Social 30 Unit 2 PART 1-Liberal Democracy

Democracy

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

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

the will of the people

Government listens to what the people want and enact laws to address those wants and needs

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Constitution

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

Political Process

the ways in which individuals and groups use power to achieve public goals by creating and implementing laws

Electoral Process

the methods used in a country for selecting leaders

Voter Apathy

The lack of interest among the citizenry in participating in elections. Indifference or inaction

Dissent

to disagree, often with political decisions

Tyranny of the Majority

the tendency in democracies to allow majority rule to neglect the rights and liberties of minorities

Judicial Tyranny

-Court rulings might not follow the will of the majority

-judges are unelected

-judges are difficult to replace

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people. (ex: Canada, USA, Great Britain, Sweden)

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives (ex: Ancient Greece, Switzerland)

First Past The Post

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

Proportional Representation

An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.

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

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

Parliamentary System

Government in which the executive is chosen by the legislature from among its members and the two branches are merged (ex: Canada & Great Britain)

Congressional Democracy

A system of democratic governance in which the executive branch is separate from the legislative branch and the head of government is not a member of the legislature (ex: USA)

Referendum

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision. Results are legally binding.

Plebiscite

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision. Results are NOT legally binding.

Accountable Government

a government that answers to the people who elected it and that is open and transparent. In a democracy, the govt must follow the will of the people

Federal Government

A form of government in which powers are divided between a central government and several local governments.

Unitary Government

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

Executive Branch

the branch of government that carries out laws. Includes the Prime Minister & Cabinet

Legislative Branch

the branch of government that makes the laws. Members debate and vote on bills

Judicial Branch

the branch of government that interprets and applies the laws

Party Solidarity

Key aspect of Canadian politics, all members of the party vote within the party. Rarely are they allowed a free vote

Party Whip

a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline

Democratic Deficit

A flaw in the democratic process where decisions are taken by people who lack legitimacy, not having been appointed with sufficient democratic input or subject to accountability.

Lack of direct control of political decisions by the people

Role of Individuals in Democracy

-stay informed

-know & follow the laws

-participate by vote

-participate to dissenting peacefully

-don't take away rights of others

-work for the common good

Role of Government in Democracy

-maintain social order

-create stability

-protect minority rights

-follow the constitution

-listen to the will of the people

-make laws

-enforce laws

Voter Supression

Any effort to keep certain groups from voting (often minority groups)

Lobby Groups/Special Interest Groups

group of private citizens with specific concern to try and influence government

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Challenges to liberalism

When something happens through the use of liberal principles that might make the continued use of liberal principles more difficult.

Imposition of Liberalism

When a group forces liberal political principles on to another group or nation

Illiberalism

A system that claims to be a liberal democracy, but is, in reality not. It's elections may not be free and fair, rights might be violated commonly, etc.

Ideas that go against principles of liberalism

Examples of Challenges to liberalism

Collective rights, pandemics, environmental concerns, extremism

Examples of liberal impositions

Assimilation of FNMI, Germany & Japan post WWII, Afghanistan & Iraq

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. Involves the right to dissent and peaceful assembly

Suffrage

the right to vote in elections

Famous Five

5 women in Canada who fought to have women declared "persons" under the law.

Apartheid

Laws (no longer in effect) in South Africa that physically separated different races into different geographic areas.

Indian Act of 1876

Canadian law that controls all aspects of Indigenous life including "Indian Status", creation of Residential Schools, right to vote, right to practice traditional ceremonies and beliefs. Created a paternalistic relationship between the govt and indigenous people

White Paper

Pierre Trudeau. Proposed to eliminate treaties, the Indian Act and and everything else keeping Inuit and First Nations people distinct

Red Paper 1970

Response to the White Papers from Indigenous leaders that fought for the continuation of collective rights