How the Parliament of Canada Works
The Parliament of Canada made simple: its three parts, how a bill becomes law, and what to remember for the citizenship test.
The Parliament of Canada makes federal laws and is made up of three parts: the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. For the citizenship test, the key point is that a bill must pass through each of these stages before it becomes law.
The three parts of Parliament
The Sovereign (the Crown) is the first part. At the federal level, the Sovereign is represented by the Governor General. The second part is the Senate, made up of senators who are appointed, not elected. The third part is the House of Commons, made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) elected by Canadians.
The two chambers do not play the same role. To see how they differ, read our comparison of the Senate and the House of Commons. Together, they form the law-making branch of the country.
- The Sovereign: represented federally by the Governor General.
- The Senate: appointed senators who review legislation.
- The House of Commons: MPs elected by Canadians.
- The federal Parliament sits in Ottawa.
How a bill becomes law
A bill becomes law after three steps. It must first be passed by the House of Commons, then by the Senate. Finally, it receives Royal Assent, given in the name of the Sovereign. Only then does the text have the force of law.
This shared work stops any single chamber from deciding everything. Parliament sits within the three branches of government: the legislative branch makes laws, the executive applies them and the judicial branch interprets them.
Why this matters for the test
Questions about Parliament come up often on the test. You might be asked to name the three parts of Parliament or to explain how a law is made. To go further, see the guide Canada Explained.
The best preparation is practice. Test yourself with our timed practice exams to spot the ideas you still need to review.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three parts of the Parliament of Canada? Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (the Crown, represented federally by the Governor General), the Senate (appointed senators) and the House of Commons (elected Members of Parliament).
How does a bill become law? A bill must be passed by both the House of Commons and the Senate, and then receive Royal Assent, before it becomes law.
Where does the federal Parliament sit? The federal Parliament sits in Ottawa, the capital of Canada.