Chapter 10 -- political changes to liberalism

direct democracy: 3

• first practiced in ancient athens

• every citizens voice is important but is practical only with small numbers of people

• requires people to meet, discuss, and vote on issues

instruments of direct democracy: 3

• initiatives

• referednym/plebiscites

• recalls

initiatives: 3

• more common in us

• citizens group draws up a petition

• if petition is signed by enough people a public vote is held

referendum/plebiscites: 2

• all citizens vote to either accept/reject a proposed piece of legislation

• plebiscite: “common people speak"

recalls: 2

• majority of voters choose to remove an elected official/government from power, usually done through a petition

representative democracy: 2

• citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf

• theres many variations, canada has a parliamentary democracy and follows a tradition known as responsible government

responsible government: 3

• branch of government that proposes laws (executive) is dependent on the support of members of legislative branch

• about accountability, the governnment is responsible to parliament as well as constituents

• if they are seen as not being accountable, a non-confidence vote can be held and a new election can be called

canada's parliamentary democracy: 3

• nation is divided ito electoral districts called ridings/constituencies

• each riding sends one representative to the house of commons

• bicameral (2 chamber) legislature

bicameral legislature: 2

• house of commons: 338 total seats, elected representatives (MPs), debate issues, pass bills, government and opposition

• senate: 105 seats, senators are appointed by prime minister and not elected, bills from house of commons must be approved by senate who can suggest amendments and even reject a bill

while canada is a constitution monarchy…us is a

republic

republic:

sovereign nation without a king/queen

party solidarity: 2

• requires that all party members vote with the party (except when party leadership frees them--free vote)

• mostly MPs vote with the party, but sometimes outside of a free vote some MPs take a stand and refuce to follow the party vote (they are forced out of the party or leave voluntarily

hoouse of representatives: 2

• voted in accordance to representation by population

• 435 representatives and each represent a congressional district

what is the congress composed of? 2

• house of representatives

• senate

2 special jobs of congress: 2

• start laws to make people pay taxes

• decide if a member of government should be broight before the senate if they have done something ‘unpatriotic''

senate:

equal representation where elections happen every 6 years

senate special jobs: 3

• confirm/disapprove any treaties the president drafts

• confirm/disapprove the presidential appointments, such as cabinet, officers, supreme court justices, ambassadors

• holds a trial for government officials who commit a crime against the country

powers of congress combined: 8

• coining money

• maintaining military

• declaring war on other countries

• regulating interstate and foreign commerce

• controls federal taxing and spending policies

• elastic clause (make all laws that are thought to be proper and necessary)

• authority to investigate and oversee the executive branch and its agencies

• holds hearings on matters of general public concern

What is the executive branch made of 3

• President

• Vice president

• Cabinet

What is the executive branch responsible for:

Leadership, important decisions, policy making

What are each of their roles (pres, vp, departments, independent agencies): 4

• President: leader of country and commander in chief of military

• Vp: president of senate and becomes president is pres is unable to serve cunt

• Departments: heads advise president on party issues and help on executive policies

• Independent agencies: help execute policies that provide special services

Power of the president: 4

• Commander in chief of armed forces

• Make treaties with 2/3 consent of senate

• Receive ambassadors and other public ministers from foreign countries

• Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and any officials as provided for by congress, with the approval of the senate

What else does the president do: 7

• Give an annual state of the union address to congress

• Recommend legislation to congress

• Convene congress on extraordinary occasions

• Adjourn congress, in cases of a disagreement about adjournment

• Take care that the laws be faithfully executed

• Fill in administrative vacancies during congressional recesses

• Grant retrieves and pardons for offenses against us

Congress makes laws but the president has to view it. He has 3 options:

• Veto the bill

• Sign The bill

• Ignore it

10 day limit for congress if pres does nothing: 2

• If within 10 days, congress is still meeting, the bill becomes a law

• If within 10 days congress arjourns, bill is defeated

the judicial branch: 2

• responsible for deciding on the meaning of laws and if they are constitutional

• last in the series of checks and balances

is the president elected by popular vote?

no

the voting system in the united states: 3

• each state has a number of electors who are selected and who represents the president in that state

• during the vote, people fote for these electors

• in any state, if the president wins the most electoral votes, he wins the entire seats

proportional representation: 4

• citizens vote directly for a party and representatives are assined to office based on the amount of popular support obtained

• beneficial for minority parties

• nations using this syetem usually have more political parties

• it is argued that this system is more representative of the population

citizen participation: 4

• requisite of any democratic system

• fewer and fewer people are turning out to vote

• “elite theory of democracy" (elite, better qualified group of people should meke decisions for all)

• assumes that individuals are not well-informed in politics