- Definition
Parliament is a group of people who make laws and decide on taxes for the country. In Canada, it includes the Governor General, the Senate (appointed members), and the House of Commons (elected members).
When the government wants to create a new law, it must be debated and passed by the members of Parliament.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Parliament is like a big meeting where chosen people from different neighbourhoods get together to make the rules for the whole country.
Ask your child: If your school had a parliament, what is one rule you would suggest?
Common mix-up: Kids may think the Prime Minister makes all the laws alone. Parliament is actually a large team of people from across the country who debate and vote on laws together.
Examples
- Members of Parliament bring ideas and concerns from their local communities to the discussions in the House of Commons.
- Approving the national budget, which decides how to spend money on things like hospitals and roads, is a key job of Parliament.
parliament is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
