Government Services and Definitions

Definitions for Social Studies Exam Preparation

Key Terms

• Democracy: A system that allows its citizens to have a say in how the government is run.

• Stakeholder: A person who is affected by or has an interest in a certain issue or decision, particularly in the context of government and public policy.

Levels of Government

• Federal Government:

  • Responsible for making decisions that impact the entire country.

• Provincial Government:

  • Makes decisions that impact their respective province or territory.

• Local or Municipal Government:

  • Responsible for governing a town or city, handling local issues and policies.

Important Concepts

• Jurisdiction:

  • The official power to make legal decisions and judgments, often defined by geographical boundaries and areas of law.

• Region:

  • A collection of municipalities that work together for administrative or governance purposes.

Local Government Structure

• Band Council:

  • The local government for First Nations communities, performing various local governance functions.

• Public Servant:

  • Individuals who work for the government, serving the public interests and ensuring the implementation of government policies.

• Municipal Councillor:

  • Elected officials who are part of the local council in towns or cities, representing the interests of their constituents.

• Head of Council:

  • The person that leads the municipal council, often responsible for facilitating meetings and representing the council to the public.