The Senate is modelled after the British House of Lords, with its members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister.

The prime minister and Cabinet are responsible solely to the House of Commons and remain in office only so long as they retain the confidence of that chamber.

Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, described the Senate as a body of "sober second thought" that would curb the "democratic excesses" of the elected House of Commons and provide regional representation.

On appeal, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled that women were persons, and four months later, Cairine Wilson was appointed to the senate.

After Parliament enacted the National Energy Program Western Canadians called for a Triple-E (elected, equal, and effective) senate.

Following the Canadian Senate expenses scandal Prime Minister Stephen Harper declared a moratorium on further appointments.

All Canadians may now apply directly for a Senate appointment at any time, or nominate someone they believe meets the merit criteria.

The Senate then sat in the mineral room of what is today the Canadian Museum of Nature until 1922, when it relocated to Parliament Hill.

The dais of the speaker is at one end of the chamber, and includes the new royal thrones, made in part from English walnut from Windsor Great Park.

The constitution requires that a person be a subject of the King, between 30 and 75 years of age and a resident of the province or territory for which they are appointed, to become a senator.

The approval is given by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister, and the governor general is instructed to issue the necessary letters patent.

This provision has been used only once: in 1990, when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney sought to ensure the passage of a bill creating the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

These elections, however, are not held pursuant to any federal constitutional or legal provision; thus, the prime minister is not required to recommend the nominees for appointment.

[d] There is some debate as to whether there is any requirement for the prime minister to advise the governor general to appoint new senators to fill vacancies as they arise.

[40] Vancouver lawyer Aniz Alani filed an application for judicial review of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apparent refusal to advise the appointment of senators to fill existing vacancies in 2014, arguing that the failure to do so violates the Constitution Act, 1867.

[41] On July 24, 2015, Harper announced that he would not be advising the governor general to fill the 22 vacancies in the Senate, preferring that the provinces "come up with a plan of comprehensive reform or to conclude that the only way to deal with the status quo is abolition".

[43] On December 5, 2015, the new Liberal government announced a new merit-based appointment process, using specific new criteria as to eligibility for the Senate.

Independent applicants, not affiliated with any political party, will be approved by a new five-member advisory board (to be in place by year end), a reform that was intended to begin eliminating the partisan nature of the Senate.

[46] The speaker of the Senate is the body's presiding officer and is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister.

[48][failed verification] The speaker presides over sittings of the Senate and controls debates by calling on members to speak.

Another officer is the usher of the Black Rod, whose duties include the maintenance of order and security within the Senate chamber.

Nominees to be officers of Parliament often appear before Committee of the Whole to answer questions with respect to their qualifications prior to their appointment.

The number of members for a special committee varies, but, the partisan composition would roughly reflect the strength of the parties in the whole Senate.

Parliament may also establish special joint committees on an ad hoc basis to consider issues of particular interest or importance.

In conformity with the British model, the Senate is not permitted to originate bills imposing taxes or appropriating public funds.

This careful review process is why the Senate is still today called the chamber of "sober second thought", though the term has a slightly different meaning from what it did when used by John A. Macdonald.

During this period, the Senate opposed legislation on issues such as the 1988 free trade bill with the US (forcing the Canadian federal election of 1988) and the Goods and Services Tax.

This function has not been exercised since 1968 as the Divorce Act provided a uniform statutory basis across Canada accessed through the court system.

[62] Unlike the House of Commons, the Senate has no effect in the decision to end the term of the prime minister or of the government.

Only the House of Commons may force prime ministers to tender their resignation or to recommend the dissolution of Parliament and issue election writs, by passing a motion of no-confidence or by withdrawing supply.