Dervish said
We're actually officially considered a constitutional monarchy. The Queen is in fact our head of state in Canada. It's more symbolic than anything, but it does mean the Prime Minister has to do things like ask the Queen via Governor General for permission to have an election.

I meant most people i've seen seem to think Canada is an absolute monarchy.

HollywoodMole said
I meant most people i've seen seem to think Canada is an absolute monarchy.

There are some people from the US who do that all over I think. I was in London last month and an American tourist asked me why we grovel to the queen and why we don't have a democracy like the good ol' US. Some people are just really ignorant

darkwolf3.14 said There are some people from the US who do that all over I think. I was in London last month and an American tourist asked me why we grovel to the queen and why we don't have a democracy like the good ol' US. Some people are just really ignorant

Goddamnit. If that's true, I'm embarrassed.

darkwolf687 said Eh? I thought it was a scenario where de jure she has power (I believe one of her powers is the authority to refuse to legitimise a law, as she has to sign it does she not?), but de facto she can never use it because parliament would remove the monarchy if she did. I was under the impression she held the same authority in the commonwealth realms but for the reason that they would remove her as their figure head she couldn't use it.

That's correct, the Queen technically holds power in this sense.
But it's always been used as just a formality, the Queen has never actually done anything with it.
This causes some Canadians to think we're completely Queen Independent, but we're not.

idlehands said Goddamnit. If that's true, I'm embarrassed.

Canada has cases of Americans being amazed by the fact that we have seasons other than winter, and that it's not night time 24/7 for us.

darkwolf687 said
There are some people from the US who do that all over I think. I was in London last month and an American tourist asked me why we grovel to the queen and why we don't have a democracy like the good ol' US. Some people are just really ignorant

I still don't understand "Good ol' USA", isn't the US not even 250 years old yet?

darkwolf687 said
There are some people from the US who do that all over I think. I was in London last month and an American tourist asked me why we grovel to the queen and why we don't have a democracy like the good ol' US. Some people are just really ignorant

Wha- Really?? GODDAMMIT GUYS, GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER YOU'RE MAKING US LOOK BAD!! PEOPLE GENERALIZE YA KNOW? SO IF YOUR OUT THERE JUST WATCHING STUPID SHIT COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, STOP!! Fuck.

This is probably why most of the world generalizes Americans as a bunch of spoiled slack jawed fatasses. 'Murica.

idlehands said
This is probably why most of world generalizes Americans as a bunch of spoiled slack jawed fatasses. 'Murica.

-Whispers from behind his hand-
Trust me, it's the only way you can get through to the stupid ones.

-Looks up-
HEY! GET THAT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH. JESUS CHRIST!

HollywoodMole said
I still don't understand "Good ol' USA", isn't the US not even 250 years old yet?

Well, the UK is only 307, so us Brits cant talk rofl

And don't worry Americans, I bet you have Brits come over and say stupid stuff too rofl people in general are just ignorant

darkwolf said Well, the UK is only 307, so us Brits cant talk rofl

That's being really technical. That is one old ass place. It's been some form of country for a lot longer than that.

darkwolf687 said
Well, the UK is only 307, so us Brits cant talk roflAnd don't worry Americans, I bet you have Brits come over and say stupid stuff too rofl people in general are just ignorant

The countries that make up the UK are a hell of a lot older though :P

See the British monarchy is one of those rare and glorious places where the 'Head of State' is different from the 'Head of Government.' The Head of State gets to do all the ceremonial things that grant public legitimacy to the government -- you know, like parachuting into the Olympics, or more importantly accepting resignations, implicitly approving laws (by not vetoeing), meeting other country leaders for tea and crumpets. The Head of Government, aka Prime Minister, is the one actually driving the goddamn boat.

Americans: It's essentially a system where Barrack Obama doesn't have to take his family to China for 'vacation,' because he'd have a guy for that. Or if you prefer, it's a system where George W. Bush is in his office when 9/11 happens, instead of reading books to kids in a public school. Those are 'Head of State' ceremonial-type functions that a british Monarch would cover.

[2]

Magic Magnum said
Eh... maybe.Canada is only still influenced by the Queen cause we left peacefully.America left with a pool of blood and the Queen has zero influence in their legal system anymore.

The queen has no real power that wouldn't simply be rejected.