Do they use the popular vote or is there something similar to the electoral college there?
2007-11-13 13:40:06 · 5 answers · asked by zdghzdgh z 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
so uh..... do the 301 ministers act like the electoral college?
2007-11-13 16:26:45 · update #1
wait, I get it, never mind.
Thanks for the help everyone!~
2007-11-13 16:27:57 · update #2
The moment a legislation is not agreed upon by all the parties (via vote in the House of Commons), the PM must call an election. So it's not like the states where they have to have one every four years; a Canadian federal election can happen in less or more than four years.
2007-11-13 13:47:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Canada (like many commonwealth countries) is a parliamentary system.
Canada has about 305 districts (called ridings) that elect members to the lower house of parliament. Elections are not regularly scheduled but are held when parliament is dissolved. The maximum length of a parliament is five years.
After the general election is held, the governor-general (the representative of the monarch since Canada still recognizes the monarch of the United Kingdom as their monarch) appoints the prime minister. There are two criteria that guide this selection. First, the prime minister must be a member of parliament. Second, the prime minister should be the member most capable of forming a government. Typically, by tradition, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party. If no party has a majority, the governor-general should consult with the leaders of all of the parties in parliament to see if there will be a coaltion formed. If no coalition is formed, the leader of the largest party will typically be appointed as prime minister (the current situation where the largest party -- the Conservatives -- only have about 130 seats).
Another key aspect of the Canadian system is that the parties are free to change leaders at any time. While it is rare that a prime minister will step down during the term of parliament, it can happen. In that situation, the majority party will elect a new leader and that new leader will typically be appointed as the new prime minister.
Like with the U.S. President, it is theoretically possible for one party to get the most votes nationwide while another party wins the most seats in parliament. However, parliament is not an electoral college as it has on-going legislative responsibilities (like Congress).
2007-11-13 21:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by Tmess2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In parliamentary governments, like Canada, the prime minister is chosen by the majority party of parliament, from members of that party.
As there are 301 ministers of parliament in Canada, whatever political party has at least 151 members controls the parliament and choses the prime minister.
If no one party has a majority, a coalition may be formed from two or more political parties, from which a prime minister would be elected from one of the coalition parties.
2007-11-13 21:58:22 · answer #3 · answered by wichitaor1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The prime minister is selected from the party in power.
2007-11-13 21:48:37 · answer #4 · answered by picopico 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who ever passes out first, ehh?
2007-11-13 21:48:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋