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British Columbia: Government

The province of British Columbia has a parliamentary form of government. The chief executive of British Columbia is the lieutenant governor, who is appointed by the Canadian governor-general in council to serve a 5-year term. The lieutenant governor, representing the British crown, holds a position that is largely honorary. The premier, the leader of the majority party, is the actual head of the provincial government and presides over the executive council. The Legislative Assembly contains 69 seats, including those of the premier and the members of the executive council. Members of the legislature are popularly elected to a 5-year term; however, the lieutenant governor, on the advice of the premier, may call for an election before the term has been completed. The province of British Columbia is represented by 6 senators appointed by the Canadian governor-general in council, and by 34 members in the House of Commons popularly elected to serve terms of up to five years in the Canadian Parliament.