Legislature

to be patterned after (on, upon) - быть созданным по образцу  appointee - назначаемое лицо a round of balloting - тур голосования (the) Senate - сенат the House of Commons - палата общин I.        the Legislative It is represented by: -        the Parliament -        the Queen (the Governor General) -        (the) Senate (the Upper House) -        The House of Commons (the Lower House) + Provincial legislatures Canada's Parliament The roots of the Canada's parliamentary system lie in the UK In keeping with traditions of the British Parliament the Canadian parliament is composed of: -        the Queen -        the Senate -        the House of Commons The Senate is patterned after the British House of Lords. It is made up of appointees. Its 104 members are appointed, not elected, they are appointed until the age of 75 by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Senators are mostly the representatives of Canada's 4 main regions: -        Ontario -        Quebec -        The West -        The Atlantic Provinces The Senate has the same powers as the House of Commons, with a few exceptions. The House of Commons is the major law making body. It is an elected chamber. It currently consists of 301 members, one from each of the 301 constituencies or electoral districts. Canadian MPs are elected for 5 years. The Canadian Constitution requires the election of a new House of Commons at least every five years.  As in the UK and the US in Canada voters elect a single member for their electoral constituency, they elect him in one round of balloting. Canadian electoral system is also a majority system (as in the UK, first-past-the-post). It means that in each constituency, the candidate who gets the largest number of votes is elected, even if his/her  Vote is less than half the total. Candidates usually represent a recognized political party - although some run as independents.

The Executive

to vest with/in powers - облекать властью, наделять полномочиями de jure - де-юре, юридически номинально de facto - де-факто, на деле, фактически federal departments and agencies - федеральные министерства и ведомства II.        the Executive -        the Prime Minister -        the Cabinet -        the government + Heads of the local government The party that gains the largest # of seats in the Hose of Commons forms the government. The leader of the party is asked by the Governor General to become Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is vested with extensive powers. It is the P.M. who chooses the ministers from among the members of Parliament in the governing party.   The PM heads the cabinet which is the most powerful part of the government. The Cabinet consists of some 25 ministers.  "De jure" (strictly speaking), the PM and the Cabinet are the advisers of the Monarch, they are subordinate to the monarch. "De facto" power however, lies with the cabinet, and the Governor General acts on its advice. Cabinet develops government policy and is responsible to the House of Commons. Cabinet heads the government.  The government performs its duties through the^ -        federal departments and agencies -        boards -        commissions and -        state-owned corporations