Citizens Effecting Change Chapter 9

Front 1

What are some of the recurring issues in contemporary Canada?

Back 1

Aboriginal rights, Quebec and bilingualism, continentalism (how costly we along ourselves with the US), minority rights, civil liberties, the influences of big businesses, the environment, defence, spending priorities, taxation, crime and maiming social programs.

Front 2

What are the ways in which can and do individual Canadians participate in our democracy?

What is a civil servant?

Back 2

Between elections one way to contacts ones MP, MLP, or local representative, which is surprisingly effective. Another was it to contact civil servants.

A person who works for the government department

Front 3

What are pressure groups?

What is the difference between institutional pressure groups and issue oriented pressure groups?

Back 3

Organized groups of individuals with common interests and concertos who attempt to pressure/influence government polices and decisions.

Issue-oriented groups try to accomplish limited aims and often disband once their goal is reached, also not permanent.

Front 4

What are lobbyists? Bureaucrats?

Back 4

A person that's hired to represent the interest of a pressure group by influencing policy decision makers, in the groups favour. Deals with laws

They influence decision makers such as bureaucrats in the public service.

Government offices and administrators

Front 5

What are some of the criticisms about lobbyists?

Back 5

Danger with lobbying is that insiders can persuade government to place polices that aren't necessarily in the public interest. Ex: the Tobacco company lobby fought the government efforts to limit advertising for tobacco products.

Front 6

Explain the connections between the courts in Canada and special interest groups?

Back 6

Interest groups and individuals can also use courts to influence government and effect change, since courts are bound to interpret laws within the context of the constitution and the charter of rights and freedom.

Front 7

What role can media play in influencing government?

What is meant by the term mass media?

Back 7

Without media presence, a politician won't have the brand recognition awareness by general public if characteristics associated with a particular product, business or person (gain people's vote)

Any of the means of communications, as TV or newspaper, that reach very large amount of people.

Front 8

What role can the media play in influencing government?

Back 8

The media/internet gives candidates wide exposure but magnify their faults. For this reason political parties hire spin doctors- people who publicize the words and actions of politicians in a positive way.

Front 9

What is civil disobedience?

Back 9

The act of intentionally breaking the law while protesting against laws. This form of protest has been used by Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist, an official policy of racial segregation involving political, legal, economic discrimination against non-whites.

Front 10

What are the 3 principles of civil disputes?

Back 10

1. Civil disobedience should not involve violence.

2. Should be directed against laws that are seriously harmful

3. Requires taking responsibility for ones-actions. Willingness to face punishment.

Front 11

Describe the event that took place at Clayoquot Sound?

Back 11

An act of civil disobedience, blocked logging roads in BC 1993. The provincial government announced a compromise that it would set 34% of the area as protected lands and allows selective and environmentally sensitive logging of another 21%

Front 12

Define ideology, democracy.

Back 12

Refers to a philosophy that explain how the society should work and offers the blueprint for a certain order.

Any form of government in which citizens vote and or take part in governing. Rule by the people.

Front 13

Define direct democracy,

Representative democracy.

Back 13

A political system in which all citizens are allowed to influence policy by means of direct vote or referendum.

The people elect government officials who then make decisions on their behalf.

Front 14

What are the main principles of democracy?

Back 14

Citizens participations, equality political tolerance mac account ability, transparency, regulate free and fair elections, economic freedom, control of the abuse of power, bill of rights, accepting the results of elections, humans rights, multiparty system and rule of law

Front 15

Define socialism.

What are the roots and core beliefs of socialism?

Back 15

Emphasizes economic cooperation over economic competitions.

They believe that the government should control important parts of the economy and major industries. Socialism developed when capitalism was causing great social hard and poverty.