SOcials 10 study

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Totalitarian

referring to a form of government in which one person or party holds absolute control

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

Dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

representative democracy

a form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf

Constitutional Monarchy

A King or Queen is the official head of state but power is limited by a constitution.

Liberalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the civil rights of citizens, representative government, and the protection of private property. This ideology, derived from the Enlightenment, was especially popular among the property-owning middle classes. Left of centre, progressive beliefs shared with socialists.

Conservatism

A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity. Right of centre, individual rights

political spectrum

the difference in political views held by the different political parties. Right wing to left wing

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Federal jurisdictions

Criminal law, RCMP, copyrights labour

provincial jurisdictions

education, provincial police, marriage permits, highways, hospitals, liqour licenses

municipal jurisdictions

Public transport, snow removal, garbage removal, bylaws

Residual Powers

areas of law not 1867 constitution left to federal government

Executive branch powers

They can talk with foreign countries to form treaties. They can nominate justices to the Supreme Court and choose the members of their cabinet.

Legislative branch powers

(2) Pass all federal laws, pass the federal budget, establish lower federal courts and the number of judges.

judicial branch powers

Has the power to declare a law or action unconstitutional. Can review the orders and treaties made by a president

Parliament

A body of representatives that makes laws for a nation

Official opposition

the political party with the second-most seats in the House of Commons. Disputes and argues with elected party.

Question Period

time allotted in the House of Commons for MPs to ask questions of the prime minister or cabinet ministers

House of commons/Lower House

the first legislative body of Parliament whose members are elected.

Senate/upper house

Reviews bills introduced in the lower house, 98 members

Ridings

an electoral district of Canada.

MP

Elected official who represents their electoral riding

Speaker of the House

defends rights of MPs in parliament, Manages parliament

Cabinet

Chosen by prime minister to make decisions on government policy, runs executive branch of government

shadow cabinet

Members of the official opposition to "shadow" elected officials of the elected party

Caucus

A group of elected officials who meet regularly on running political parties

Free vote

Individual MPs can vote according to their own conscience rather than following an official party line

party whip

a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline

governor general

the person who represents the British crown in Canada

Lieutenant Governor

representative of the crown at the provincial/territorial level

Cabinet Solidarity

the custom that Cabinet members must not show disagreement with government policies

vote of non-confidence

Occurs when a proposed bill receives less than a majority of votes in the House of Commons, defeating the government and forcing it to resign

Majority government

Refers to a party in the House of Commons that forms the government with more than 50% of the seats under its control.

minority government

a government in which the ruling party has less than half the seats in the legislature

Leader of the opposition

leader of the second largest party

Coalition

two or more political parties joining together to be elected as one party

Bills to law process

Cabinet comes up with idea for bill, Explained and approved, Cabinet examines bill, first reading in house of commons, Second reading (ideas for change, Changes happen in parliamentary commitee, 3rd reading passes house, passes senate, Governor general gives Formal asent

Communism

A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.

fascism

A political system headed by a dictator that calls for extreme nationalism and racism and no tolerance of opposition

Elected into power

House of commons, legislative branch

appointed by prime minister

senators, cabinet

first past the post

Electoral system based on single-member districts in which the candidate who receives the most votes wins.

proportional representation

an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.

lobbyists

representatives of interest groups who contact lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making

protest groups

using actions such as rallies, parades, marches, blockades, and demonstrations to try and influence government change

civil disobedience

A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.