Canada's Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Senate, and the House of Commons. All three must agree for a bill to become law.

The House of Commons is the most powerful part. It has 338 elected Members of Parliament (MPs). Each MP represents a geographic area called a riding or electoral district. The party that wins the most seats forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

The Senate has 105 appointed senators who serve until age 75. The Senate reviews and approves legislation passed by the House of Commons. It is sometimes called the "chamber of sober second thought" — it carefully reviews bills before they become law.

The process of making a law: a bill is introduced in Parliament, debated, voted on in the House of Commons, reviewed by the Senate, and then receives Royal Assent — the Governor General's formal approval — to become law.

The leader of the party with the second-most seats becomes the Leader of the Official Opposition — a key role in holding the government accountable.

Canada has three levels of government — federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal (local). Each has specific responsibilities defined by the Constitution.

The Federal Government (in Ottawa) handles matters affecting all Canadians: national defence, foreign policy, criminal law, banking, postal service, immigration, and Indigenous affairs. It also manages Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

Provincial and Territorial Governments handle matters closer to home: education, health care, natural resources, property and civil rights, highways, and municipal institutions. Each province is led by a Premier.

Municipal (local) governments handle day-to-day community matters: garbage collection, snow removal, zoning, local roads, parks, and public transit. They are led by a Mayor and city council.

When you vote in Canada, you can vote in three separate elections — federal, provincial, and municipal — each with different representatives and issues.

Canada uses a first-past-the-post voting system. In each riding, the candidate with the most votes wins — even without a majority. The party with the most seats forms the government.

Federal elections must be held at least every five years, but are typically held every four years. The Prime Minister can also ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call an earlier election.

To vote in a federal election you must be: a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, and registered on the voters list with Elections Canada. Voting is both a right and a responsibility of citizenship.

Permanent residents cannot vote in federal or provincial elections. Voting is a right exclusive to Canadian citizens — one of the key reasons many permanent residents pursue citizenship.

Canada has a proud history of expanding democratic participation. Women gained the right to vote federally in 1918. Japanese Canadians regained voting rights in 1948. Indigenous peoples gained full voting rights in 1960 under PM John Diefenbaker.

Votes are cast by secret ballot — your vote is private and free from intimidation. You also have the right to join a political party, run as a candidate, and campaign for any party.

Canada's system of government evolved from British parliamentary traditions going back over 800 years, including the Magna Carta (1215) — one of the first documents to limit the power of rulers and protect citizens' rights.

The Governor General is the representative of the Sovereign in Canada. Key duties include: summoning, proroguing (suspending), and dissolving Parliament; granting Royal Assent to bills; reading the Speech from the Throne (which outlines the government's priorities); and swearing in the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In Canada's parliamentary system, the government must maintain the confidence of the House of Commons. If the government loses a confidence vote — such as a vote on the budget — the government may fall and an election may be called.

Canada's Parliament buildings are located in Ottawa, Ontario — the nation's capital. The Peace Tower at the Centre Block of Parliament Hill is one of Canada's most recognized symbols. Parliament Hill overlooks the Ottawa River.

The rule of law — the principle that everyone in Canada, including the government, must obey the law — is the foundation of Canadian democracy. No one is above the law.