ulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February
2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from
among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a
five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House
of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the
governor general

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat
(members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the
prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal
limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des
Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to
serve for up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 23 January 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party
17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 102, New Democratic Party 29,
Bloc Quebecois 51, other 2; seats by party as of February 2007 -
Conservative Party 125, Liberal Party 100, New Democratic Party 29,
Bloc Quebecois 51, other 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister
through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal
Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court
of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and
Court of Justice)

Political parties and leaders:
Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (a
merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative
Party) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party
[Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:
ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic