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48 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is democracy in its purest form? Why is this not possible now? |
-People rule themselves -Not possible due to sheer size of population |
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What elements do modern democratic systems follow? |
-Constitution -Human rights protected in constitution -Regularly scheduled multi-party elections are held -Universal suffrage (voting rights) -Judaical and political rules of government separated -Federal union, multiple levels of gov |
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What is a constitution? What does it do in regards to government? |
-sets rules that represent the essential principle the public and government must follow -Limits government power -if government violates constitution, courts can overrule -Human rights are enshrined in it |
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What is communism? |
-economic system based on community ownership of all property and the means of production -no classes, everyone has approx same amount of money -individuals cannot pursue business -Gov controlled by small group of members of the Communist Party -Can only vote for communist party -Censorship -Usually, poor gets poorer and rich gets richer -liberty sacrificed for "good" of entire state |
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What is Capitalism? |
-System in which individuals are free to compete with one another to produce goods and services for profit - Supply and demand detremine prices -No limit to wealth -Common to have classes of "wealthy", "middle" and "poor". |
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What is socialism? |
-Government controls some aspects of economy but free enterprise still functions -People can own consumer goods |
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What is fascism? What are its principles? |
-Action over thought, pragmatism (No morals) -Extreme nationalism (SERBIA GRETSEST COUNTRY) -Purpose of individual is to serve state -economic and intellectual resouces are to be directed towards building united country with stonk military -Goal is imperial war of conquest |
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What is the Governor General? what do? |
-Monarch's representative in Canada -Chosen by PM, appointed by Queen -Announces government decisions but acts almost entirely on advice of Cabinet Ministers -rarely makes decisions |
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What is the head of state? |
-Nation's supreme representative m but has no political powers -Governor general is in Canada |
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Who is the Prime Minister? How is he elected? |
-Head of government -Political leader of the gov of Canada -Responsibility to govern country -Controls the Cabinet, thereby the HoC, giving him much power -Is the leader of party most most elected represenatives |
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What is parliament? What do? How is it made? |
-Group of representatives who govern the country -Branch of gov that makes laws -Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected from each riding (100,000) |
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What is the HoC?What do MPs do in the HoC? |
-All MPs, includingf the PM and Cabinet, is called the HoC -MP's are elected from ridings for a 5 year term -Spends time debating and passing legislation -Individual MP's look after needs of people who elected them |
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What is the importance of the HoC? |
-No law can become laws without approval -No money can be spent by gov without approval -If bill proposed by Cabinet is defeated, PM must resign -Via the HoC Canadians exerciser democratic control |
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What is the Senate? |
-Not elected -Appointed by Gov General but only on recommendation of Prime Minister -Usually given as a reward (Patronage -For a bill to become law the Senate must past the bill passed by the HoC -Rare for senate to refuse bill |
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What is the executive Branch? What do? |
-Make and apply government decisions
-Federal level, consists of PM and Gov General |
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What is the Cabinet? |
-Approx 30 members -Members called Cabinet Ministers -Selected by PM from among the MPs who are from the party who won -Each province must be represented by 1 minister -Responsible for initiating new laws and administering gov policy -Responsible for initiating most new laws -Each member is responsible for administering one department of gov |
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What is a direct democracy? |
-All citizens vote on every decision |
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What is a representative Democracy? |
-Democracy in which people elect representatives to act on their behalf -In order to work representatives must respond to interests of the citizens and not abuse power |
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What is a constitutional monarchy? |
-A country with both a constitution and a British sovereign -Monarch never interferes with Canadian affairs and the monarch merely represents historic relationship. |
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What is a federal system? |
-A system in which the government is divided into 3 levels, federal, provincial, and municipal -These 3 levels have different responsibilities |
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What are the responsibilities of federal government? |
-Foreign policy -Immigration -Taxation and currency -criminal law -Transportation -National defense -Employment insurance -Aboriginal peoples -Postal system -Residual powers (Unforeseen elements that did not exist at the time of constitution ex: Internet) |
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What are the responsibilities of Provincial/Territorial government? |
-Education -Healthcare -Provincial taxation -Provincial police -Management of natural resources -Roads and bridges -Worker's compensation programs -Housing |
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What responsibilities are shared between Provincial and Federal government? |
-Agriculture and farming -Pension plans -Environmental proection |
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What are the responsibilities of the Municipal government? |
-Libraries -Local police -Local schools -Fire department -Public transports -Building permits -Parks and recreation -Garbage and recycling collection |
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What is a vote of non-confidence? |
-Vote to remove PM from office if he/she loses majority support -Occurs when HoC defeats a bill introduced by PM government or the members can formally vote on a vote of Non confidence |
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What are the duties of a PM? |
-Act as voice of nations by speaking at international meetings and addressing citizens -Develop foreign trade and policies -Recommend new judges and Senators -Act as a spokesman for party and lead caucus(Group of MP's from the same political party) -Select MPs for cabinet -Advise Gov general when to dissolve parliament for elections |
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What is a Deputy Minister? |
-Civil servants employed by the government to help run a specific department and report to their respective Cabinet Minister |
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Who are back bencher? What do they do? |
-Members of governing party that are not in the cabinet
-Role is to support the party -On occasion may vote against or resign if they disagree if their own party -Party whips are elected to discipline members if they speak out |
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What is the Shadow Cabinet? What do? |
-MPs from official opposition that have been chosen to shadow specific Cabinet Ministers -Is a critic of the government and holds them responsible -Minority parties can also have their own shadow cabinet |
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What do public servants do? |
-Represent link between government and Canadian citizens -Perform day to day work of government -Also advises ministers |
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What does the executive branch consists of? |
-PM -Cabinet -Backbenchers -Shadow Cabinet -Public service |
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What is the function of the Legislative Branch? |
-To debate, make and amend laws
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Who is the Speaker of the House? What does he do? |
-Elected by MPs from its members -Responsible for running the day to day business in HoC -Maintains order,applies rules of parliament to all, and acts a "referee" |
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Who is the Sergeant at Arms? What do? |
-Works for Speaker of the House
-Performs ceremonial activities (Carry mace) -Responsible for security of HoC and the Parliament building |
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What is the opposition? What does it do?
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-Has second greatest number of seats in the HoC -Keeps government accountable |
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What is happens during question periods? |
-Opposition members question government actions or raise issues of concerns -Pressure put by opposition brings out important information |
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What controversy are there about Senate? |
-Lack of specific qualifications -Patronage (Senate seats given as rewards by PM) -Doesn't represent the country as a whole (focused on central Canada) |
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What is the Triple E solution for the Senate? |
-Make it -Effective (Give it actual power) -Elected -Equal |
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What is the Legislative Branch composed of? |
-House of commons -Senate -Gov General |
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What is the judicial system? |
-Whole system that dispenses justice in Canada -Independent of the Executive and of Parliament |
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What is the Supreme Court |
-Final Court of appeal for Canada -Consists of 9 judges (3 must be from Quebec) -Appointed by Governor General on recommendation of the federal Cabinet |
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What is the provincial court? What types of court does most have? |
-Provincial -Supreme -Court of Appeak -Trial Division -Small Clamis |
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How is the government on the provincial level modeled? |
-No Provincial equivalent of Senate -Lieutenant Governor: Provincial equivalent of Gov General -Legislative Assembly: Provincial equivalent of House of Commons` |
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What is the government like at the municipal level? |
-Mayor head of municipal council -Municipal council made up of elected representatives called councilors -By-laws (laws that only effect that area) are passed by the council |
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How do aboriginal communities govern themselves? |
-Uses band councils (Group of respected members) -Functions like municipal -Leader is chief, and he is directly responsible to the people. |
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What is in Canada's unwritten constitution? |
-Responsible government requires that the executive branch must act on the decisions of the legislation branch -Government cannot make decisions without support of the HoC -Governor cannot refuse to sign a bill that has been passed by HoC and Senate |
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What did the Constitution Act accomplish? |
-Added an amending formula to change constitution -Added Nothwithstanding clause -Addition of Charter of Rights and Freedoms |
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What requirements are needed to change the Constitution? |
-7 out of 10 provinces representing at least 50% of the population must agree |
