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The National Flag of Canada, also known as the Maple Leaf and
l'Unifolié (French for "the one-leafed"), designed byGeorge F.G. Stanley, is
a flag consisting of a red field with a white square at its centre, in the middle
of which is featured a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. Adopted in 1965

to replace the Union Flag, it is the first ever specified by statute law for use
as the country's national flag.
Government and politics. Canada has a parliamentary system within

the context of a constitutional monarchy, the monarchy of Canada being the
foundation of the executive, ‘legislative, and judicial branches. The
sovereign [’s vər n] is Queen Elizabeth II, who also serves as head of state
of 15 other Commonwealth countries and each of Canada's ten provinces. As

such, the Queen's representative, the Governor General of Canada (at present
David Lloyd Johnston), carries out most of the federal royal duties in
Canada.

The direct participation of the royal and viceroyal figures in areas of
governance is limited. In practice, their use of the executive powers is
directed by the Cabinet, a committee of ministers of the Crown responsible

to the elected House of Commons and chosen and headed by the Prime
Minister of Canada (at present Stephen Harper), the head of government.
Law. The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of the country,

and consists of written text and unwritten conventions. The Constitution Act,
1867 (known as the British North America Act prior to 1982), affirmed
governance based on parliamentary precedent and divided powers between
the federal and provincial governments.

Language. Canada's two official languages are English and French,
pursuant to Section 16 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and
the Federal Official Languages Act. Canada's federal government practices

official bilingualism, which is applied by the Commissioner of Official
Languages. English and French have equal status in federal courts,
Parliament, and in all federal institutions. Citizens have the right, where there
is sufficient demand, to receive federal government services in either English

or French, and official-language minorities are guaranteed their own schools
in all provinces and territories.
Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, funded and

overseen by federal, provincial, and local governments. Education in Canada
is generally divided into primary education, followed by secondary education
and post-secondary. Within the provinces under the ministry of education,

there are district school boards administering the educational programs.[18]
Education is compulsory up to the age of 16 in every province in Canada,

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