ParliamentThe House of CommonsThe House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which also includes the Sovereign - represented by the Governor General and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members, who are known as Members of Parliament (MPs). Members are elected for limited terms, holding office until Parliament is dissolved. Each member is elected by, and represents, an electoral district, which is colloquially known as a riding.The House of Commons was established in 1867, when the British North America Act 1867 created the Dominion of Canada, and was modelled on the British House of Commons. In practice, the House of Commons (the lower house) holds far more power than the Senate (the upper house), and is by far the dominant branch of Parliament. Although the approval of both Houses is necessary for legislation, the Senate very rarely rejects bills passed by the Commons. Moreover, the Government of Canada is responsible solely to the House of Commons; the Prime Minister stays in office only as long as he or she retains the support of the Lower House. It is often misunderstood that "Commons" is a shortening of the word "commoners"; in reality, the term "Commons" derives from the Norman French word communes, meaning "localities." Canada remains the only nation besides the United Kingdom to use the name "House of Commons" for the Lower House of Parliament. The Canadian House of Commons meets at Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario. Members and electionsThe House of Commons is composed of 308 members, each of whom represents a single electoral district or riding. The constitution requires that there be a minimum of 282 electoral districts; there are currently 308. Seats are distributed among the provinces in proportion to population, as determined by each decennial census, subject to the following exceptions made by the constitution. Firstly, the "senatorial clause" guarantees that each province will have at least as many Members of Parliament as Senators. Secondly, the "grandfather clause" guarantees each province at least as many Members of Parliament now as it had in 1976 or in 1985. Finally, no province may lose more than fifteen per cent of its seats after a single decennial census. As a result of these three clauses, smaller provinces and provinces that have experienced a relative decline in population are over-represented in the House, while Ontario, Canada's most populous province, and British Columbia, and Alberta - Canada's fastest-growing provinces - are under-represented. Provincial boundary commissions are responsible for drawing the boundaries of the electoral districts, but their proposals are subject to parliamentary approval. Territorial representation is independent of population; each territory is entitled to only one seat.Current Standings Following the October 14, 2008, Election
General elections occur whenever Parliament is dissolved by the Governor General. The timing of the dissolution is normally chosen by the Prime Minister; however, a parliamentary term may not last for more than five years. Candidates are usually nominated by political parties. It is possible for a candidate to run independently, though it is rare for such a candidate to win. In June 2004 federal election, Chuck Cadman (Surrey North) was elected as an Independent, but he was the incumbent for that riding, having served as a member of the Reform/Canadian Alliance party since 1997. He lost the Conservative party nomination in 2004 and ran as an Independent. The most recent truly Independent candidates to win an election were André Arthur, who won the riding of Portneuf-Jacques Cartier, and Bill Casey, who was elected in Cumberland - Colchester - Musquodoboit Valley in the October 14, 2008, general election. To run for a seat in the House, candidates must file nomination papers bearing the signatures of at least 50 or 100 constituents (depending on the size of the electoral district). Each electoral district returns one member; they use the First Past the Post electoral system, under which the candidate with a plurality of votes wins. To vote, one must be a citizen of Canada and at least eighteen years of age. Once elected, a Member of Parliament normally continues to serve until the next dissolution of Parliament. If a member ceases to be qualified, resigns, or dies, his or her seat falls vacant. It is possible for the House of Commons to expel a member, but this power is only exercised when the member has engaged in serious misconduct or criminal activity. In each case, a vacancy may be filled by a by-election in the appropriate electoral district. The first past the post electoral system is used in by-elections, as in general elections. The term "Member of Parliament" is usually used only to refer to members of the House of Commons, even though the Senate is also a part of Parliament. Members of the House of Commons may use the post-nominal letters "MP." The annual salary of each Member of Parliament, as of 2005, is $144,100; members may receive additional salaries in right of other offices they hold (for instance, the Speakership). MPs rank immediately below senators in the order of precedence. QualificationsUnder the Constitution Act, 1867, Parliament is empowered to determine the qualifications of members of the House of Commons. The present qualifications are outlined in the Canada Elections Act, which was passed in 2000. Under the act, an individual must be an eligible voter, as of the day on which he or she is nominated, in order to stand as a candidate. Thus, minors and individuals who are not citizens of Canada are not allowed to become candidates. The Canada Elections Act also bars prisoners from standing for election. Moreover, individuals found guilty of election-related crimes are prohibited from becoming members for five years (in some cases, seven years) after conviction.The act also prohibits certain officials from standing for the House of Commons. These officers include members of provincial and territorial legislatures, sheriffs, Crown Attorneys, most judges, and election officers. The Chief Electoral Officer and Assistant Chief Electoral Officer (the heads of Elections Canada, the federal agency responsible for conducting elections) are prohibited not only from standing as candidates, but also from voting. Finally, under the Constitution Act, 1867, a member of the Senate may not also become a member of the House of Commons. Related Links
Created by: admin last modification: Wednesday 29 of October, 2008 [19:29:29 UTC] by admin |
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