Can somebody PLEASE explain how the Canadian government works?

[samhsarah]

In lamens terms. I'm so confused trying to follow these election results right now. :shrug: Thanks in advance.

[ClusterFreak]

1. Modelled on the British parliamentary system...

House of Commons and a Senate (in Britain their equivalent of the Senate is the House of Lords). We have 308 ridings in the house of commons. A riding is the equivalent of a congressional district lets say. Winning 155 seats, which is one half of 308 plus one, gets you a majority government. That means you don't need the help of any other party to pass legislation. Harper got a minority. He needs to temper his right wing agenda to pass legislation. That is good. Very good, actually.

That's about the gist of it! (jist??)

[samhsarah]

3. thank you.

I got the jist.:+

[tuvor]

2. This might be a good place to start.

http://www.elections.ca/intro.asp?section=faq&document=index&lang=e&textonly=false

[samhsarah]

4. thanks.

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. and the "cabinet"

is made up of ministers rather than cronies. The Canadian system has some good points.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/1152947 (i just had to do it)

[CanuckAmok]

6. It doesn't.

Short answer.