Government of Canada Flash Cards

What is canada’s government system?

1. Constitutional monarchy

2. Federal state/ government

3. Provincial government

4. Municipal government

5. Constituents

What are the three levels of government? What do they manage?

1. Federal government: the whole country (deals with affairs that affect Canada as a whole)

2. Provincial government: the province (deals with affairs mainly within the province)

Municipal government: your city/town (deals with your local community)

Describe the constitutional monarchy

Monarch is the head of the state, but does not personally run the government. Canadas government operates according to the constitution.

The monarchy is represented federally by the governor general and provincially by lieutenant governor.

Describe the federal state/government. Who is the leader, constituent reps, and where are they located?

responsible for managing national affairs that affect the entire country of Canada.

Leader: prime minister

Constituent reps: members of parliament

(Both who represent the monarch)

Location: House of Commons

Describe the provincial government. Who is the leader, constituent reps, and where are they located?

Responsible for managing affairs within a province

Leader: premier

Constituent reps: members of legislative assembly

Location: legislative assembly

Describe the municipal government. Who is the leader, constituent reps, and where are they located?

Responsible for managing affairs within a local community, like a city or town.

Leader: mayor/reeve

Constituent reps: councillor/alderman

Location: city/town

Describe a constituent

A person who is represented by an elected official

MP: federal

MLA: provincial

Councillor: municipal

concurrency

Different groups working together towards a shared goal

Riding

An area that shares a representative in our government system (MLA’s, MP’s, councillors)

what is Canadas voting system? Describe how it works.

First past the post is Canadas main voting system. In this system, constituents vote for their riding, the candidate with the most votes (doesn’t need to be more than 50%) wins riding/seat, and the party with the most seats gets elected.

Explain majority

Governments can be formed as majority. This is when a party has won more than 50% or more of the seats. A majority government might want to call an early election, if not called early, it must happen every four years.

Explain minority

Governments can be formed as minority. This is when a party has won less than 50% of the seats but still more than everyone else. It may need to work with another party to get enough votes to pass legislation (a coalition)

Tactical voting

Voting for the party that will be most likely to win against the party you oppose

Voter apathy

When you do not vote or when you vote misinformed because you believe that your vote does not matter

What is proportional representation?

A voting system where the number of seats a political party gets in the legislature is meant to match the percentage of votes a party received. Every vote counts, as the party with the most votes gets elected.

Democracy

System of government in which the sovereign power is vested in the people as a whole

Parliment

Consultation or a formal conference/assembly

Constitutional

To enter into the formation as a necessary part

Constituent

One who appoints or elects a representative

Monarch

Surpreme governor for life, a sole or autocratic ruler of a state

Concurrent

Happening, existing, or operating at the same time

Consensus

A general agreement in opinion

Which three places do bills go to

1. House of Commons (MP to cabinet ministers)

2. Senate (can amend but not reject bills)

3. Governor general (represents the monarch, can make bills an official law if passed)

What is executive branch of government

Governor general (appointed), prime minister (elected), cabinet ministers (appointed)

What is the legislative process?

1. 1st reading- bill gets read, no debates or discussions

2. Second reading- bill gets debated for the first time

3. Committee- introduced to public for opinions (experts, citizens, lobbyists)

4. Report- report what was said in committee stage

5. 3rd reading- make amendments final reading

What is the legislative branch in government

MP’s (elected), senate (appointed)

Describe what the executive, legislative, and judicial branches do in the bill passing system?

Executive- approve bills and run the day-to-day

Legislative-make bills and debate (works concurrently with executive branch)

Judicial- enforce the law (separate to remain unbiased and fair)

What is the judicial branch in the government

Courts, judges, and lawyers

Criminal code of of Canada

-if you are 18+ or 14-17 w/ a serious crime

-will receive criminal record when convicted under the criminal code

What are the 5 R’s in the criminal code of Canada

1. Restitution

2. Rehabilitation

3. Reintegration

4. Reduction

5. Recognizing

YJCA (youth criminal justice act)

for 12-17yo

Media ban

Restorative justice focused

What is the jury system in the YJCA

Must be 18+, a Canadian system, and no criminal record

What are the advocacy groups of the YJCA

1. John Howard

2. Elizabeth fry

3. Elders & sentencing circles