Canadian House of Commons

The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which also includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members, who are known as Members of Parliament. Members are elected for limited terms, holding office until Parliament is dissolved (a maximum of five years). Each member is elected by, and represents, an electoral district, which is colloquially known as a riding.

History

The House of Commons came into existence in 1867, when the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the British North America Act, uniting the Province of Canada (which was separated into Quebec and Ontario), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single federation, called the Dominion of Canada. The new Canadian Parliament consisted of the Queen (represented by the Governor General), the Senate and the House of Commons. The Canadian Parliament was based on the Westminster model (that is, the model of the Parliament of the United Kingdom). Canada, however, remained a part of the British Empire. No act passed by the Canadian Parliament could contravene a British law; the Parliament of the United Kingdom remained the supreme legislative authority for the entire empire. Greater autonomy was granted by the British Parliament's Statute of Westminster 1931, under which the United Kingdom ceased to interfere in Canadian affairs. Full autonomy was only granted by the Canada Act 1982, under which the British Parliament relinquished all authority to legislate for Canada.

Related Topics:
1867 - Parliament of the United Kingdom - British North America Act - Quebec - Ontario - Nova Scotia - New Brunswick - Queen - Westminster model - Statute of Westminster 1931 - Canada Act 1982

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