Q: What is the House of Q: What do MPs do? Q: Who’s in charge of Q: Where does the Prime Commons? debates and votes in the Minister sit? A: They have many responsibilities, including House of Commons? A: It’s one of three parts of Parliament. making laws. A: In the front row, with other Government MPs. MPs are always very busy. In addition to debating and The House of Commons is where ’s elected A: The Speaker, who acts as a referee when Most MPs belong to political parties – groups with similar voting in the House of Commons, they help the people in representatives meet to discuss important issues and the House is in session. ideas about how the country should be run. Usually the make new laws. their constituencies, work in committees, go to meetings, party with the most MPs forms the Government, and its talk to the media, and much more. The other parts of Parliament are the Monarch (the King The Speaker’s job is to make sure that all the rules leader becomes the Prime Minister. All other parties (and or Queen, who is represented in Canada by the Governor MPs can come from many different backgrounds. They and traditions of the House of Commons are followed. any independent MPs) are called the opposition. The Prime th General) and the Senate. To become a law, a bill has to be may be lawyers, teachers, farmers, athletes or even Although the Speaker usually belongs to a political party, Minister sits to the right of the Speaker, in the 11 seat. approved by all three parts. students. Any Canadian citizen aged 18 or older can he or she is neutral and treats all MPs equally. run in a federal election.

Q: Who sits in the House The Speaker sits in the There’s no limit to how long someone of Commons? biggest chair in the House can be Prime Minister in Canada. Can you

of Commons. name our longest-serving Prime Minister? A: A total of 338 Members of Parliament (or MPs) days. 154 and years 21 for Minister Prime was King Mackenzie Lyon William Answer: sit in the House. GET TO KNOW THE Every MP represents a particular part of Canada, called a constituency (or riding). During an election, the citizens Want to know more? who live in a riding vote to choose who will be their MP. Why is the House of HOUSE OF NOT SURE WHO YOUR MP IS? Q: Follow us for videos, photos and more fun facts Go to ourcommons.ca and enter your Commons green? about Parliament. postal code to find out. COMMONS /parlyouth /parlcanada /parlyouth A: Green is the colour of the British House of Commons. Constituencies are based on Contact us if you have any questions: population, not size. The smallest Our parliamentary system is based on the British one, 2 and we’ve borrowed many of its traditions. The House of Information Service one in Canada is only 9 km , while [email protected] Commons in London has been decorated in green for over the largest is over 2 million km2! Q: How do I contact my MP? 1-866-599-4999 300 years. , Can you guess where these K1A 0A9 two constituencies are found? A: You can contact your MP by phone, email or letter, or through social media. Did you know that there is a mythical beast at the House of Commons? Produced by: MPs are always happy to hear from the people in their This West Block gargoyle is an constituencies. If you have a question, or an idea that original stone carving in the

Answer: Montreal (Papineau) and Nunavut (the whole territory is one riding) one is territory whole (the Nunavut and (Papineau) Montreal Answer: you want to share, get in touch! neo-Gothic style.