have to campaign nationally on behalf of their parties.

The effects of this difference on federal political financing are enormous. American candidates, campaigning over larger areas to a larger population, require much more money than Canadian candidates, and indeed more than candidates in any other industrialized democracy.

Canada, starting with the federal election of 2004, has strictly limited political donations by corporations and unions; in particular, corporations and unions may not make donations to registered political parties or to candidates for the leadership of a party, and their maximum contribution to a candidate for member of parliament is limited to $1,000. In addition, the political campaigns of all parties which obtain certain percentages of the vote receive public campaign funding, so the influence of corporate and union money is further diminished. In previous elections the influence of corporate and union donations was still less than in American elections, because of the much smaller cost of campaigning.

Multilateralism

Due to Canada's much smaller political and military size in relation to the United States, Canada has had little opportunity to act unilaterally and largely committed to the concept of multilateralism and collective security. After rejecting a major role in the League of Nations in 1935, it later became one of the strongest backers of the United Nations and the Commonwealth and supports most international initiatives, such as the International Criminal Court, and the International Ban on Land Mines. The United States pursues both unilateral and multilateral policies at different times. Many Americans distrust the United Nations as a corrupt institution interested in being a global challenger to the US and are unwilling to see their country's sovereignty impinged on. Both Canada and the United States are committed to international economic organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization and the World Bank. Multilateralism is an international relations term that refers to multiple countries working in concert. ... The League of Nations was an international organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2006 Headquarters Marlborough House, London Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Don McKinnon (since 1999)  -  Ransford Smith Establishment  -  as British Commonwealth 1926   -  as the Commonwealth 1949  Membership 53 sovereign states Website thecommonwealth. ... Official logo of the ICC. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, crime of aggression, and war crimes, as defined by several international agreements, most prominently the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ...  State Parties to the Ottawa Treaty The Ottawa Treaty or the Mine Ban Treaty, formally the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, bans completely all anti-personnel landmines (AP-mines). ... “IMF” redirects here. ... The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Logo of the World Bank The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD, in Romance languages: BIRD), better known as the World Bank, is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by WWII. Now, its mission has expanded to fight poverty by means...

See also

• Annexationist movements of Canada
• Canadian and American economies compared
• Politics of Canada
  • Federal Government of Canada
  • Political culture of Canada
• Politics of the United States
  • Federal Government of the United States
  • Political history of the United States

At various times, annexationist movements in Canada have campaigned in favour of the annexation of parts or all of Canada by the United States. ... The comparison between the economies of Canada and the United States is generally far more of a concern to Canadians than to Americans. ... Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a Commonwealth Realm (see Monarchy in Canada) with a federal system of parliamentary government, and strong democratic traditions. ... Bold text The Canada wordmark, used by most agencies of the Canadian federal government. ... Canadian political culture is in some ways part of a greater North American and European political culture, which emphasizes constitutional law, freedom of religion, personal liberty, and regional autonomy; these ideas stemming in various degrees from the British common law and French civil law traditions, North American aboriginal government, and... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties/Parishes/Boroughs, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      Politics of the United States takes place in a framework of a presidential... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The government of the United States of America, established by the U.S. Constitution, is... See History of the United States Democratic Party History of the United States Republican Party ...

Notes

1. ^ Warner (1960)

References

• Adams, Michael. 2003. Fire and Ice: The United States, Canada and the Myth of Converging Values. Toronto: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-301422-6. Reviewed by W.S. Neidhardt, Canadian Social Studies, V. 39, No. 2, Winter, 2005.[2]
• Christie, Nancy. "'In These Times of Democratic Rage and Delusion': Popular Religion and the Challenge to the Established Order, 1760-1815" in G. A. Rawlyk, ed .The Canadian Protestant Experience (1994)
• Clark; S.D.Movements of Political Protest in Canada, 1640-1840 University of Toronto Press. 1959.
• Errington, Jane The lion, the eagle, and Upper Canada: a developing colonial ideology McGill-Queen's University Press, 1987.
• Grabb, Edward , James Curtis and Douglas Baer; "Defining Moments and Recurring Myths: Comparing Canadians and Americans after the American Revolution" The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, Vol. 37, 2000
• Lipset, Seymour Martin. Continental Divide; The Values and Institutions of the United States and Canada (1990)
• Lower; Arthur R. M. Canadians in the Making: A Social History of Canada Toronto. 1958.
• McNairn, Jeffrey L. The capacity to judge: public opinion and deliberative democracy in Upper Canada 1791-1854 Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 2000.
• McNairn, Jeffrey L. "Publius of the North: Tory Republicanism and the American Constitution in Upper Canada, 1848-54." Canadian Historical Review 1996 77(4): 504-537. ISSN 0008-3755
• Moffett, Samuel E. The Americanization of Canada (1907)
• Schwartz, Mildred. Party Movements in the United States and Canada: Strategies of Persistence (2005)
• Smith; Allan. "Doing the Continental: Conceptualizations of the Canadian-American Relationship in the Long Twentieth Century" in Canadian-American Public Policy 2000. pp 2+
• Allan Smith, Canada—An American Nation? Essays on Continentalism, Identity, and the Canadian Frame of Mind (McGill-Queen's University Press, 1994)
• Goldwin Smith, Canada and the Canadian Question Toronto: 1891, numerous reprints
• Stewart, G. 1992. The American Response to Canada Since 1776 Michigan State University Press.
• Stewart, G. 1986. The Origins of Canadian Politics: A Comparative Approach
• Thompson, John Herd and Stephen J. Randall, Canada and the United States: Ambivalent Allies McGill-Queen's University Press, 1994
• Warner, Donald F. The Idea of Continental Union: Agitation for the Annexation of Canada to the United States, 1849–1893 (1960).