Preface: The Canadian Electoral System in a capsule

• Author: Gregory Tardi
• Pages: 17-27

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PreFAce

THE CANADIAN ELECTORAL

SYSTEM IN A CAPSULE

     federal general election requires

an explanation, at least in capsule form, of the origins and major com-

ponent elements of the federal electoral system.

DEMOCRACY

Canada is a democratic state.

In the Preamble to the Constitution Act that was enacted in , it is

armed that Canada has a Constitution similar in principle to that of

the United Kingdom. is constitutional heritage includes democracy

(https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-.html).

While the Constitution did not def‌ine “democracy,” the term should

be understood to mean primarily the following qualities in a political

system: freedom of political choice, self-government by the people, the

conduct of public aairs in accordance with the will of the majority, the

rule of law, the separation of powers, and an independent judiciary.

In the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that part of the Con-

stitution that was enacted in , it is armed that Canadian society

is free and democratic (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-.

html).