The players of Canadian Civil War control the government officials, interest groups, and constituencies who adhere to various schools of thought in regard to Separatism vs. Federalism. It is the interaction among players during any given turn that affects the course of the game. The game map is an abstract representation of the areas where military and political events occur. These areas all surround the "Crisis Zone", where control of the issues is decided. Counters represent political forces (premiers, Civil Servants, Interest Groups, the Prime Minister, etc.) and military units (which may be called in case of a National Emergency). Election procedures model the Canadian Parlimentarian system. If a majority government cannot be formed, players must negotiate to form a coalition. The winner must maintain a viable government for two full elections and appease the Separatists (if the election went Federal) or maintain Separatist Sovereignty otherwise.