Liberalism - Democracy Unit SS 30-2 Diagram | Quizlet

Liberalism

A Collection of ideologies all committed to the principle of the dignity and freedom of the individual as the foundation of society. Liberalism has faith in human progress and tends to favor decentralized power, both in political and economic affairs, and respect for the sovereignty of the reasoning of the individual.

Individualism

Values the freedom and worth of the individual, sometimes over the security and harmony of the group.

Collectivism

A way of thinking that values the goals of the group and over the goals of any individual.

Classical Liberalism

Focuses on allowing citizens the right to freedom in their economic, pollical, and social lives.

Modern Liberalism

Focuses on allowing citizens some rights to freedom in their economic, pollical, and social lives, yet involves significant intervention at times (hands on) government intervention. All individuals are equal, government to help disadvantaged, promotes sharing of economic development.

Rejection of liberalism.

Opposing and rejecting the ideas of Liberalism.

Imposition

Forcing something on people.

Viable

feasible, practicable, workable, doable.

Illiberal

Ideologies opposed to the values, beliefs, and principles of liberalism; usually refers to undemocratic actions but may be found in democratic countries during times of crisis.

TERM

Democracy

DEFINITION

Power and decision making is in the hands of the people.

Government

Political system that governs a nation or group.

Political power

the power to make and implement the decisions for a society

Authority

is the formal exercise of power. People voluntarily comply because government is seen to have the right to make decisions.

Influence

is the power of persuasion. People comply with decisions because they have been convinced to by government's effective use of reason or emotional appeal!

Coercion

is the power to impose negative consequences. People comply with decisions because of government' ability to punish noncompliance.

A constitution

is a document or a series of precedents and understandings, that clearly defines the rules by which a society is to be governed

Laws

meant to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals from other individuals and from government.

Legislative Power

to make laws. The legislature is composed of individuals chose to represent the wishes of the people

Executive power

power to enforce laws. The executive may also propose legislation as well as implementing the decisions (laws) made by the legislature.

Judicial power

this is the power to interpret laws. As a part of the political system, it is the role of the judiciary to ensure that individuals and governments alike follow the rules agreed upon for governing society.

Direct democracy

Citizens vote directly for people to lead.

Representative Democracy

Citizens vote to elect people to represent their interests and concerns.

Parliamentary or Presidential democracy

a system of democratic governance where the executive derives its democratic legitimacy from its ability to command the confidence of the legislature, typically a parliament, and is also held accountable to that parliament. Canada has parliamentary, and USA has Presidential.

Referendum and Plebiscite

These are methods by which the government can involve citizens in a direct vote.

Federal system

A federal system has two levels of government- an national and a state or provincial. Power is divided between the levels according to the constitution.

Unitary system

system of government has only a national government, although some legislative responsibilities are usually delegated to lower (city, town, county) levels of government. (Sweden, Great Britain)

Dissent

to express non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea.

The Rule of Law

The Rule of Law, in its most basic form, is the principle that no one is above the law. The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

the constitutional guarantee of collective and individual rights.

Electoral process

designed to enable citizens to exercise their basic democratic right of choosing who will govern them

Representation by population

Canada is divided to 308 electoral districts commonly called constituencies (ridings).

TERM

First past the post.

DEFINITION

The candidate with the greatest number of votes is elected to represent the constituency in the legislature. The party with the greatest number of candidates elected to the legislature forms the government and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

Official opposition.

The party with second greatest number of candidates elected forms the Official Opposition, and its leader becomes Leader of the Official Opposition.

Political party.

Political parties are organizations designed to achieve control of the government for their leaders.

Party platform

made up of the programs and policies it plans to implement if elected.

Executive branch

Enforces laws, prepares budgets, manages executive programs. Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Has significant power.

Legislative branch

Makes laws, sends funds to branches, creates agencies. House of Commons and the senate.

Judicial branch

Interprets and upholds laws. Protects rights. Punishes guilty.

House of commons

Members are elected to the House of Commons on a constituency basis.

Prime Minister

Leader of the political party in Canada with the most seats in the House of Commons

The Senate

intended to give "sober second thought" to bills coming from the House of Commons. Senators are appointed by the Prime minister, for life.

Parliamentary Committees

Some of the most important work involved in the legislative process is done by committees.

The House of Representatives

The house has members elected on the basis of population distribution (rep by pop).