Comparing Political Systems:Canada versus the United States

Christopher SandsG. Robert Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-U.S.

Business and Economics

Study Canada 2014Ottawa, OntarioJune 26, 2014

Canada versus USA

Canada's Rick Nash, left, levels Team U.S.A.'s Brian Rafalski during the Feb 21 game at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

Why Compare?

Different Systems• What do they have in

common, and why?

Similar Systems• What is different about

them, and why?

Photos of Hillary Farr, David Visentin, Drew and Jonathan Scott. Source: HGTV

Politics

“The ubiquity of the relationship between the governor and the governed, of ruler and ruled, leads students of politics to single out power as the basic characteristic of human behavior of interest to them.

“Who exercises power? For whose benefit? In what manner? To what ends? According to what principles, if any? By what right? Such questions occupy the philosophy of politics. They are also the concern of prime ministers, presidents, and princes."

V.O. Key's definition of politics, taken from Politics, Parties, and Pressure Groups. Fifth Edition. (Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1964) page 2

Common Principles

• Magna Carta (1215)• Glorious Revolution of 1688• Contract Governance• Representative Democracy• Federalism• Religious Liberty• Immigrant/Settler Societies

Constitutions

United States• 1787• Bill of Rights• Separation of Powers• Powers not granted to the

federal government are reserved to the states

• All states have their own constitutions

Canada• 1867 British North America

Act / 1982 Canadian Constitution Act

• Charter of Rights• Powers enumerated, those

not enumerated are federal• Only one constitution

Presidential versus Parliamentary

United States • Voters choose

Representatives, Senators, and Electoral College (which elects the President)

• President hires Cabinet, Senate confirms

• President nominates judges including Supreme Court, Senate confirms

Presidential versus Parliamentary

Canada• Voters elect a Parliament,

Parliament elects a government

• Executive-Legislative Fusion; all cabinet drawn from legislature

• Senators and judges appointed by Prime Minister

Presidential versus Parliamentary

United States • Voters choose

Representatives, Senators, and Electoral College (which elects the President)

• President hires Cabinet, Senate confirms

• President nominates judges including Supreme Court, Senate confirms

Canada• Voters elect a Parliament,

Parliament elects a government

• Executive-Legislative Fusion; all cabinet drawn from legislature

• Senators and judges appointed by Prime Minister

Executive Branch

United States• President and VP are only

elected officials• Political appointees steer

public service

Canada• Prime Minister is leader of

party with a majority of seats in Parliament…or a plurality

• Professional civil service

Legislatures

Congress• Bicameral• Direct election• House of Representatives by

population; Senate by state• Committee Hearings,

filibusters

Parliament• Bicameral• Direct election of MPs• House of Commons by

population; Senate appointed

• Weak committees, Question Period

House of CommonsPARTY STANDINGS

41st Parliament

Province / Territory C.P.C.

N.D.P.

Lib. B.Q.*

Green

*Ind. Vac

antTota

l

Alberta 24 1       1  2 28British Columbia 21 12 2   1     36Manitoba 11 2 1       14New Brunswick 8 1 1         10

Newfoundland and Labrador   2 5         7

Northwest Territories   1           1Nova Scotia 4 3 4         11Nunavut 1             1

Ontario 71 20 10     1 1 3 106

Prince Edward Island 1   3         4Quebec 5 56 8 4   2 75Saskatchewan 13   1         14Yukon 1             1

TOTAL 160 98 35 4 2 4 5 308

For further information, contact the Journals Branch - 613-992-2038  

Last Update: June 10, 2014

*A political party must have at least 12 Members in the House of Commons to be a “recognized party” for the purposes of parliamentary proceedings.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers/House/PartyStandings/standings-E.htm

Commons Reform?Commons Seats Percentage of Commons Percentage of Population

Alberta 28 9.1 10.9

British Columbia 36 11.7 13.3

Manitoba 14 4.5 3.6

New Brunswick 10 3.2 2.2

Newfoundland & Labrador 7 2.3 1.5

Nova Scotia 11 3.6 2.8

Nunavut Territory 1 0.3 >0.1

Ontario 106 34.4 38.7

Prince Edward Island 4 1.2 0.4

Quebec 75 24.4 23.2

Saskatchewan 14 4.5 3.1

Northwest Territories 1 0.3 >0.1

Yukon Territory 1 0.3 >0.1

SenateProvince or Territory Number of

Senators

British Columbia 6

Alberta 6

Ontario 24

Quebec 24

Manitoba 6

Saskatchewan 6

Nova Scotia 10

Newfoundland and Labrador

6

New Brunswick 10

Northwest Territories 1

Prince Edward Island 4

Yukon 1

Nunavut 1

Total 105

Judiciary

United States• State and local judges

elected• Federal judges appointed

and confirmed by the Senate

• Overlapping jurisdiction• Common Law foundations• Constitutionality

Canada• PM appoints judges• Criminal code federal• Provinces fund and

administer provincial courts• Separate and distinct

jurisdictions• Common and Civil Law • Constitutionality after 1982• Americanization?

Issues

• Compare and debate aboriginal rights

• Land claims in Canada• Mainstreaming versus

tradition• Economic and social

development

Issues

• Afghanistan War• Compare roles and

responsibilities• Why did Canada

participate?

Issues

• Kyoto Accords and Copenhagen Process

• What did Canada, US agree to do?

• What role did energy sector play in each country?

• Energy infrastructure

Issues

• Immigration reforms• Role of French and even

Mandarin in Canada versus Spanish in the USA

• Citizenship tests• Family reunification (US)

versus Points System (Canada)

Issues

• Health care• Single payer, medical

personnel as civil servants in Canada (govt funding but limited funds)

• Private insurers, independent medical care in US (more money, and more R&D, but higher costs)

Comparing Political Systems:Canada versus the United States

Christopher SandsG. Robert Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-U.S.

Business and Economics

Study Canada 2014Ottawa, OntarioJune 26, 2014