VIII.

Government

A.

National Representation

British Columbia is represented by 36 members in the Canadian House of Commons and by six senators, appointed by the Canadian governor-general, in the upper house, or Senate of the federal government.

B.

Executive

The formal chief executive of British Columbia is the lieutenant governor, who is appointed by the Canadian governor-general and who represents the British monarch in the province. The position is largely ceremonial. Executive powers actually rest with the premier, who is a member of the legislature and usually the leader of the majority party. The premier appoints about 20 ministers to the cabinet (executive council) from among the members of the party. The ministers direct and formulate policy for the departments of the provincial government.

C.

Legislative

British Columbia has a unicameral (single-house) legislature, called the Legislative Assembly. It has 79 members elected from single-member geographical legislative districts by popular vote for a maximum of five years. The lieutenant governor, on the recommendation of the premier, may call for an election before the five-year period ends.

D.

Judicial

There are three levels of courts in British Columbia: the B.C. Court of Appeal, The Supreme Court of B.C. and the Provincial Court. Justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are appointed by the governor-general of Canada in Council. Judges of the Provincial Court are appointed by the lieutenant governor of British Columbia in Council on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, which includes the Chief Judges, lawyers, and lay members.

E.

Politics

The Conservative and Liberal parties dominated provincial politics from the beginning of the 20th century until the early 1950s. The right-wing Social Credit Party governed British Columbia from 1952 until 1972, combining fiscal conservatism with a pro-development stance. The social-democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) won a legislative majority in 1972. The Social Credit Party returned to power in 1975 and retained control until 1991, when the New Democrats won office for a second time. The NDP was reelected in 1996. It remained in power until 2001, when the Liberal Party became the ruling party.