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Quebec: Government

As a Canadian province Québec is one of 10 partners of the Canadian federal State, whose parliamentary system is modeled on the British system. Each province has its own legislature and adopts legislation in those fields that fall under its jurisdiction. The Canadian Parliament has jurisdiction over the entire country in fields such as external affairs, national defence and currency.

In Québec, the provincial parliament is known as the National Assembly. It enacts legislation and the lieutenant-governor, who represents the Crown, gives assent to such legislation. The prime minister (premier), the leader of the majority party, is the actual head of the provincial government and presides over the executive council. The National Assembly is made up of 125 MNAs elected by universal franchise. Members of the legislature are popularly elected to a 5-year term; however, the lieutenant governor, on the advice of the prime minister, may call for an election before the term has been completed. The prime minister may be elected as many times as he wishes to stand as a candidate. MNAs are elected under the majority system (50% plus one vote): the voter selects only one of the candidates running in his riding. The winner is the candidate who receives the most votes in this single ballot. Québec is represented by 24 senators appointed by the Canadian governor-general in council and by 75 members in the House of Commons popularly elected to serve terms of up to five years in the Canadian Parliament.