Sponge Activity
Compromise
You have two minutes to write
everything you know, or any
notions you have of the word
“compromise”.
What is Compromise?
Definitions of Compromise
1) A beautiful way to solve the issues and
problems peacefully through straight
forward conversation. The Urban Dictionary.
2) Settlement of differences by arbitration or
by consent reached by mutual
concessions. Merriam Webster Dictionary
3) To compromise is to make a deal where
someone gives up part of, or all of its
demand. Wikipedia
Peace, Order, and
Good
Government…..
Eh?
Canada has a Parliamentary
Government.
Question Period
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTvv_M6
LL1s&feature=related
Question Time Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5jUBLTq
ZoI&feature=related
What do you think?
Is this anyway to run a country?
Where is the “peace, order OR good government?”
Compare
Let’s recall how the United States does it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkzetto7xGA
 Are we more “civilized”?
 Do we actually accomplish much with our
“civility”?
 How do you disagree with a friend or family
member?
 What works? How do you hash out your
differences?

Canada’s
System
Of
Government
Westminister
Style of
Responsible
Government
How does it work?





The head of Canada’s executive branch is the king or queen of the United Kingdom, entrusted with
powers over the legislative and judicial branches. Historically, this position is honorary rather than
enforced, though should they decide, the monarch could assert considerable power over Canada. As
they are geographically quite far apart, the monarch appoints a Canadian governor-general to oversee
the executive powers. Although the executive branch typically bows to the will of parliament and the
constitution, it does so by tradition rather than law.
The governor-general appoints the prime minister, who is the head of the federal Canadian
government. The prime minister is almost always chosen from whichever party holds a majority in the
house of commons, however if no party holds a majority, they are usually appointed from the party
with the most members. Though the prime minister cannot be removed from office, the House of
Commons can pass an act of no confidence in the government, which will generally result in the
resignation of the prime minister and his cabinet.
The legislative branch of the Canadian government is bicameral, meaning it has two houses of
legislative power. The appointed house is called the Senate, and members are selected by the
governor-general with the advice of the prime minister. The elected section of legislative government is
called the House of Commons, and is chosen by democratic election procedures every five years.
Though in theory both branches are roughly equal in power, the House of Commons generally wields
the most power in the Canadian Government and introduces considerably more bills to Parliament.
Canada’s federal judicial system oversees all criminal law, as well as maintaining a Supreme Court
appointed by the governor-general. Civil law is monitored using the principles of British common law,
except in Quebec, where a French code is followed. The Supreme Court consists of nine judges, and is
used as a “last resort” court system, when a case cannot be adequately completed by lower courts.
The constitution of the Canadian government was created in 1867 as an Act of the British parliament.
In 1982, the constitution was amended to give Canada political independence from Great Britain,
although the monarch still retains executive powers. Additionally, the 1982 amendment contained an
outline of political rights and freedoms for citizens, similar to the ten-part Bill of Rights that begins the
American constitution.
Group Work


Using prior knowledge from your reading last
night on “Canada Northern Neighbor”
Government pg. 41-51 and using “How
Canadians Govern Themselves” Parliamentary
Government pg 3-6 as reference tools design a
graph outlining how Canada’s Parliamentary
System works.
You will create your own diagram, and then
move into your pair share group to discuss.
Exit Ticket


On an index card analyze how a Prime
Minister is selected to be the Canadian
Head of Government.
Rubric
4 4 correct points
3 3 correct points
2 3 points, but not all correct
1 1 or 2 correct points
Homework
Go online and find an
example of Question
Time or a Canadian
Parliamentary issue.
Load it on your thumb
drives or email to me
for presentation to the
class tomorrow!