The Canadian Senate is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which
also includes the Sovereign and the House of Commons. The Senate is an
unelected body, consisting of 105 members appointed by the Governor
General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senate seats are divided
among the provinces, so that Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces,
and the Western provinces are equally represented. The Senate was
established in 1867, when the British North America Act 1867 created
the Dominion of Canada. Known as the "Upper House", the Senate, which
meets at Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Ontario, is far less powerful
than the House of Commons (the "Lower House"). Although the approval
of both Houses is necessary for legislation, the Senate very rarely
rejects bills passed by the democratically elected Commons.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Senate
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1328:
Philip VI of France was crowned at the Notre-Dame de Reims, beginning
the Valois Dynasty.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_VI_of_France)
1860:
Italian unification: Giuseppe Garibaldi and his Redshirts launched
their attack on Palermo, capital of the Two Sicilies.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Garibaldi)
1919:
The flying boat NC-4 arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, becoming the first
aircraft to complete a transatlantic flight.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NC-4)
1923:
The first 24 heures du Mans sports car endurance race was held in Le
Mans, France.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_hours_of_Le_Mans)
1999:
Slobodan Milosevic was indicted for war crimes and crimes against
humanity committed in Kosovo.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slobodan_Milosevic)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"The strokes of the pen need deliberation as much as the sword needs
swiftness." -- Julia Ward Howe
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Julia_Ward_Howe)