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Social Studies 11
Unit 3: Canadians and their
Government
Ch. 9: Citizens effecting change
Topic: Government
Questions/Main Ideas:
Vocabulary
Notes:
Democracy – a system of government in which people freely choose in
elections who will govern them; the principles and ideals of such a
government, including free speech and the rule of law
Civil Servant – someone who works for a government department
Pressure Groups – organized groups of individuals with common interests
and concerns who attempt to pressure political decision makers; also known
as interest groups
Lobbyist – a person hired to represent the interests of a pressure group by
influencing policy decision makers in the group’s favour
Bureaucrats – government officials and administrators
Public Service – the government administration
Ideology – political and social principles or beliefs
Direct Democracy – a system in which citizens vote directly on every issue
Representative Democracy – a system in which citizens elect a politician
who then makes decisions for them
Socialism – a political and economic system in which the means of
production and distribution in a country are publicly owned and controlled for
the benefit of all members of society
Liberalism – a political philosophy supporting individual freedoms and
governmental protection of civil liberties
Conservatism – a political philosophy supporting traditional values and
institutions and opposing sudden change
Fiscal – pertaining to money issues
Totalitarian – a form of government that uses intimidation, violence, and
propaganda to rule all aspects of the social and political life of its citizens
Authoritarian – a form of government in which one individual or small
group holds all the power and directs the lives of citizens
Communism – a social and economic ideology that believes property,
production, and distribution of goods and services should be owned by the
public, and that the labour force should be organized for the benefit of all
members of society.
Bourgeoisie – the ruling or middle class
Proletariat – the workers or lowest class
Fascism – an authoritarian system of government that exercises complete
power, suppresses opposition, often through the use of force, and encourages
nationalism and racism
Political Spectrum – a linear visual used to illustrate political ideologies,
from left to right
Quebec Sovereignty – a movement advocating that Quebec separate from the
Vocabulary (continued)
rest of Canada and become a country of its own
Libertarianism – a political ideology that supports maximum individual
freedom and minimal government involvement in the lives of its citizens
Party Platform – a list of priorities and a plan for governing published by a
political party
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – local, national or international
groups that work independently of government on issues such as health, the
environment or human rights
Patronage – a favour, often a government position, given in return for
political support
Populism – a political movement that advocates the interests of ordinary
people
Elite – a group of people who hold power
Polarize – to go in opposite directions
Partisan – loyalty to a party or cause
Senate – the second legislative body in Parliament consisting of appointed
members whose role is to give sober second thought to the passage of bills
Cabinet – the group of ministers chosen by the prime minister who decide
government policy; each Cabinet minister has a responsibility for a particular
department
House of Commons – the first legislative body of Parliament whose members
are elected
ad valorem tax – a tax that is proportional to the value of goods
Excise tax – an added tax on certain goods produced or sold in the country,
for example, alcohol, gas and tobacco
Surplus – the amount of money remaining when a government takes in more
than it spends
Deficit – the amount of money a government owes when it takes in less
money than it spends
Civil service – the body of people who work in government administration
Bureaucracy – officials and administrators who carry out the work of
government
Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) – the prime minister’s political
advisors and staff
Privy Council Office (PCO) – the office that organizes the work of the
Cabinet
Cabinet solidarity – the custom that Cabinet members must not show
disagreement with government policies
Order-in-Council – an order signed by the Governor General (or the
Lieutenant-Governor in the provinces) on the advice of the prime minister (or
premier) and Cabinet; allows laws and regulations to be passed without a
parliamentary vote
Royal assent – the final stage a bill must complete before it is passed into law
in which the Governor General (or Lieutenant-Governor in the provinces)
signs or grants approval for the bill
Lieutenant-Governor – the provincial representative of the Crown appointed
by the Governor General
Party whip – a member of the legislature assigned the specific role of
ensuring all members of his or her party are present in the legislature to
support party interests
Party discipline – all party members voting the same way, as one voice
Free vote – members voting according to their own conscience
Vocabulary (continued)
Backbenchers – members of a legislature who are not Cabinet ministers,
party leaders, or opposition critics
Private member’s bill – a bill introduced into the legislature by a member of
the legislature who is not a member of the Cabinet
Majority government – a government in which the ruling party has more
than half of the total number of seats in the legislature
Minority government – a government in which the ruling party has more
seats than any other party, but the other parties combined have more seats
than the government
Status quo – the existing order of things
Coalition – a formal alliance of political parties
Prorogue parliament – to suspend Parliament for a period of time upon the
prime minister’s request to the Governor General
Dissolve parliament (dissolution) – to call an end to a sitting Parliament, at
the request of the prime minister (or premier) to the Governor General (or
Lieutenant-Governor in the provinces); followed by a general election
Brand recognition – awareness by the general public of characteristics
associated with a particular product, business or person (in the case of
politics)
Spin Doctors – people who publicize in a positive way the words and actions
of politicians
Civil disobedience – the act of intentionally breaking the law while protesting
against laws one considers unjust
Apartheid – an official policy of racial segregation involving political, legal
and economic discrimination against non-whites
Nelson Mandela – South-African anti-apartheid activist who resorted to
violence only as a last resort after many years of peaceful protests with no
progress
Mohandas Gandhi – Indian political and spiritual leader who used nonviolent civil disobedience to protest unjust taxation of the poor and
discrimination against women and the underprivileged
Clayoquot Sound – Canada’s largest example of civil disobedience. The
1993 anti-logging protests at Clayoquot Sound resulted in the largest mass
arrests in BC history
Martin Luther King Jr. – U.S. civil rights activist who embraced nonviolent civil disobedience in his quest for justice and ultimately died for his
cause
Karl Marx – political theorist of the 19th century who believed that the ruling
class should be overthrown by the working class. Author of the Communist
Manifesto, published in 1848
Friedrich Engels – political theorist of the 19th century who believed that the
ruling class should be overthrown by the working class. Author of the
Communist Manifesto, published in 1848
Communist Manifesto – political ideology written by Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels in 1848
Mussolini – Developed the fascist ideology as leader of Italy after the First
World War
Conservative Party – current federal government in Canada. Leader is
Stephen Harper – on the classic political spectrum, falls on the right to the
centre-right.
Liberal Party – governed Canada for most of the 20th century. Leader is Bob
Rae – considered to be centre-left to centre on the political spectrum
New Democratic Party (NDP) – official opposition in federal parliament.
Leader is Nycole Turmel – party would fall somewhere between the left and
centre-left – further to the left than the Liberals
Bloc Quebecois – the vast majority of the Bloc’s members and supporters
advocate for Quebec to separate from Canada and become an independent
nation. Nominates candidates only in Quebec – leader is Vivian Barbot – the
party falls on the left wing of the political spectrum
Green Party – Leader is Elizabeth May – as of 2009, the Greens are polling
an average of 8 – 12%. While technically Greens have factions that fall on all
sides of the political spectrum, the Green Party of Canada’s ideology is
widely considered to be left wing.
Romeo Dallaire – a former general who led the United Nations force during
the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and later wrote about the tragedy in his book
Shake Hands with the Devil. Now a human rights activist, speaking out on
issues such as genocide and child soldiers. He has also been a civil servant
and has received many honorary degrees and prizes. General Dallaire was
appointed to the Senate as a Liberal in 2005 by Prime Minister Paul Martin.
Legislative Branch – makes the laws
Executive Branch – carries out the laws
Judicial Branch – administers the courts and interprets and enforces the laws
Governor General – currently David Johnston – the person who represents
the British crown in Canada
Queen – head of state for Canada – currently Queen Elizabeth II
Prime Minister – The leader of the party that wins a federal election by
having the greatest number of representatives elected to the House of
Commons – currently Stephen Harper (Conservative)
Premier – the leader of the party that wins a provincial election by having the
greatest number of representatives elected to the Legislative Assembly –
currently Christy Clark (Liberal) in BC
Speaker – responsible for applying and enforcing the rules of the commons
procedure – must be neutral and impartial
Mace – The ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood,
carried before a sovereign or other high official in civic ceremonies by a
mace-bearer, intended to represent the official's authority. The mace, as used
today, derives from the original mace used as a weapon. Processions often
feature maces, as on parliamentary or formal academic occasions
Page – The pages are responsible for providing a range of services needed to
ensure the effective operation of Parliament and its committees in keeping
with the tradition of impartiality and non-partisanship
Hansard – is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in
the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson
Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts
Sergeant-At-Arms – an officer appointed by a deliberative body, usually a
legislature, to keep order during its meetings
Constituents – a voter in a riding
Referendum – a direct vote in which everyone is asked to either accept or
reject a particular proposal
Electoral District/Riding/Constituency – a geographical area of a given size
or population used as a unit in elections
Chief Electoral Officer – an independent officer of Parliament responsible
for federal elections
Voter Apathy – reluctance or lack of interest in voting
Nomination – choosing a candidate to run for office
Pollsters – people who conduct public opinion polls
Polling Stations – locations where citizens in a riding vote
Advance polls – locations where people can vote in advance of election day
Electoral Officers – Elections Canada officials who count the votes
By-election – an election held in a riding to fill a vacancy
First-past-the-post (FPTP) – an electoral system in which the candidate who
has more votes than any other candidate wins
Single transferable vote (STV) – an electoral system in which parties gain
seats by the proportion of votes won in large electoral districts
Compulsory Voting – citizens are required, by law, to vote in elections.
Those who fail to do so may be fined or jailed
Describe ways that Canadians
can participate in democracy
between elections. (page 290)
Active citizenship means that we need to learn how to make the government
responsive to our needs. If you think the government should do more to
protect the environment, a new social program should be introduced or the
voting age for election should be lowered, what can you do to make your goal
a reality? You could write letters to the editor of a widely read newspaper,
write a letter to the government or opposition, participate in radio phone-in
shows, start a blog, speak to someone who works in a government
department, join the youth wing of a political party or join a group of likeminded people that is pressuring the government. These are ways to become
more involved in the democratic process.
How do lobbyists and pressure
groups influence government
decisions and how can this
become dangerous to a
democratic society? (page 291)
Special interest groups are called pressure groups and are organized to
influence government policies and decisions. These groups are made up of
people who share a specific viewpoint and want to promote their common
interest. Institutionalized pressure groups, such as the Assembly of First
Nations, are well-established and have formal organizations. Issue-oriented
groups are not permanent because their purpose is to accomplish a specific
goal and usually disband once their goal is reached. Lobbyists a people paid
to try to influence key decision makers. They get contracts from the
companies or groups they serve. The danger with lobbying is that insiders
can persuade governments to put in place policies that are not necessarily in
the public interest. Some argue that if government can be influenced too
greatly by well-organized minority interest groups, then the wishes of the
majority may not be heard – or even sought. Interest groups and individuals
can also use the courts to influence government and make change happen
since the courts must interpret laws within the context of the Constitution and
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Describe the role the media
plays in politics. (page 294)
People often try to get media attention for a cause or to enhance their political
profile. Social media sites like Facebook have become a new form of public
media. Traditional media like tv, radio, magazines and newspapers are still
very important. Without a media presence, a politician would not have the
brand recognition necessary to get votes. The media also lets everyone know
how citizens are feeling about issues and government programs. The media
gives candidates very wide exposure but they can also magnify faults or
political gaffes that occur. Political parties and candidates have websites to
get their message out and to gather support. Political parties hire spin doctors
to coach candidates on what to say and make sure they look good in the
media.
Briefly explain the principles
of civil disobedience. (page
295)
Civil disobedience is the act of intentionally breaking the law while protesting
laws one considers unjust. This form of protest has been used by some of the
greatest moral leaders of our time including Indian political and spiritual
leader Mohandas Gandhi, U.S. civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., and
South-African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. Civil disobedience is
warranted only when the law itself causes significant harm. Those who
choose to practice civil disobedience must be willing to face the consequences
of their actions. There are 3 principles of civil disobedience:
1. Civil disobedience should not involve violence.
2. Civil disobedience should be directed against laws that are seriously
harmful
3. Civil disobedience requires taking responsibility for one’s actions.
Willingness to face punishment shows the strength of one’s beliefs.
What is the difference between
direct democracy and
representative democracy?
(page 297)
In direct democracy, every eligible citizen participates directly by voting on
all decisions that affect society. In representative democracy, citizens allow
elected representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Draw up a chart showing the
main features of each ideology:
socialism, liberalism,
conservatism, fascism and
communism. (page 297)
Socialism – early socialism was a backlash against the industrial revolution
and the resulting capitalist laissez-faire economy. Socialists believe that the
government should control important parts of the economy and major
industries.
Liberalism – began as a political theory that favoured individual freedom
above all else. This belief was tied to the right to own property and to the
conviction that the government should have minimal involvement in the lives
of citizens so as not to infringe on people’s liberty. In the 20th century,
liberalism shifted its focus from property and individual rights and evolved
into a belief that the government should intervene to regulate the economy.
Liberalism supports government intervention to maintain basic standards of
living for all people and to protect the rights of individuals and groups.
Conservatism – is less of an ideology that a stance taken against change,
innovation and reform. It is for maintaining established political and social
institutions and values. It supports laissez-faire capitalism or minimal
government intervention in the economy. In the late 20th century, many
conservatives came to believe that government has a role in encouraging
traditional behaviours and they opposed same-sex marriage and abortion.
Fiscal conservatives support reductions in government spending and a
balanced budget.
Communism – based on the Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx and
Friedrich Engels who believed that the ruling class should be overthrown by
the working class. Marx believed that a revolution by the working class (or
proletariat) would result in a classless society in which all property would be
collectively owned. Communist governments maintained their power through
propaganda, secret police and government control of its citizens.
Fascism – is about the importance of the state and the responsibility of people
to serve it. They believe that a country is an organic community needing
strong leadership, a collective identity and military strength. They emphasize
nationalism and militarism. War is glorified. Political opposition or
individual freedom is forbidden. Fascism started after the First World War in
Italy under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. Germany under the Nazis was
another fascist state.
What is patronage? (page 301)
Refers to the giving, by premiers and prime ministers, of offices and rewards
in return for loyalty or favours to the party. A large part of government is
deal making and it is very difficult to make deals with others if you have
nothing to offer in return. A prime minister has a lot to offer in the way of
patronage – Senate seats, ambassadorships, committee chairpersonships.
Describe the responsibilities of
the 3 branches of government:
Legislative, Executive,
Judicial. (page 304)
The executive and legislative branches of the federal government make and
administer the laws and regulations of the country. The judicial branch
administers the courts and interprets and enforces the laws.
What is the Senate and how do
you become a Senator? (see
class notes)
The Senate is part of the Legislative Branch of the government. It is also
known as the Upper House. The 105 members are appointed by the Governor
General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Their role is to provide a final
check on the legislation passed in the House of Commons – give “sober
second thought” to all bills. The seats are allotted regionally on the basis of
population. If a seat becomes vacant, a Prime Minister often gives it to a
supporter of his party. Senators must live in the province/territory they
represent and can serve until they are 75 years old. Their other purpose is to
“polish” legislation that has come from the House of Commons to make sure
the wording is perfect.
What is the role of Cabinet
Ministers? (page 306)
The prime minister, or premier in the provinces, is the chief minister of the
Crown and the head of the Cabinet. The prime minister and Cabinet form the
executive branch of government. The prime minister can choose and
discipline Cabinet members, directs the activities of the legislature, has the
right to be consulted on all important Cabinet decisions, controls
appointments to the Senate and judiciary, and can recommend Parliament be
adjourned or dissolved and an election called. Publicly, Cabinet ministers
must display full support for the prime minister and the decisions of the
government. This show of strength is called Cabinet solidarity. The Cabinet
initiates laws and its ministers are responsible for the smooth running of
government and the spending of public money. Cabinet ministers usually are
part of the governing party and have a seat in the House of Commons. Each
Cabinet minister is responsible for a department of the government, called a
portfolio. The minister is held responsible for everything that happens in the
department – this is called ministerial responsibility and they must resign if
serious breaches of office take place. The minister introduces new legislation
pertaining to the ministry and guides it through the House.
What are Orders-in-Council
and when would they be used?
(page 307)
Orders-in-Council make laws or regulations without the necessity of a
parliament vote. They are used for Senate appointments, necessary changes
in law, and in case of real or perceived emergencies. They may seem
undemocratic but are part of parliamentary tradition. Governments are wise to
use them sparingly.
What steps does a bill have to
go through in order to become
a law? (page 308)
A bill becomes a law in the federal parliament after it goes through three
readings in the House of Commons, is amended by a committee, has three
readings in the Senate, is signed by the Governor General (referred to as royal
assent), and is proclaimed.
First Reading – the bill is introduced to the House of Commons, then printed
and distributed to Members of Parliament. The bill is not debated at this
stage.
Second Reading – the principle and purpose of the bill is debated in the
House.
Committee Stage – a committee examines the bill clause by clause. It may
make amendments to the bill.
Report Stage – committee members report back to the House. The House
reviews amendments to the bill
Third Reading – MPs have a final opportunity to review and amend the bill.
Senate – the bill is sent to the Senate where it follows a similar process. If it
is a provincial bill, this stage is skipped.
Royal Assent – the Governor General of Canada gives the bill royal assent,
meaning that it becomes law. If it is a provincial or territorial bill, the
Lieutenant-Governor of the province or territory grants royal assent.
How is party discipline
enforced? (page 309)
Parties make sure their members vote as the party wishes and this is done
through the whip system. The party whip makes sure that the party members
are in the House of Commons (or legislature for provinces) for important
votes and vote as the party requires. Whips have various ways to enforce
discipline but mostly they persuade their fellow party members to put the
interests of the party first.
What is a minority government
and what makes them
vulnerable? (page 310)
A minority government is one in which the governing party has more seats
than any other party but the other parties combined have more seats than the
government. A minority government has to be careful not to introduce
legislation that will not pass. Votes on budgets and other money bills are
votes of confidence and the government traditionally resigns when it loses
such a vote. A party in minority cannot fully implement its policies or make
important changes because to do so would risk defeat. Minority governments
tend to maintain the status quo even if change would be better for the country.
Why would parliament be
prorogued? (page 311)
A government can use prorogation to get itself out of a jam on a particular
issue, to kill legislation it has problems with, to shuffle the membership of
committees, and to otherwise keep itself in power.
What is a party platform?
(page 300)
A party platform is a list of priorities and a plan for governing published by a
political party. It helps the public understand what the party stands for and it
reminds party members about goals and core beliefs.
Explain the pros and cons of
our voting system: first-pastthe-post. (page 317)
In this system, the winner does not necessarily have to win a majority of the
votes cast; they simply have to win more votes than any other candidate. The
system is simple and straightforward. Supporters of this system also say that
it means there is usually a clear winner of elections and minority governments
don’t often happen. However, the result does not always represent the wishes
of the majority of voters.
How do you feel about
compulsory voting? Should
we have this in Canada? Why
or why not? (page 318)
In countries with compulsory voting, citizens must vote or face fines or jail.
If there is no compulsory voting, we allow uninterested people to throw away
rights that have taken centuries to achieve simply because people are not
interested enough to vote. Voter apathy is a serious problem for democracies.
Compulsory voting is a measure designed to ensure citizens accept their
responsibility to maintain democracy. Supporters claim that compulsory
voting is really not different than serving on juries or paying taxes and it
makes certain that all parts of the electorate are represented and that it
increases interest in issues and in politics in general.
Questions/Main Ideas:
Name the 3 levels of
government and provide
examples of what they are
responsible for. (see class
notes)
Notes:
Federal Government – defense (military), regulation of trade and commerce,
citizenship, taxation (GST), currency and coins, native peoples and native
reserves, postal service, patents and copyright, marriage and divorce, fisheries
Provincial Government – education, hospitals and charities, licenses (driving
and fishing), private property and Civil law, direct taxation (income tax and
sales tax), management of natural resources (forests and electrical energy),
local public works (roads and canals), courts and administration of justice
Municipal Government – water and sewer service, public transit, fire and
police protection and ambulance service, licensing and inspection (houses),
street lights, sidewalks and local roads, public health services, garbage
collection, matters of purely local concern
What is the duty of the
Governor General? (see class
notes)
Canada’s current Governor General is David Johnston. His duties include:
- Giving Royal Assent to bills passed by the House of Commons and the
Senate in order to establish them as laws
- Speech from the throne at the opening of a session of Parliament
- Presides over the swearing-in of the prime minister, chief justice of the
Supreme Court, and cabinet ministers
Summary, Reflection, Analysis