Social 9 Chapter 1 (Alberta Curriculum)

govern

to make decisions.

governance

the process of making decisions.

government

the body with power to make decisions in a society.

"governments govern using governance"

people make decisions by a process.

Canada's Constitution

- the highest law in Canada

- defines governance and the rights of Canadian citizens.

Governor General

- represents the British monarch

- part of both the Legislative and Executive Branches of government. - - gives bills 'royal assent' making them laws.

Executive Branch

- proposes most laws

- puts laws into action

- runs the day-to-day business of government

- includes Prime Minister, Cabinet and Governor General

Legislative Branch

- makes laws

- represents the interests of Canada's regions and minorities

- includes House of Commons, Senate and Governor General.

Judicial Branch

- interprets and applies laws

- includes Supreme Court and all courts of Canada.

Prime Minister

- head of Canada's government

- leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons

- appoints Cabinet Ministers, Senators and Supreme Court Judges

- is part of the Executive Branch

Cabinet

- appointed by the PM to be in charge of portfolios or departments

- propose most ideas that become laws

- are members of the governing political party

- can be Members of Parliament or Senators

Political Party

a group of people who have similar ideas about how the government should respond to issues.

House of Commons

- major law-making body in Canada

- where elected representatives debate, study and vote on bills

- Members of Parliament are those who sit in the House of Commons and are elected by the people of Canada

- Representation is determined by population, also known as 'rep-by-pop'.

bill

a proposed law before it becomes a law.

MP/Member of Parliament

- elected by voters from a riding, district or constituency to represent their interests in government

- normally a part of a political party but not always

- supposed to represent their constituents, the people who voted for them, but sometimes represent their party instead.

Majority Government

when the governing party has more than 50% of the seats in the HC. This means that the governing party can pass any bills it wants through the House of Commons.

Minority Government

when the governing party has less than 50% of the seats in the HC. This means that the governing party needs to get cooperation from other political parties.

popular vote

the total votes cast in an election, as different from the total seats won in an election. Basically it is the percentage of votes received by each party.

Senate

- members are called Senators

- appointed by the Prime Minister to represent Canada's regions and minorities

- remain a Senator until the age of 75

- New Senators are appointed only when a spot becomes vacant

- can propose bills that do not create or spend taxes

- an reject laws passed by the HC but rarely does

minorities

groups in society who do not form the majority of the population.

Supreme Court

- is the highest court in Canada and normally interprets and applies Canada's Constitution

- appointed by the PM

- have the final say on all legal questions.

accountable

answerable to someone for your actions; observable, transparent.

civil service

the people who serve Canadians as employees of government.

The Federal Accountability Act

was passed in 2006 following the "sponsorship scandal" in which the Liberal Party of Canada was giving large sums of money to party supporters which was intended for cultural events and programs in Quebec. Is meant to hold the government accountable.

How a bill becomes a law

HC (3 readings) > Senate (3 readings) > Governor General

most bills are proposed by Cabinet Ministers to the HC. The bill goes through 3 readings in the HC. If the HC votes against the bill the bill is dead. If the HC votes to pass the bill it goes on to the Senate. The bill will go through 3 readings in the Senate. If the Senate reject the bill it goes back to the HC to be modified. If the Senate votes to pass the bill it goes to the Governor General who gives it Royal Assent.

Parliamentary Press Gallery

area for Media inside government to inform Canadians as to what our government is doing. Informs Canadians about government decisions.

Committee Stage

detailed study of a bill by a group of MPs or Senators.

assimilation

the process of becoming a part of a different cultural group.

Media

passes information on to a large audience very quickly.

slogan

a phrase repeatedly used by politicians or marketers to present an idea.

bias

an opinion based on unchallenged assumptions.

Lobbyist

- someone hired by a person or group to influence MPs and government officials on their behalf.

- must register with a Commissioner of Lobbyists

- provide different perspectives and in-depth expertise on issues.

first past the post

-current system/electoral process in Canada

-the one with the most votes wins the seats

NDP

-one of Canada's main parties

-tend to be "left" on the spectrum

-value social programs, environment and support for struggling groups

Liberal

-currently hold a minority number of seats in the HC

-tend to be "middle-left" on the political spectrum

-OK with deficit financing

-want to keep taxes moderate

Conservative

-currently the official opposition

-tend to be "right spectrum"

-values tend to fall into "traditional" category

-economic platform tends to favor lower taxes and less govt. support