Social Studies Government and History Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering Canada's three branches of government, the justice system, key historical figures, major rebellions, and socio-political concepts.

Legislative

The branch of government that makes laws.

Executive

The branch of government that implements laws.

Judicial

The branch of government that interprets laws.

Prime Minister

The Head of government in Canada who provides leadership to the executive branch.

House of Commons

The place where Members of Parliament (MPs) sit and debate/pass legislation.

Senate

The upper house of Canada's Parliament which reviews legislation and provides 'sober second thought.'

Riding

An electoral district represented by a Member of Parliament.

First-past-the-post

An electoral system where the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins.

Federal

The level of government that handles national issues like defense and trade.

Provincial

The level of government that handles local/regional issues such as education and healthcare.

Purpose of law

To maintain order, resolve disputes, and protect citizens' rights.

Collective rights

Rights held by groups in Canadian society (e.g., Indigenous peoples, official language minorities) based on their group identity.

Canadian Constitution

The supreme law of Canada which outlines the structure of government and rights.

Individual rights

Rights that belong to each person.

Justice system

A framework of courts and laws that protects citizens' rights and ensures due process.

Nuremberg Laws

Anti-Semitic laws in Nazi Germany that stripped Jews of citizenship and basic rights.

Final Solution

The Nazi plan for the genocide of Jews during WWII.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

A global document outlining fundamental human rights for all, created to prevent future atrocities.

Sir John A. Macdonald

First Prime Minister of Canada and a primary architect of Confederation.

Nellie McClung

A prominent suffragist who fought for women's rights, including the right to vote.

Billy Bishop

A famous Canadian WWI fighter pilot and 'ace of aces.'

Bishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché

A religious figure involved in the Red River Resistance.

Red River Rebellion

A resistance by the Métis in Manitoba led by Louis Riel, seeking land rights and a voice in negotiations.

North-West Rebellion

A later Métis uprising in Saskatchewan, also led by Louis Riel, sparked by ignored land rights.

Loyalists

American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution and moved to Canada.

Quebec Act

A 1774 act by the British Parliament that allowed Quebec to retain its French language, culture, and civil law.

Quiet Revolution

A period of rapid social, political, and cultural change in Quebec during the 1960s.

Francophone

A person who speaks French.

Bilingualism in Canada

The policy of having two official languages (English and French), promoting inclusion.

Collective identity

The shared characteristics, values, and sense of belonging within a group.

Media's role

Influences and shapes cultural identity, such as Hockey Night in Canada promoting a shared national experience.

War Measures Act

A law that gave the Canadian government extensive powers during emergencies.

Authoritarianism

A system of government with centralized power and limited political freedom.

Left-wing (economic left)

Political ideas that advocate for social equality, redistribution of wealth, and government involvement in the economy.