Social Studies Government and History Review

The government of Canada is organized into three ( $3$ ) distinct branches, each with a specific mandate and set of responsibilities:
- Legislative Branch: This branch is responsible for the creation and making of laws.
- Executive Branch: This branch is responsible for the implementation, administration, and enforcement of laws.
- Judicial Branch: This branch is responsible for the interpretation of laws and ensuring they are applied fairly and in accordance with the legal system.
Prime Minister: This individual serves as the head of government in Canada and provides essential leadership to the executive branch.

House of Commons: The lower house of Canada's Parliament where Members of Parliament ( $\text{MPs}$ ) sit to debate, legislate, and pass new laws.
Senate: Known as the upper house of Canada's Parliament. Its primary role involves reviewing legislation that has been passed by the House of Commons and providing what is formally referred to as "sober second thought."
Riding: This term refers to an electoral district. Each riding is represented by a single Member of Parliament ( $\text{MP}$ ).
First-past-the-post: An electoral system employed in Canada where the candidate who receives the most votes within a specific riding wins the seat for that district.

Federal Government: This level of government handles issues that affect the entire nation. Key areas of federal responsibility include:
- National defense.
- International and interprovincial trade.
Provincial Government: This level of government manages issues that are local or regional in nature. Key areas of provincial responsibility include:
- Education.
- Healthcare.

Purpose of Law: The fundamental purposes of law are to maintain social order, resolve disputes accurately, and protect the rights of all citizens.
Canadian Constitution: This document serves as the supreme law of Canada. It outlines the foundational structure of the government and defines the rights of individuals and groups.
Justice System: A comprehensive framework consisting of courts and laws that serves to protect the rights of citizens and ensure that due process is followed in legal matters.

Individual Rights: These are rights that belong to every person as an individual.
Collective Rights: These are rights held by specific groups within Canadian society based on their unique identity and history.
- Examples of groups with collective rights include Indigenous peoples and official language minorities.
Distinction: While individual rights belong to each person, collective rights belong specifically to identified groups.

Nuremberg Laws: Anti-Semitic laws implemented in Nazi Germany that stripped Jewish people of their citizenship and their most basic rights.
Final Solution: The term used for the Nazi regime's plan for the systematic genocide of the Jewish population during World War $II$ .
Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( $\text{UDHR}$ ): A global document created after the atrocities of World War $II$ . It outlines fundamental human rights that should be guaranteed to all individuals worldwide, with the intent of preventing future atrocities.

Sir John A. Macdonald: He served as the $\text{1st}$ Prime Minister of Canada and was one of the primary architects behind the Confederation of the country.
Nellie McClung: A prominent suffragist who was a key figure in the fight for women's rights, specifically the right to vote.
Billy Bishop: A famous Canadian fighter pilot during World War $I$ ( $\text{WWI}$ ) who achieved historical fame as the "ace of aces."
Bishop Alexandre-Antonin Taché: A significant religious figure who was involved in the events of the Red River Resistance.

Red River Rebellion: A resistance movement located in Manitoba and led by Louis Riel. The Métis people sought land rights and a voice in government negotiations during this time.
North-West Rebellion: A later uprising by the Métis that occurred in Saskatchewan. Also led by Louis Riel, this conflict was sparked by the government's failure to address Métis land rights and concerns.

Loyalists: American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. Following the war, they moved to Canada.
Quebec Act ( $1774$ ): An act passed by the British Parliament in $1774$ that allowed the people of Quebec to maintain their French language, culture, and system of civil law.

Quiet Revolution: A period during the $1960\text{s}$ in Quebec characterized by rapid and significant social, political, and cultural changes.
Francophone: A term describing a person whose primary language is French.
Bilingualism in Canada: The federal policy of recognizing two official languages—English and French—to promote national inclusion.
Collective Identity: The shared values, characteristics, and sense of belonging that exist within a specific group.
Media's Role: Media outlets influence and shape cultural identity. A key example is Hockey Night in Canada, which helps promote a shared national experience and identity.

War Measures Act: A law that granted the Canadian government extensive, emergency-based powers to manage major crises.
Authoritarianism: A form of government characterized by highly centralized power and strictly limited political freedoms for the populace.
Left-wing (Economic Left): A political perspective that advocates for:
- Social equality.
- The redistribution of wealth.
- Extensive government involvement in the economic system.