Name: ________________________
Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd Ed.
Reading Guide for Chapter 9
____ / 126
Citizens Effecting Change
Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd Ed., Chapter 9, pages 288-321
Democracy Begins with the People: page 290
1.
What is "democracy"?
2.
List several recurring Canadian issues.
Influencing Government: pages 291-296
3.
What are "civil servants"?
4.
What are "pressure groups"?
5.
List several pressure groups identified in your text.
6.
What is a "lobbyist"?
7.
What is a "bureaucrat"?
8.
What is the "public service"?
9.
What is a potential problem when lobbyists and pressure groups are successful in influencing government policy?
10.
What role do the courts have in shaping government policies?
11.
What is meant by "brand recognition"?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 1 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
12.
What are "spin doctors"?
13.
Why do politicians often need their services?
14.
What is "civil disobedience"?
15.
Who was Martin Luther King?
16.
Who is Nelson Mandela?
17.
Who was Mohandas Gandhi?
18.
What is "apartheid"?
19.
What are the three principles of civil disobedience?
20.
What happened in BC's Clayoquot Sound in 1993?
21.
What effect did it have?
Political Ideologies and Parties: pages 297-303
22.
What is an "ideology"?
23.
What is meant by a "direct democracy"?
24.
What is meant by a "representative democracy"?
25.
What are the main principles of democracy?
26.
What is "socialism"?
27.
Why did it evolve?
28.
What is "liberalism"?
29.
How has it changed over the years?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 2 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
30.
What is "conservatism"?
31.
What is a "fiscal conservative"?
32.
What is meant by the term "totalitarian"?
33.
What is meant by the term "authoritarian"?
34.
What is "communism"?
35.
Who were Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels?
36.
What is meant by the term "bourgeoisie"?
37.
What is meant by the term "proletariat"?
38.
Why do you think communist governments have tended to be totalitarian and/or authoritarian?
39.
What is meant by the term "fascism"?
40.
What is meant by the term "political spectrum"?
41.
What beliefs are typical of a "left wing" party?
42.
What beliefs are typical of a "right wing" party?
43.
What beliefs are typical of a "centre" party?
44.
List Canada's five political parties from right to left on the political spectrum.
45.
What is meant by "libertarianism"?
46.
What is a "party platform"?
47.
Why do people join political parties?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 3 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
48.
What are "NGOs"?
49.
Why might it be difficult to keep political parties accountable to citizens after they form a government?
50.
What is "patronage"?
51.
Do you think it should be allowed? Explain.
52.
What is "populism"?
53.
What is an "elite"?
54.
What is meant by the term "polarize"?
55.
What is meant by the term "partisan"?
56.
Describe BC politics over the last 50 years.
57.
Do you believe Romeo Dellaire was a good appointment to the Senate? Explain.
A Guide to Government: pages 304-312
58.
What are the three main levels of government in Canada?
59.
What is the role of the legislative branch of federal and provincial governments?
60.
What is the role of the legislative branch of federal and provincial governments?
61.
What is the role of the judiciary in government?
62.
What is the "House of Commons"?
63.
What is the "Cabinet"?
64.
What is the "Senate"?
65.
What is an "ad valorem" tax?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 4 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
66.
Give an example.
67.
What is an "excise" tax?
68.
Give an example.
69.
What are graduated income taxes?
70.
On what kind of taxes do municipalities rely?
71.
What is a "surplus"?
72.
What is a "deficit"?
73.
What is the "civil service"?
74.
What is a "bureaucracy"?
75.
What is the "PMO"?
76.
What is the "PCO"?
77.
What is the Prime Minister's relationship with the Cabinet?
78.
What is the role of a Cabinet Minister?
79.
What is "cabinet solidarity"?
80.
What is an "order-in-council"?
81.
What are the seven stages by which a bill becomes a law?
82.
What is "royal assent"?
83.
What is a "lieutenant-governor"?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 5 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
84.
What is a "party whip"?
85.
What is meant by the term "party discipline"?
86.
Why is this important to a political party?
87.
What are "free votes"?
88.
Why might they take place?
89.
What are "backbenchers"?
90.
What is a "private member's bill"?
91.
What is a "majority government"?
92.
What is a "minority government"?
93.
What advantage does a majority government have over a minority?
94.
What is meant by the term "status quo"?
95.
Why might minority governments be more likely to maintain the status quo than a majority government?
96.
What is a "coalition"?
97.
Why might the Bloc, NDP and Liberals have tried to form one in 2008?
98.
What does it mean to "prorogue" Parliament?
99.
Why might a government do this?
100.
What does it mean to "dissolve" Parliament?
101.
What is a "constituent"?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 6 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
102.
What is a "referendum"?
103.
Why are few of these held?
Choosing the Government: pages 313-319
104.
What is a "riding"?
105.
How can they vary?
106.
What is the "Chief Electoral Officer"?
107.
What is meant by "voter apathy"?
108.
How are party leaders chosen?
109.
How are candidates chosen by parties?
110.
What is a "nomination"?
111.
What is the role of a party platform?
112.
What is meant by "enumeration"?
113.
What is "balloting"?
114.
What is meant by "tabulating"?
115.
What are "pollsters"?
116.
How are polls used during election campaigns?
117.
How can citizens be involved in elections?
118.
What are "polling stations"?
119.
What are "advance polls"?
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 7 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9
Name: ________________________
120.
What are "electoral officers"?
121.
What is the "voters list"?
122.
What is a "by-election"?
123.
What was the participation rate of BC voters in elections in 2009?
124.
What is meant by the term "first-past-the-post"?
125.
What is a "single transferable vote"?
126.
Do you think introducing compulsory voting in Canada would be a positive move? Explain.
© 2010 Better Classroom Guidebooks
Page 8 of 8
Reading Guide for Counterpoints: Exploring Canadian Issues, 2nd edition – Chapter 9