Lesson 2 — Activity 1: Canada's Head of State
Completion requirements
Lesson 2 — Activity 1: Canada's Head of State
Warm Up
Before Canada became a nation in 1867, it was a British colony. Great Britain's head of state was, and still is, the monarch who could be either a king or a queen. The Fathers of Confederation decided that Canada should keep the British monarch as its head of state. Currently, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen of England, is Canada's formal head of state, but she is also the head of state for 15 other countries. It is impossible for her to always be in all these countries. In Canada, she is represented by the governor general.
creative commons
The prime minister appoints the governor general, usually for five years, but this can be extended to seven years.
The governor general's main duties are to:
- call Parliament to meet after every election
- read the Speech from the Throne, which is a statement of the government's objectives
- sign all bills passed by Parliament (House of Commons followed by Senate) into law
- appoint Superior Court judges
- dissolve parliament when asked to do so
Click here to go to learn more about the current governor general of Canada.
Since 1867, Rideau Hall is the official home in Ottawa of both the Canadian monarch and his or her representative, the governor general of Canada, and has been described as "Canada's house."
@ creative commons
Self-check!
Try This!
Try the question below on your own first, and then click on the tab to check your answer! You may look back in the lesson to find the answer.
Name at least two main roles of the governor general of Canada.