CITIZENS EFFECTING CHANGE

CITIZENS EFFECTING CHANGE

DEMOCRACY In your own words define democracy. What does democracy look like? List ways in which citizens can impact change Pressure groups or interest groups Lobbyists

MEDIA AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE What role does media play in influencing the democratic process? What is civil disobedience?

POLITICAL SPECTRUM

ISMS IDEOLOGIES Communism Sharing of all resources Ultimate goal is no class or status Strong government control in the economy Socialism Believe in the good of the whole versus the good of the individual Support social programs/welfare state

ISMS CONTINUED Liberalism Believe in personal freedoms Social programs Some government control in the economy Conservatism Believe in tradition Some personal freedom Spend less money on social programs Fascism Strong state control over everything No personal freedoms Obedience to the state One party one leader

LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE Change Pro-choice Same-sex marriage Problems are circumstantial Welfare programs Universal health care Tradition Pro-life Traditional family Problems are individual Welfare limits Private health care

LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE Gov t is responsible for social reform Assistance programs Equality-fairnesslevel playing field Anti-discrimination Human rights Environment Relative Values Gay marriages Gov t needs to be less involved Charity tax deductions Freedom-personal choices The right to hire Property rights Pro-business Moral absolutes Traditional family

CANADIAN POLITICS AND IDEOLOLGY

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT Power in Canada is divided into 2 levels Federal Provincial Branches of government

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Law making branch of Canada Parliament Highest political institution in Canada House of Commons First legislative body of Parliament who s members are elected by voters Members of Parliament (MPs) 308 members Senate Appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister Second body of legislature Give second though to the passage of bills

EXECUTIVE BRANCH Enacts, applies and enforces all federal laws created by the legislative branch Governor General Represents the Queen Selected by the Prime Minister Ceremonial role Prime Minister Head of the government Leader of the party with the most seats Selects members of cabinet decide government policy

JUDICIAL BRANCH Interprets and applies the law Supreme Court Highest court final authority for all legal disputes 9 judges appointed by the Governor General Federal Court of Canada Ensure that federal law is interpreted and applied consistently Provincial Courts Small claims court Family, bylaw cases

PASSING LEGISLATION Task of parliament Bill à Law (Federal Level) 3 readings in the House of Commons Amended by committee 3 readings in the Senate Signed by Governor General Royal Assent Bill à Law (Provincial Level) 3 readings Passed into law by Lieutenant-Governor

Back THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION

MINORITY VS. MAJORITY GOVERNMENT Coalition Formal alliance of political parties Majority Ruling party has more than half the total number of seats in the legislature Minority Ruling party has more seats than any other party, BUT the other parties combined have more seats

DISSOLVING PARLIAMENT Prime Minister requests to end Parliament WHY? Vote of non-confidence Lack of majority support for a government policy Prime Minister wants to call for general election Discipline backbenchers Once parliament is dissolved election campaigns begin

CHOOSING THE GOVERNMENT House of Commons Elected by citizens based on geographical divisions Electoral districts, ridings, constituencies Chief Electoral Officer Responsible for managing federal elections and referendums Elections held every 5 years

CHOOSING CANDIDATES 1. Dissolution 2. Enumeration 3. Nomination 4. Campaigning 5. Voting 6. Tabulating High cost of campaigning Political parties seek out volunteers and donations Door to door support, signage How can the cost of campaigning effect the candidates?

VOTING PROCESS How and where to vote: Polling Stations, advance polls, voters list 18 years of age or older Canadian Citizen First-past-the-post The candidate who has more votes than any other candidate wins Single transferable votes Proportional representation Votes can be transferred to further competing candidate