Canadian Politics Terms

Regime

The logic that ties together the political institutions of a country into one whole

Liberalism

We are free to do whatever we want, provided there is no law prohibiting us from doing so

Constitution

A set of rules for the structure and framework for the political regime

Legislative Power

The power to make law or policy

Executive Power

The power to execute law or policy

Judicial Power

The power to answer questions about violations of law and to choose a suitable punishment if found guilty

Conventions

Political rules, typically followed out of fear of political consequences

Law

Judicially enforceable rules

Constitutional Conventions

A constitutional rule based on implicit policy agreement

Constitutional Law

Organic statutes and entrenched constitutional acts

Organic Statutes

Rules regarding a particular situation

Entrenched Constitutional Acts

Comprehensive codifications of a wide variety of political rules

Constitutional Act of 1867

Creation of the Dominion of Canada, the constitution will be similar in principle to that of the UK

Constitutional Act of 1982

Inclusion of a constitutional amending formula, and entrenching the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Responsible Government

A regime where the legislative and executive branches are fused together in a cabinet that is held accountable to an assembly of people's elected representatives

Caucus

The Members of Parliament who are members of the governing party

Disallowance

The federal government can annul provincial legislature of which is dissaproves

Tax Room

The negotiation between federal and provincial levels of government for the transfer of who may collect certain taxes

Control Grant

The federal government providing funds for the provincial government with the condition on how the money will be spent

Equalization Payments

The federal government's responsibility for providing funds to provinces who's tax revenue is below the national average

Bill of Rights

The recognition of a number of human rights and freedoms

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Entrenching those rights outlines in the Bill of Rights

Notwithstanding Clause

Legislature that passes a law in spite of certain guarantees included in the Charter

Governor General

The representative of the Crown in Canada

Queen's Privy Council of Canada

Appointed by Prime Ministers to advise the governor general, officially serves for life

The Cabinet

Members of the Queen's Privy Council who are part of the existing government

Collective Responsibility

The Cabinet must function as a team and will be help accountable as a team

Parliament

Intended to hold the cabinet accountable for its actions in the public eye

Throne Speech

A speech given by the governor general at the beginning of each session

Confidence Vote

A vote at the end of the Throne Speech to determine the confidence of the House in the existing government

Standing Rules

Basic regulations concerning the organization of business and the conduct of debates

Mandate

The assumption that a political party with carry out the policy that a member of parliament proposes

Party Member

Representation by loyalty to the member's party

Microcosm Theory of Representation

Legislative bodies are fully representative if the assembly is a microcosm of society

Plurality

The person with the most votes

Single-Member Plurality

An electoral system where the country is divided into a number of electoral districts, each represented by one person

By-Election

An election in one constituency to fill a seat vacated midway through Parliament

Interest Aggregation

Identify, represent, and balance the interests of Canada

High Partisanship

A commitment to a set of political ideals

Affirmative Action

Measures intended to increase the representation of target groups

Constituency (Riding)

The territory represented by a member of Parliament

Oaks Test

A test applied in the courts to determine if a law or government action that breaks the Charter is constitutional

Party Dicipline

The practice of Members of Parliament voting as a unified bloc as directed by their party leader

Separation of Powers

The guarantee of the role of the judiciary to interpret the constitution or a law impartial of the rest of government