​Voting & Electoral Districts

ISRAEL: Voters cast one ballot for a single political party to represent them in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. The Knesset is unicameral and is comprised of 120 elected party members. Knesset seats are assigned in proportion to each party's percentage of the total national vote. The number and order of members entering the new Knesset for each party corresponds to its list of candidates as presented for election. 

CANADA: Canada is divided into 308 electoral districts (known as “constituencies” or “ridings”). An electoral district is a geographic area represented by a Member of Parliament (MP). Voters in each district cast one ballot for a single candidate who sits in the House of Commons to represent them. Canada’s electoral system is defined as “first-passed the post,” whereby the candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP for that electoral district. Candidates can run as independents or as part of a political party.

Political Leader & Head of State

ISRAEL: The Prime Minister is selected from among the Knesset members. The President of the State assigns the task to the Knesset member considered to have the best chance of forming a viable coalition government with a majority of Knesset members. The President is Israel’s Head of State who is elected by the Knesset serving a single 7-year term.

CANADA: As a constitutional monarchy, the Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King) who reigns in accordance with a constitution. The Sovereign is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who is selected by the Sovereign on the advices of the Prime Minister for term of 5 years. However, it is the Head of Government—the Prime Minister—who directs the governing of the country. The leader of the political party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government—thereby becoming the Prime Minister.

Ministers of Government

ISRAEL: In most cases, the prime minister appoints members of the elected coalition party to serve as ministers of the government. In rare cases, professional ministers are appointed.

CANADA: The Prime Minister chooses the ministers of the Crown, most of them from among members of the House of Commons. Cabinet ministers are responsible for running the federal government departments. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers are called the Cabinet and they make important decisions about how the country is governed.  

Parties Competing for Election

ISRAEL: In the upcoming 2013 elections, 34 parties and lists are competing for election to the Knesset. Between 10-15 parties are usually elected to the Knesset. In the 2009 elections, 12 parties were elected.

CANADA: Although more varied than its southern neighbour, Canada tends to have far fewer parties than Israel. There are usually no more than 5-6 major parties in Canada.

Campaign Finance

ISRAEL: Most funding for parties comes from the State of Israel based on their current and future number of Knesset members. Part of the funding is received after the elections.  Private donations are only allowed from private citizens. An individual household may contribute up to 2,300 shekels (approximately $600) in an election year, and 1,000 shekels in a non-election year.  In the last election, the treasury paid out 160 million shekels (approximately $38 million) in party financing.

CANADA:  In 2004, new rules were brought in to limit any individual from contributing more than $5,000 in any calendar year to a party and its candidates. Corporations and trade unions were capped at $1,000 per calendar year. The limits on individual donations were subject to an inflation adjustment which stood at $5,200 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006; corporate and union donations remained fixed at $1,000. In 2007, new limits came into effect stipulating that only individuals can make donations to political parties and candidates; corporations and trade unions now can no longer donate money directly to political parties or candidates. Individuals are currently limited to donating no more than $1,100 in total per year to any of the political parties, ridings associations, and individual candidates.