First glance, the governments of the United States and Canada may appear similar. It is true that both nations share many of the same democratic principles. They are both democracies. Both are recognized as federal states. But on closer inspection, the ways in which each country governs is very different. Canada is a constitutional monarchy. This means that a monarch shares power with a constitutional government. In Canada’s case, the Queen of England shares her authority with the Canadian Parliament. This also means her power is limited. In Canada, two people represent the Queen. They are the Governor General, who is the head of state, and the Prime Minister, who is the head of the Canadian government. In the United States, it is simpler. The head of state and the head of the government are the same person: the President.

Separation and Concentrated Powers of the Government

The way powers are handled between the two governments is also very different. The United States federal government relies on a separation of powers between the three branches. For example, the President cannot be a member of the Senate. The President cannot be seated on the Supreme Court. A member of Congress cannot serve in the President’s Cabinet. Only members of Congress can introduce new bills. Those bills may or may not have the support of the President.

The Canadian Parliament meets at the Parliament Building in Ottawa, the nation’s capital.

The United States government meets at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.
In Canada, the government is based on the British parliamentary system. It consists of two chambers known as the Senate and the House of Commons. The Prime Minister must be a member of one chamber or the other. Only prime ministers are allowed to introduce new bills. Only they or someone who represents them can answer questions or speak up to defend a law or bill. This way of governing uses a concentration of powers.

Terms of Office

Terms of office are different too. In Canada, there are no term limits to serve. Elections are called every five years. In the United States, the President serves a four-year term and can only be re-elected once. Members of Congress also have set terms. In the House of Representatives, a person holds office for two years. In the Senate, a term lasts for six years. All of these requirements are clearly outlined in the Constitution, along with age and residency requirements.

Language: To Be Official or Not?

Another difference is with language. The United States does not have an official language. An official language is the language the government has chosen to use in all government matters. Since most Americans speak English, it is considered to be the “American” language.

In Canada, there are two official languages: French and English. This means that Canada is a bilingual nation. Two languages are dominant among the people. This is because French, rather than English, is largely spoken in some provinces. Having two official languages also recognizes an important point. The history of Canada has been shaped by both French and English influences.

The Court Systems

There is one area in which both the Canadian and American governments are alike. That area is in their government courts. For both nations, it is the courts that make the final determination of legal issues that arise in law. They address constitutional questions.

There are thus important differences between Canada and the United States. And while their governments differ, there is one thing that does unite them. They are both governments of the people.