chap 1/2 Flashcards
structure of Canada’s federal political system
executive branch, legislative branch and judicial branch
executive branch
Prime Minister and Cabinet
- proposes laws
- puts laws into action
- day-to-day businesses
legislative branch
House of Commons, Senate, Governor General
- represents interests and rights
- makes laws
judicial branch
Supreme Court
- applies and interprets laws
- all comes from legal profession
- highest court in Canada
The legislative branch is also called…
Canada’s Parliament
Describe the House of Commons and what its members do.
The house of commons is a major law making body in Canada’s federal and political system. The members debate, study and vote on laws called bills.
What are two key responsibilities MPs have?
- to represent their constituency
- create legislation
Popular Vote
The total support political parties win during an election.
Role of the Senate
They can propose laws with careful reconsideration.
What do Senators do?
Members of the Senate represent the interests and rights of Canada’s regions, especially the minority.
How many seats are there in the House of Commons?
208 seats
How many seats are in the Senate?
105 seats
What steps do bills go through to become laws?
5 different steps:
- First Reading
- Second Reading
- Committee Stage
- Report Stage
- Third Reading
Second Reading
debate and vote
Committee Stage
details study of the bill
Report Stage
debate and vote on amendments
Third Reading
debate and vote on the final form of the bill
First Reading
where the proposed law is being first introduced and read through once.
How is the media and government connected?
easily influence one’s opinions
Why are lobbyists important in our political process?
Lobbyists are important in our political process because they can give out common people’s opinions and help the government make decisions that can help the greater good.
Majority Government
when it has the most seats in the house of commons, over 50%
Minority Government
when it has the most seats but under 50%
Lobbyists
hired to influence government officials and MPs
YCJA
Prohibits adult sentences for youth ages 13-17 years old.
What factors are considered when decisions are made about the consequences for young offenders?
- individual circumstances
- history of the offenders
- the attitude of a young person
- seriousness of the offence
Main objectives of YCJA
- rehabilitation and reintegration
- addressing the circumstances
- meaningful consequences
Juries
formed with 1 people when deciding a consequence
Two main advocacy groups
The John Howard Society
Elizabeth Fry Society
Role of elders in the justice system
- They can volunteer to work with YCJA
- Respected members of the communities
- They believe communities must be involved in a situation.
