Social Studies 30-1 (Unit Exam 1)

basic requirements of democracy

• structure of a governmental system

• voting and groups that influence the govt

• groups that watch govt (ex./ journalists)

3 branches of govt.

• executive = leader + admin

• legislative = members of parliamentary house

• judicial = judges selected to review decisions of other branches

direct democracy

• type of voting

• vote on issues as presented (in Canada = referendums)

representative democracy

• type of voting

• only occur in periodic elections

• people vote for a party/person to represent them

• reps make decisions on behalf of the people

• diff. parties = diff. perspectives

constitutions

• all democracies have “basic law”

• written/unwritten

• very hard to amend

• other laws conform to the basic law of constitution

features of canadian democracy

• based on responsible govt.

• executive branch (PM & cabinet) can’t continue govern w/o approval of the House of Commons = confidence

• If executive branch loses a vote of confidence = resignation

• parties enforce a WHIP (directive given to ensure that all MPs w/i a party vote according to the party’s official position) to ensure that MPs “toe the party line” (follow the party’s policies/decisions, even if they personally disagree)

canadian executive branch

• PM & Cabinet

• ministries (govt. departments ex./ ministry of health/education), permanent

• governor-general & monarch, ceremonial position

• control all functions of govt.

• PM exercises their power through the power of the governor-general

canadian legislative branch

• bicameral (2 houses of Parliament)

  • house of commons (lower) = MPs elected by public in constituencies/ridings

  • senate (upper) = appointed senators by governor-general (advised by PM)

• both houses must approve any legislation

• senate does not usually vote down legislation

canadian judicial branch

• supreme court of Canada & associated courts

• justices chosen by govern-general (advised by PM)

• laws come for review but not re-written by courts

• judicial independence = vital element of democracy

minorities in democracies

• may feel left out

• right to vote ≠ concerns are being heard

• democracy means majority rules, therefore, how can minorities find a voice?

absolutism

single ruler holds all power (usually a monarch) w/ no legal limitation on authority; often relies on traditional or divine legitimacy

anarchism

society w/o government/any other form of centralized authority, belief that people can self-govern

aristocracy

power is held by privileged (usually hereditary), elite class; those who are best qualified by noble birth/wealth

autocracy

single person holds absolute power w/ little legal/poltical limitations; may be more about power seized or maintained through force or control

collectivism

importance of collective action; prioritizing needs of the group/community over the individual

communism

classless society, all property/means of production = collectively owned (usually by the state)

conservatism

promotes traditional values, institutions, practices; emphasizes stability, continuity, resistance to rapid change

democracy

power is vested in people, exercised directly or representatively in free + fair elections

environmentalism

protecting/preserving the environment; policies whcih address ecological concerns, sustainability, conservation

fascism

far-right, authoritarian political ideology; emphasizes strong, centralized control, nationalism, suppression of opposition; typically led by a dictator

feminism

movement advocating for rights/equality of women; aiming to address + dismantle systemic gender inequalities

humanitarianism

promotes human welfare + helping others; usually through charity, relief efforts, social reforms

individualism

emphasizes personal freedom, autonomy, and the importance of the individual over the group/state

kakistocracy

government led by the worst/least qualified individuals

kleptocracy

government characterized by corruption/theft; leaders use their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of the public

liberalism

advocates for individual freedoms, civil rights, democracy, free markets, and limited government intervention; belief that the role of government should be to protect + promote individual rights

liberalization

process of reducing state regulation/restrictions in the economy to encourage free-market competition + private enterprises

libertarianism

personal responsibility above all, minimal government, free-market economy; sole role of the govt. is to promote individual liberties (focusing on property rights)

meritocracy

power + advancing in power is based on individual talent, effort, and achievement

nationalism

emphasizes pride + loyality in one’s nation; may advocate for national sovereignty and independence

Nazism

far-right ideology characterized by fascism, extreme nationalism, racial superiority, anti-Semitism, dictatorial leadership; promoted by Nazi Party in Germany

oligarchy

power is concentrated in hand of a small group of wealthy/influential individuals/families (military strength, political power, ruthlessness); often self-serving

protectionism

restricting imports from other countries through tarrifs, quotas, regulations to protect domestic industries

plutocracy

power held by wealthy or those w/ significant economic resources; negative connnotations; self-serving

radical

person/viewpoint that seeks significant (usually fundamental) change in social, political, economic order; challenging the status quo

• lunatic fringe = small, extreme, radical group w/i larger society

reactionary

favors a return to previous state of society, opposing progressive changes/reforms

socialism

advocates for collective/government ownership/control of means of production + distribution; aiming for social/economic equality

theocracy

religious leaders control state; religious law is used as basis for governing

totalitarianism

centralized/dictatorial form of govt. that seeks to control all aspects of public/private life; typically through propaganda, surveillance, suppression of dissent

tyranny

characterized by opressive power + cruel use of authority, typically by single ruler/regime; despotism

• minority = small group of people hold disproportionate power + opresses larger population

• majority = violates the rights of minority groups + othering of those w/ differing views

private property

property, land, assets owned by individuals/companies rather than govt.

rule of law

all individuals, institutions, entities (including govt.) are accountable to laws + no one is above the law; law should be clear, known, stable, and fairly enforced

individual rights and freedoms

basic liberties + entitlements that individuals have in society; usually protected by law/constitution (ex./ freedom of speech, religion, assembly or right to privacy, property, due process)

competition

in economy, where businesses/individuals strive to offer better goods + services to attract customers; may lead to innovation, lower prices

economic freedom

ability of individuals to make economic decisions w/ minimal govt. interference

self-interest

idea that individuals act in way they believe will benefit them personally

public property

assets/resources owned + managed by govt for public use (ex./ parks, schools, roads)

collective responsibility

group is accountable for the actions/well-being of its members; involves shared obligations (ex./ taxes, protecting environment)

collective interest

common goals/benefits that a group seeks to achieve

adherence to collective norms

following established rules that a group agrees upon; to maintain order in society, encourage cooperation, reinforce shared values

cooperation

working together toward a common goal; usually requires individuals to compromise/collaborate

economic equality

economic resources + opportunities are distributed more evenly across society; aims to reduce wealth disparities

basic structure of American governmental system

• executive

  • President & cabinet

• legislative

  • house of representatives & senate

• judicial

  • supreme court

• separation of powers

checks and balances

• powers of one branch designed to be checked by powers of other branches

  • ex./ presidential nominees (must be approved by senate), presidential veto (bills passed by congress can be rejected by pres), congressional override (can override a veto by pres w/ 2/3 majority in house + senate)

• meant to limit precipitous actions inflamed by emotions, stalemate

how bill becomes law in America

• designed to act slowly

• limited emotional influence

• legislators in US often pressured by lobby groups

• use earmarks (provisions which direct funds to a particular project/organization often w/o competitive process; securing funding) to add unrelated measures to bills

american legislative branch

• house of representatives

  • 434 members (rep by pop)

  • 2 year terms

  • many congressional districts created through gerrymandering (manipulating boundaries of electoral districts to favour particular political party)

• senate

  • 100 members (2 from each state)

  • 6 year terms

  • every 2 years 1/3 of the senate is elected (until all replaced)

  • approves presidential choices of cabinet, supreme court

american judicial branch

• chosen by president + approved by senate

  • for life/until they resign

• selection of justices = increasingly political

President

• 4 year term (of which max 2)

• cannot initiate legislation

• commander-in-chief of the US armed forces

  • can only be removed through impeachment

electing president

• not directly elected

• electoral college (538 votes which determine who is president)

  • votes given out by population

  • when individuals go to the polling centre, they’re telling their state how they would like to use the electoral votes thus does not always represent the will of the people

  • typically this is a winner takes all if they have majority (except in Maine + Nebraska which have a proportional system)

• winning the electoral college (more than 270 electoral votes) ≠ popular vote

first past the post (plurality/majority representation)

• used by many electoral system of British heritage

• first person with one more vote than any other candidate = victor (most votes not majority of the votes)

• rewards deep/broad support

• direct accountability, clear opposition + majority govt. (usually)

• can exaggerate regional differences, exclude smaller minorities from fair representation

proportional representation

• percent of votes you get = percent of seats you get

• equity in voting

• coalition govt (2+ parties working together)

  • legislation gridlock becomes common, difficult accountability

voter apathy

lack of interest/enthusiasm about voting in elections

• results in low voter turnout and unrepresentative govt.

  • caused by dissastisfaction w/ candidates, little education on elections, barriers in voting

voter suppression

strategies/actions that intentionally discourage certain groups of people from voting, often aimed at marginalized groups to reduce their political power

• ex./ voter ID laws, restricting early voting, literacy tests, gerrymandering, misinformation

classical conservatism

advocates for maintaining tradition, social stability, established institutions, gradual change + preserving cultural/moral values

classical liberalism

characterized by idea that people should have the freedom to pursue their own interests w/ minimal state interference

origins of classical liberalism

• end of feudal area + rejection of the Divine Right of Kings

• focus on rationality, logic, empiricism, humanity

• breakout of revolutions across NA and Europe

• move towards citizens rather than subjects (except for women and slaves)

• spread at the end of Napolean’s reign (1815)

basic principles of classical liberalism

• personal/individual freedoms

• equality of rights (rule of law)

• limited government (goal = serving society)

• consent of the governed

• skepticism over power

• individualism

• civil society

• spontaneous order

• toleration + peace

• free markets

Thomas Hobbes

• believed powerful authoritarian govt needed to provide security

  • otherwise people would succumb to their evils

John Locke

• father of liberalism

• advocated for right to property, religious tolerance

• popularized consent of the governed

social contract

• how a govt. claims their legitimacy from the people

• people offer govt power + govt protects people’s rights

  • people can replace/overthrow govt if power is misused

Jean-Jacque Rousseau

• people by nature are good but corrupted by society

• citizens should make laws + general will should guide govt

Voltaire

• secularism

Montesquieu

• separation of powers

• govt. should be divided into branches that curb excess of power

Indigenous development of classical liberalism

• the great law of peace/great binding law = constitution to guide Haudenosaunee peoples (15th century)

  • rightousness, health, power

Adam Smith

• father of economics/capitalism

• wealth of nations (book where smith explores free-market principles)

  • laissez-faire economics + invisible hand (pursuit of individual gain w/o government interference can successfully run an economy)

John Stuart Mill

• utilitarianism (greatest good for greatest number)

  • harm principle (one should do whatever they want until it harms others)

Mary Wollstonecraft

• opposed traditional roles of women in society

  • wanted women to be treated as rational beings

• hopeful w/ French Revolution, later disillusioned

Flora Tristan

• rejected women’s legal/social marginalization (working class women)

• worked with early socialists

Olympe de Gouges

• questioned motivations of French revolutionaries + died by guillotine

• wrote “a declaration of the rights of women and the female citizen”

reaction to classical liberalism

• French revolution scared middle class

• classical conservatives advocated for elite ruling society + maintenance of status quo (Edmund Burke)

• life was difficult for the “urban poor”

• ultimately, enhanced classical liberalism

The Franchise

right to vote in public elections (suffrage), elegibility criteria

enfranchisement

granting the right to vote to person/group of people

universal suffrage

• all adult citizens have the right to vote regardless of other factors, fully inclusive voting system

• suffragettes = member of womens movement in late 19th and early 20th century fighting for womens suffrage in UK/US

lobbying

act of attempting to influence/persuade govt. in favour of particular issue; done by special interest groups, organizations, or individuals