Social Studies 10: Canadian Government, Elections & Charter Rights

Democracy

A system in which people freely choose their representatives through elections.

Dictatorship

Government controlled by a ruler with absolute or nearly absolute power and little accountability to citizens.

Constitutional Monarchy

A system with a monarch as head of state whose powers are limited by constitutional rules; elected leaders govern Canada.

Socialism

An ideology favouring public or collective ownership of production and distribution to benefit society and reduce inequality.

Liberalism

A political philosophy supporting individual freedoms, civil liberties, and protection of rights.

Conservatism

A political philosophy valuing traditional institutions and values, usually favouring gradual rather than sudden change.

Totalitarian

Describes a government seeking control over nearly every part of public and private life, often using propaganda, intimidation, and violence.

Authoritarian

Describes a government concentrating power in one ruler or a small group and restricting political freedom.

Communism

An ideology aiming for common ownership of production and a classless society; historical communist states often used centralized government control.

Fascism

An extreme nationalist, authoritarian ideology that glorifies the state and leader, suppresses opposition, and often promotes militarism.

Capitalism

An economic system based mainly on private ownership, market competition, and earning profit.

Political Spectrum

A model placing political views along a range, commonly from left to centre to right.

Party Platform

A political party's stated policies, goals, and election promises.

Executive

The branch that directs government, sets priorities, and carries out laws.

Legislative

The branch that debates, amends, and passes laws.

Judiciary

The branch of courts and judges that interprets laws and decides legal disputes.

Governor General

The monarch's federal representative; grants royal assent and formally appoints the prime minister.

Prime Minister

The head of Canada's federal government; leads Cabinet and sets government priorities.

Cabinet

Ministers chosen by the prime minister or premier to lead departments and make major government decisions.

Senate

The appointed upper chamber of Canada's Parliament; reviews, debates, and votes on federal bills and represents regions.

House of Commons

The elected chamber of Parliament where MPs represent ridings, debate laws, and hold the government accountable.

Supreme Court of Canada

Canada's highest court and final court of appeal; interprets laws and the Constitution.

Member of Parliament (MP)

An elected representative of a federal riding in the House of Commons.

Lieutenant-Governor

The monarch's representative in a province; grants provincial royal assent and formally appoints the premier.

Premier

The head of a provincial government; leads the provincial Cabinet and sets provincial priorities.

Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)

An elected representative of a provincial constituency in the Legislative Assembly, including in BC.

Mayor

The elected head of a municipality who leads council and helps set local priorities.

City Councillor

An elected member of municipal council who represents local residents and votes on bylaws and policies.

Bill

A proposed law submitted to a legislature for consideration.

Royal Assent

Formal approval by the Crown or its representative after a bill passes the required legislative stages; makes the bill law.

Party Discipline

The expectation that members of a political party follow its position, particularly when voting.

Free Vote

A vote in which party members may vote according to their own judgment without being required to follow the party line.

Majority Government

A government whose party holds more than half the seats in the elected legislative chamber.

Minority Government

A government whose party holds fewer than half the seats and needs support from other members to pass measures and retain confidence.

Riding / Constituency

A geographic electoral district whose voters elect a representative.

First-past-the-post (FPTP)

An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins its single seat, even without more than 50% of votes.

Single Transferable Vote (STV)

A proportional system with multiple representatives per riding; voters rank candidates and votes transfer as candidates win or are eliminated.

Proportional Representation (PR)

An electoral system designed to make a party's share of seats closely match its share of votes.

Canadian Bill of Rights

A federal law passed in 1960 protecting rights and freedoms; it applies to federal law and is not part of the Constitution.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Constitutional rights protections adopted in 1982 that apply to government action across Canada.

Notwithstanding Clause

Section 33 of the Charter; permits an express legislative override of section 2 and sections 7-15 for up to five years, renewable.

Fundamental Freedoms

Freedoms of conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression, including the press; peaceful assembly; and association.

Mobility Rights

Citizens may enter, remain in, and leave Canada; citizens and permanent residents may move to and seek work in any province, subject to specified limits.

Equality Rights

Equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination, including on grounds such as race, religion, sex, age, and disability.

Legal Rights

Protections relating to justice, policing, and trials, including life, liberty, security, fair process, and protection against arbitrary detention.

Direct Democracy

Citizens decide issues directly, such as through a referendum.

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect representatives who make government decisions on their behalf.

Republic

A state whose head of state is not a monarch.

Monarchy

A system in which a monarch, such as a king or queen, is head of state.

Oligarchy

Government in which power is held by a small group or dominant elite.

Theocracy

Government based on religious authority and religious law.

How do authoritarian and totalitarian governments differ?

Authoritarian governments restrict political freedom; totalitarian governments seek much broader control over society and private life.

What systems describe Canada's government?

A representative parliamentary democracy, a constitutional monarchy, and a federation.

What is parliamentary democracy?

Citizens elect members of a legislature; the government must maintain the confidence of the elected chamber.

The constitution

The fundamental laws and principles that structure government, divide powers, and limit government authority.

What is responsible government?

The executive must maintain the confidence of the elected legislative chamber and is accountable to it.

What is a bicameral parliament?

A legislature with two chambers; Canada's are the House of Commons and the Senate.

What is the Privy Council?

A body formally advising the Crown; Cabinet is its active decision-making committee, and Privy Council membership is normally for life.

Place the ideologies on the class political spectrum.

From left to right: communism → socialism → liberalism (centre) → conservatism → fascism (far right). This is a simplified classroom model.

Place the federal parties on the spectrum shown in your notes.

NDP, Green, and Bloc Québécois are placed left of centre; Liberals near the centre; Conservatives right of centre. Actual positions vary by issue.

Left-leaning views on taxes and spending

Higher spending and taxes to support services.

Right-leaning views on taxes and spending

Lower spending and taxes and a smaller government role.

Left-leaning views on social programs

More public programs and collective support.

Right-leaning views on social programs

Fewer programs and greater emphasis on individual responsibility.

Left-leaning views on justice

Address root causes of crime and rehabilitation.

Right-leaning views on justice

Emphasize punishment, deterrence, and law and order.

Left-leaning views on military policy

More emphasis on diplomacy and a smaller military.

Right-leaning views on military policy

More emphasis on a strong military.

Left-leaning views on the environment

Prioritize environmental protection.

Right-leaning views on the environment

Emphasize economic growth when priorities conflict.

Is capitalism a form of government?

No. It is an economic system and can exist under different forms of government.

Difference between socialism and communism

Both emphasize collective ownership and equality; communism aims for a classless society, while socialist approaches vary.

Three branches of government and their main jobs

Executive: runs government and carries out laws. Legislative: makes laws. Judiciary: interprets laws and resolves disputes.

Three levels of government

Federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal.

Members of the federal executive

The prime minister and Cabinet; executive authority is formally exercised in the name of the Crown.

Three parts of Canada's Parliament

The Crown, the Senate, and the House of Commons.

Members of BC's provincial executive

The premier and provincial Cabinet, with the lieutenant-governor representing the Crown.

Who makes provincial laws in BC?

The Legislative Assembly passes bills, which receive royal assent from the lieutenant-governor.

Highest court in Canada

Supreme Court of Canada.

Highest appeal court in BC

BC Court of Appeal.

Other main BC courts

BC Supreme Court and BC Provincial Court.

How are MPs and MLAs selected?

Voters elect them to represent federal ridings or provincial constituencies.

How are the prime minister and premier selected?

The Crown's representative appoints the person able to lead a government with the elected chamber's confidence.

How are federal and provincial Cabinet ministers selected?

The prime minister selects federal ministers; the premier selects provincial ministers.

How are senators selected?

The governor general appoints senators on the prime minister's recommendation.

How is the governor general selected?

Appointed by the monarch on the prime minister's recommendation.

How is a lieutenant-governor selected?

Appointed by the governor general on the federal prime minister's advice.

How are mayors and city councillors selected?

Directly elected by voters in municipal elections.

Major federal government responsibilities

National defence, foreign affairs, currency, citizenship, criminal law, and interprovincial and international trade.

Major provincial government responsibilities

Education, health care, natural resources, property and civil rights, highways, and authority over municipalities.

Major municipal government responsibilities

Local roads, water and sewer services, waste collection, parks, zoning, and local bylaws.

What is a municipal bylaw?

A local law passed by municipal council under authority granted by the province.

Usual path for a federal bill introduced in the H.O.C and the Senate

First reading → second reading → committee → report stage → third reading → Senate consideration and approval of the same text → royal assent.

What happens at first reading?

The bill is introduced and made available; its substance is normally not debated yet.

What happens at second reading?

Members debate the bill's principle and vote on whether it should proceed.

What happens at the committee stage?

A smaller group examines details, hears evidence, and may amend the bill.

What happens at the report stage?

The chamber considers the committee's report and any proposed further amendments.

What happens at third reading?

Members debate and vote on the bill in its final form.

What happens after a bill passes the House of Commons?

The Senate considers it through its own stages; both chambers must agree on exactly the same text.

How does a provincial bill's path differ from a federal bill's?

It passes through the provincial legislature and receives the lieutenant-governor's royal assent; provinces do not have a Senate.