Diritto Pubblico Comparato ed Europeo

Sommario

1. Premessa. – 2. La peculiarità del Senato canadese nel panorama comparatistico. – 3. La genesi: ilSenato canadese al crocevia tra forma di Stato e forma di governo. – 4. L’evoluzione: il Senato come argine alparlamentarismo maggioritario? – 4.1. La struttura. – 4.2. Le funzioni esercitate. – 4.3. Le funzioni che il Senatonon può esercitare ... – 4.4. ... ed il surrogato istituzionale. – 5. Le prospettive di riforma. – 6. Conclusioni.

Abstract

The article describes the birth and the evolution of the Canadian Senate, and the role that it plays in the Canadian institutions. This second chamber appears quite different from most of the second chambers in Federal States, because of its primary function, which is not that of a protector of provincial interests in the Federation. In fact, the British North America Act of 1867 referred especially to the British House of Lords, so the Canadian Senate was conceived mainly as a barrier to the popular “irrationality” that could dominate the House of Commons. Nevertheless, in time, the Senate changed its role, and finally became a powerful counterbalance to the strict enforcement of the majority rule: nowadays, this chamber is one of the most important ways to “moderate” the Government’s policy, always (or most of the time) supported by the majority of the House of Commons.