Canada vs. United States - Governments Compared

Canada and the United States have similar systems of government on the surface. They are both representative democracies where people elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf. Canada, however, follows the Westminster Parliamentary system, and the United States is a Republic, with more elected representatives at all levels.

Sources:

Noesgaard, D., Yoshida, D., Colless, R., Phui, L., & Fielding, J. (2010). Understandings of ideologies. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.

Image sources:​

[KorczyksClass]

Check out some more of my Global Politics videos here!

What should I compare next? Let us know in the comments below!

[RandomNonsense]

Forgot to mention that if the US President vetoes a law, Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote, but that hardly ever happens.

[johnnyBqwazy]

Good video TY. What was clear as mud now has a slight steepened tea look.

[instructorwyi]

Great video! One thing though - the Canadian Senate can and does initiate their own bills in Parliament. This is by far less common than the HOC initiating bills. In fact, only roughly 10% - 15% of Bills reviewed in Parliament came form the senate. This said, the Senate can and does create bills.

However, there are certain types of Bills that can ONLY come from the HOC. The first are any Bills relating to Money (including taxation or the allocation of public funds), the second type of Bill that the Senate cannot create themselves are any Bills that are considered of "constitutional importance." Any Bills that impact governance, or constitutional matter will only originate form the HOC.

[smorris]

The US Speaker of the House is much more comparable to the Canadian PM, because the Speaker is the third most powerful elected official, and is the leader of the party in power in the House.

[ilovechicory]

This video is exactly what my notes from my social class outline!!!

[jamesstuart]

Well done. I may have missed this, but the Canadian Governor General, not the Prime Minister, is the Commander-In-Chief of the country's armed forces. Yes it's mainly ceremonial, but in theory it could come in handy if the PM, as Bat Guano might say, tried some preversions 😅

[JamesArlotta-cheb]

Good explanation, it reminded me of the Canadian Studies class I took for a semester in high school.

[nandabhavaraju]

Well explained. How many members will be there in the Senate?
How is the Governor General appointed?

[futuresequence.]

Great video. I think an interesting topic to cover would be the difference between election funding. As a Canadian it's always baffled me how much money has to be raised and spent in America to win certain elections.

[tulsig]

Hi Mr.Korczyk!

Your vidoes are wonderful and its amazing to see how far your channel has come! I don't know if you remember me, but I was in your social 20-1 class at Dief. How is everything going and where are you teaching now?

-Tulsi

[helgapocock]

Our judges may be appointed by the Prime Minister but are usually selected by other jurists (senior judges) based on their decisions and qualifications with some regional considerations given. A list is given to the Prime Minister who chooses from the list of names. Judges are not appointed on the basis of their political loyalties the way they are in the U.S. They also do not have life terms. They must retire at age 75.

[MichaelChiviendacz]

It's not the British Crown ffs. The Queen (or King (barf)) is the Queen or King of Canada, completely independent of the fact that they have a part time job as the British Crown too.

[pacman]

"majority governments can be won with 35-40% of public support" - is this a mistake or are you saying more than 50% of the seats can be won with only 35-40% of the votes?

[helgapocock]

In a minority governmant with a Liberal government and a more left of center party we are able to get more socially progressive legislation. Universal health care in Canada was originally brought in by a Liberal government under Lester B. Pearson as a result of pressure from the New Democratic Party.

[Alasdair]

The king is not really in charge in Canada he is really there as a figurehead but doesn't actually hold any real political power and is mostly there out of respect. He does exert some influence with that said respect but doesn't have the power to actually enact policies without the states consent.

[nhulengocquynh]

I have a middle test about the EU, can you explain it to me "What is the difference between liberalism and realism in the EU's organizational structure, membership rules, and operating principles?" Thank you.

[namesurname]

Love your channel. Creatings from Ukraine

[karenpartain]

Why did you skip a president in the images of heads of state?

[Lucien-iz]

But you can demand the Prime Minister resign and the party can change the Prime minister if they become unpopular, you can't do that in the USA, it's a 4 year fix term. Why do you think the UK have had so many PMs recently.
You vote for the party not the person.