<P> Should a serving prime minister today lose his or her seat in the legislature, or should a new prime minister be appointed without holding a seat, the typical process that follows is that a junior member in the governing political party will resign to allow the prime minister to run in the resulting by - election . A safe seat is usually chosen; while the Liberal and Conservative parties traditionally observed a convention of not running a candidate against another party's new leader in the by - election, the New Democrats and smaller political parties typically do not follow the same convention . However, if the governing party selects a new leader shortly before an election is due, and that new leader is not a member of the legislature, he or she will normally await the upcoming election before running for a seat in parliament . </P> <P> In a poll conducted by Ipsos - Reid following the first prorogation of the 40th parliament on December 4, 2008, it was found that 51% of the sample group thought the prime minister was directly elected by Canadians . </P> <P> The Canadian prime minister serves at Her Majesty's pleasure, meaning the post does not have a fixed term . Once appointed and sworn in by the governor general, the prime minister remains in office until he or she resigns, is dismissed, or dies . The lifespan of parliament was limited by the constitution to five years and, though the governor general may still, on the advice of the prime minister, dissolve parliament and issue the writs of election prior to the date mandated by the Canada Elections Act; the King--Byng Affair was the only time since Confederation that the governor general deemed it necessary to refuse his prime minister's request for a general vote . As of 2007, with an amendment to the Elections Act, Section 56.1 (2) was changed to limit the term of a majority government to four (4) years, with election day being set as the third Monday in October of the 4th calendar year after the previous polling date . </P> <P> Following parliamentary dissolution, the prime minister must run in the resulting general election if he or she wishes to maintain a seat in the House of Commons . Should the prime minister's party subsequently win a majority of seats in the House of Commons, it is unnecessary to re-appoint the prime minister or again swear him or her into office . If, however, an opposition party wins a majority of seats, the prime minister may resign or be dismissed by the governor general . Should the prime minister's party achieve a minority while an opposition party wins a plurality (i.e., more seats than any other party but less than a majority), the prime minister can attempt to maintain the confidence of the House by forming a coalition with other minority parties . This option was last entertained in 1925 . </P>

How many years can the prime minister of canada serve
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