Government Self-check #2 Answers
Topic 4
1.
The following is a hypothetical example in which the winning party does not win the most votes. Read
through carefully and fill in the blanks below.
Riding A (10,000 people)
100% voter turnout
10, 000 people voting
All 10,000 voted for the same person
 1 Candidate elected by 10,000 people
Riding B (10,000 people)
30% voter turnout
3,000 people voting
All 3,000 voted for the same person
 1 candidate elected by 3,000 people
Based on the above, if the PC Party wins two ridings and 10,000 people voted in each riding the PC
Party would have 20,000 votes and 2 seats in parliament.

If another party such as the NDP wins five ridings and only 3,000 people voted in each riding the
NDP would have 15,000 votes and 5 seats in parliament.
a) Which party has the most votes? The PC Party
b) Which party wins the election? The NDP
2.
Complete the following table on the 1997 election and then answer the questions below.
Party
# of seats
% of seats
% of votes
Bloc Quebecois
44
14.6%
10.7%
Canadian Alliance
59
19.6%
19.4%
Liberal
156
51.8%
38.4%
New Democratic Party
21
6.9%
11.1%
Progressive Conservative
19
6.3%
18.9%
Others
2
0.7%
1.5%
Total Seats
301
100%
100%
a) Explain why the Liberal Party won despite having less than 50% of the popular vote.
The Liberal Party won the most seats in Parliament (156 or 51.8%).
b)
Compare the results for the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative parties.
Despite a nearly identical percentage of the popular vote, why do their number of seats in
parliament differ so significantly? (Referring back to #1 may help you answer.)
The Canadian Alliance won their elections in more ridings than the Progressive Conservatives,
although both parties had a relatively equal number of total votes cast. This means that each
individual PC candidate elected won with a large number of votes, whereas the individual Alliance
candidates elected did not receive nearly as many.
Alternatives
Proportional
Representation
Preferential Ballot
1.
Explanation
The number of votes an entire party
receives corresponds to the number
of seats it wins in Parliament.
Candidates are ranked in order of
preference. The one with the lowest
number of votes is dropped and
his/her second place votes are
distributed. This continues until one
candidate receives a majority.
Disadvantages
Areas of Canada might not have a
say because of a lack of local
ridings.
Governments must be formed by
coalitions between parties.
The winner may only have the votes
of a small part of the population,
and may only represent one area of
the country.
Why do people form interest groups?
Interest groups form when people who share ideas realize that they have a common goal
and that they can impact government decisions.
2.
a) How do interest groups influence government decisions?
Interest groups send representatives (lobbyists) to meetings with Cabinet Ministers and/or
parliamentary committees.
b) How do interest group influence public opinion?
Paid advertisements in the media, public meetings, protests.
3.
Do you think interest groups are beneficial to our government/society? Complete the
table below and then write a paragraph answer to the above question.
Pros
Cons
Vital role in providing government with
information (technical expertise; research)
Have contributed to change that benefits
society as a whole (e.g. new services,
environmental protection)
Promote goals that not all people share
Some interest groups contribute large sums
of money to political campaigning – and
then expect special treatment if the targeted
party is elected
Answers will vary.
1.
Identify three influences on government decisions.
Interest groups; mass media; civil disobedience.
2.
a) How does the media affect government focus?
The media has the ability to dictate a government’s focus by covering issues that it thinks are important to
society.
b) Do you think that the government should consider the media when deciding policy? Why/why
not?
Answer will vary.
3.
a) In your own words, explain the term “media concentration”.
Media concentration refers to the conglomeration of media ownership. This means that just a few
corporations now own many of the news sources.
b) Were you aware of this trend before learning about it in school? Do you think the
public should be more aware of media-related issues?
Answers will vary.
4.
a) Identify the three principles of civil disobedience.
The act should not involve violence; the act should be directed only against laws that are seriously harmful;
the act requires a willingness to face punishment
b) Would you be willing to commit civil disobedience for a cause in which you
believed? Why/why not?
Answers will vary.
Topic 5
Complete the following diagram which outlines the basic structure of Canada’s federal
government. This exercise will help you to visualize the power structure of the various branches
and levels of Canada’s government.
Sovereign/
Monarch
Governor General
Legislative
Branch
Executive
Branch
The Senate
Prime
Minister
Judicial
Branch
Supreme Court
of Canada
House of Commons
Cabinet
Court of Appeal
Public Service
Supreme Court
Provincial
Court
1.
Brainstorm rights to which all humans are entitled.
Human
Rights
2.
Write your own definition of “human rights”.
Human rights are rights to which all humans are entitled and which are considered basic to life in any
society.
3.
a) What event provided the impetus for the creation of the United Nations?
The creation of the United Nations was in part a response to the Second World War, in particular,
Hitler’s treatment of the Jews.
b) Name some of the goals of the United Nations.
The United Nations works toward maintaining peace, establishing friendly relations between nations,
and eliminating poverty, disease and illiteracy.
4. Name two reasons why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is such an important document.
This document was the first international statement to recognize that all human beings have specific
rights and freedoms, and the world has come to see it as the “leading word” on global morality.
5.
Which of the rights contained within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights do you think
are most important? Rank your top three rights, not necessarily according to severity, but
according to what you think is most important to have enshrined internationally.
Answers will vary.
6.
If a country is violating any of the rights in the Declaration, how does the global community
respond?
The United Nations first brings attention to the abuses, and then other countries might put pressure on
the offending countries by doing such things as restricting trade agreements.
1.
Brainstorm some of the rights and freedoms that we have here in Canada. Do not consult
any sources!
Answers will vary.
2.
Complete the following chart; see the example squares included.
Category
Fundamental
Freedoms
Democratic Rights
Mobility Rights
Legal Rights
Equality Rights
Specific Rights Included
• conscience and religion
• belief and expression
• peaceful assembly
• association
e.g. A group of “pro-life” protestors
assemble and set up a peaceful
demonstration.
• to vote
• to run for office
• to hold elections every 5 years
e.g. A political party cannot remain in
power for more than five years without
holding an election.
• to leave and enter Canada
• to work/live in any province
e.g. An individual can move throughout
the country in search of work.
• to have a fair trial and lawyer
• to not be detained without just cause
• to be presumed innocent
• to not suffer cruel treatment
• no discrimination of race, ethnic
origin, religion, sex, age, etc…
• affirmative action programs
Official Language
Rights
Minority Language
Educational Rights
4.
An example of a “real-life”
application of these rights
e.g. A person accused of a crime
cannot be physically harmed during
interrogation.
e.g. A computer programmer in a
wheelchair has an equal chance of
getting hired as anyone else of
equivalent qualifications.
• official bilingual status of both
English and French
e.g. Advertisements must include both
English and French versions.
• to education in English and
French
e.g. If there are thirty Grade 1 students
in Kelowna whose parents’ first
language is French, a French teacher
must be provided.
Some countries do not have the same rights and freedoms that we have here in Canada.
Indeed, the very rights you listed above may not exist in certain areas of the world. Even
here in Canada civil rights have not always been enshrined. Can you think of any specific
examples in North America over the past century in which civil rights were limited / abused?
(1900-present).
E.g. War Measures Act, 1970 – it became an offense to be a member of the FLQ and the police were
given increased power to arrest and detain any “suspicious” persons.
• Japanese internment camps in B.C. (WWII)
• Treatment of African-Americans
• Women’s right to vote
• Gender equality in the workplace
etc…
Topic 6
1. What does “preferential hiring” mean?
Preferential hiring refers to the practice of hiring people from disadvantaged groups in
order to develop a representative workforce.
2. Why might someone disagree with affirmative action programs?
Some people believe that this amounts to reverse discrimination and that people should
be hired based only on their qualifications and abilities.
The Charter
1.
What is the notwithstanding clause?
The notwithstanding clause is a clause within the Charter that allows both the federal and
provincial levels of government to suspend a right in the Charter for a period of up to five
years.
2.
Discuss the significance of the notwithstanding clause.
The notwithstanding clause is significant because it was the factor which convinced several
provinces to agree to the Charter, and it gives some power back to the government.
3.
In what way did the Charter affect the traditional role of judges? Why?
Judges had to take a more active role in “interpreting” the laws and were now forced to
consider whether individual rights took precedence over the rights of society.
4.
In your opinion, which right of an individual comes into conflict most often with the
rights of society as a whole? Why do you think this is the case?
Answers will vary.
5.
Some of the language in the charter is fairly vague (e.g. “unreasonable search”). Do
you think that the Charter should be more specific? Why/why not?
Answers will vary.
Topic 7
1.
What year did the United Nations adopt the Convention on the Rights of the Child?
1989
2.
Why do you think that Convention on the Rights of the Child has become the most
universally accepted human rights document?
Answers will vary.
3.
How do the rights of children differ than the rights of all people in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights? Provide examples.
Some specifications within the Convention:



1.
Cannot be used as cheap labour and soldiers, not just the more general term of slavery
and exploitation
Have the right to be with their family or those who will care for them best
Have the right to free education
What forms of discrimination does the B.C. Human Rights Code protect against?
Discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family
status, physical or mental disability, sex, and sexual orientation.
2.
Describe the process that occurs when a complaint is made to the B.C. Human Rights
Commission.
When a complaint is made, the B.C. Human Rights Commission investigates the complaint, and if
it finds enough evidence, the complaint is sent on the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal for a hearing.
If the complaint is upheld in court, the Tribunal then “sentences” the offending party.
3.
Complete the following table on the main sections of the B.C. Human Rights Code.
Sections of the Code
Explanation (in your own words)
Employment
No one can be discriminated against when being hired or in any
condition of employment.
Publications
No one can publish or display any notice, sign, or symbol that is
likely to expose others to hatred or contempt.
Accommodation/
Service
Tenancy
No one can be discriminated against with respect to
accommodation or service normally available to the public.
No one can be discriminated against when applying for tenancy.