Government of Newfoundland and Labrador facts for kids

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is like the main team that runs the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Think of it as the group of people who make the rules and decisions for everyone living there. For a long time, until 1949, Newfoundland was its own separate country called a Dominion under the British Empire. But then, it joined Canada and became one of its provinces.

How Newfoundland and Labrador is Governed

The government of Newfoundland and Labrador has two main parts that work together. One part is the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, who represents the King or Queen. The other part is the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador. This assembly is where elected officials meet to discuss and create laws.

The General Assembly: Your Elected Voices

The General Assembly is a single group, meaning it's not split into two different houses. It has 48 members, and these members are chosen by people like you (or your parents!) during elections. The political party that wins the most seats in the assembly gets to form the government.

Who Leads the Province? The Premier and Cabinet

The leader of the party with the most members in the General Assembly becomes the Premier. The Premier is like the chief executive officer of the province. They lead a team of ministers called the cabinet, who are in charge of different areas like education, health, or transportation. The leader of the second-largest party in the assembly is called the Leader of the Opposition. Their job is to question the government and offer different ideas.

Images for kids

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  Confederation Building, the seat of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly.