Understanding The Parliament of Canada

The Parliament of Canada serves as the legislative branch of Canada. The Parliament of Canada thus stands as separate from the Supreme Court of Canada. The Parliament of Canada is made up of several components, including the Canadian Monarch, the Senate, and the House of Commons. The Monarch in the Parliament of Canada is generally considered to be the governor general of Canada. The two legislative houses of the Parliament of Canada meet at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the nation's capital

Those individuals who are elected to go to Parliament Hill, Ottawa, must be elected differently based on which house they are elected to. For example, the individuals elected to the lower house of the Parliament of Canada, which is the House of Commons, are elected from each of 308 districts in Canada through a direct election. The members of the upper house of the Parliament of Canada, however, who make up the Senate of Parliament Hill, Ottawa, are appointed to the position by the Governor General, on the suggestion of the Prime Minister of Canada, who is generally the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons.

The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court of the judicial branch of the Parliament of Canada. Members of the Supreme Court of Canada are appointed by the Governor General-in-council. The powers of the Supreme Court of Canada allow it to help codify the rules and laws of the Parliament of Canada.