The Canadian Parliament Building is an architectural complex located in Ottawa. Here are the meetings of the highest legislative body of the country. The construction is made in the Neo-Gothic style: gray granite blocks are covered with copper plates.
First impression
The building was built in 1860, but as a result of the fire, the building was almost destroyed in 1916. After 6 years, the building was reconstructed, turning it into a three-block building with eastern, western and central offices. As part of the complex, in memory of the dead Canadians in World War I, the Peace Tower was erected. The building has a Confederate Hall (one of the largest in area) - "Hall of two hundred", named for the number identical to the number of MPs. On the territory of the building there is a memorial chamber, where the names of those who gave their lives for peace in times of world wars are indicated. Eternal flame always burns in the square, stands with coats of arms of the country's provinces.
Legislature
The Parliament of Canada sits on Parliament Hill of the state’s capital. It consists of:
- Senate
- The House of Commons;
- Queen.
Such a system is called the Queen / King-in-Parliament. Queen Elizabeth II is represented by the Governor General of the country, his duties include the appointment of 105 members of the Senate on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The remaining 308 deputies (lower house of Communities) are elected by majority system by direct vote.
The leading body of the Parliament is the House of Commons. Almost all bills already approved by the lower house are secretly approved by the Senate. The Queen in the person of the Governor-General pronounces the last word in approving the bill, which has already been passed by the chambers of Parliament. In order for ordinary citizens to trust the government and the prime minister, and their leadership not to be in doubt, they need to have the support of the majority of the deputies of the House of Commons. To date, the Canadian Parliament has the 41st composition of deputies.
Parliament Functionality
A large half of the last century passed under the rule of the Liberal Party (moderately liberal centrist). To the right of the liberals is the Conservative Party - now (after 2011) it is in power, it has been involved in the formation of the government more than once. The next largest party is the center-left New Democratic Party. Representatives of this movement also repeatedly formed a government in some provinces. The interests of the French-speaking population in the Parliament of Canada are represented by the Québec block. The Green Party of Canada is also upholding its views.
Architectural Buildings
On a large area where the legislative power of Canada is located, is the Parliamentary Library. The unique octagonal Victorian-style building surprises with the unique carvings of antique wooden shelves. The building of 1876 survived the fire, now it is connected to the main building with a special corridor with metal doors. The center of her round hall is occupied by the massive white figure of Queen Victoria, made in 1871 from marble. In absolute terms, there are about 17 km of books and materials, there is a room for rare books.
The Canadian Parliament complex includes the National Center for the Arts, the Bytown Museum and other architectural parliamentary buildings, which stretches across the lawn of Parliament Hill, where mounted police patrol the summer.
Federal state
Canada consists of 10 provinces and territories under the authority of the federal government. The country is a dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations, gaining its independence in 1867. In 1931, the central bloc of the Canadian Parliament, its actions in relation to domestic and foreign policy received independence, which was recognized by the British government.
The main law of the country consists of a series of acts that were agreed and approved from 1867 to 1982:
- Acts governing the creation of institutions of the federal legal system (laws on the Supreme Court, suffrage).
- Laws defining the foundations of government in the provinces (Newfoundland Act, Alberta Act).
In order for each of the new laws to be debated or each amendment to the Constitution to be approved, the support of the majority of members of both houses of parliament, as well as assemblies of seven provinces, which corresponds to half the country's population, is necessary. If the amendments relate to the monarchical form of government, the composition of the Supreme Court or the status of official languages, their approval must be approved by all members of the legislatures of ten provinces. Such a structure of the Parliament of Canada implies the mandatory approval of the proposed amendments by the Governor General, who has the right to the "last" word on the issues under consideration. But if any amendments to the Constitution have not been approved by some provinces, the Governor-General has the right to approve them on the condition that they will not apply to provinces that refused to accept them.
Inequality of Chambers
As mentioned above, the legislative power is concentrated in the hands of the parliament, which consists of the Senate and the House of Commons. This raises the question of unequal powers, because the Senate has no right to initiate the introduction of financial bills. After 1982, it became possible to pass amendments to the Constitution without asking for Senate approval. If there is no response from the Upper House within 180 days, the draft amendment shall enter into force. The executive power in each province theoretically belongs to the lieutenant governor, who was appointed governor general. The province has its own legislative body in the form of a unicameral Legislative Assembly, or a bicameral parliament. The wide powers of the Canadian Parliament, depending on the province, are given to the party that has the most seats in the local assembly.
The competence between the federation and individual entities has a different characteristic; this structure strengthens centralism in the Canadian federation. The competence of the federation includes:
- banking system;
- trade;
- taxation;
- legal status of foreigners;
- relations with the Indians.
The competencies of the provinces include:
- regulation of municipalities;
- the formation of government bodies;
- amending provincial constitutions;
- civil rights;
- local justice.