Chapter 1: Government Flashcards
democracy
“rule by the people”: in its purest form is a kind of government in which people rule themselves
constitution (2)
- set of rules that represent the essential principles (the ideas and values) of the nation that both the government and the public must follow
- most fundamental part of democracy as restricts and limits government, ensuring that the government does not abuse powers
suffrage
the right to vote
the 6 elements of democracy
- constitution
- human rights
- bi-partisan elections
- universal suffrage
- separation of government and judiciary
- federal union
capitalism (2)
- economic system in which individuals or companies are free to compete with one another to produce goods and services for profit
- little government interference in the economy
communism
economic system based on community ownership of all property and means of production
4 elements of communism
- government control (one party)
- limited freedoms (censorship)
- economic equality
- limited individual liberty
socialism (4)
- government runs only some aspects of the economy, but free enterprise (capitalism) still functions
- ownership of more consumer goods that people of a communist state
- multi-party elections
- socialism is a relative term!!
fascism
absolute authority of the state
4 elements of fascism
- action over thought
- extreme nationalism
- serve the state
- resource use towards strong military for imperial war of conquest
Governor General
representative of the monarch (King or Queen of England) who is chosen by the PM and appointed by the Queen
head of state (2)
- nation’s supreme representative, but has no political powers
- Canadian head of state: Governor General
head of government (2)
- political leader of the government
- Canadian head of government: Prime Minister
Prime Minister (2)
- head of a political party and has responsibility of governing the country
- PM controls the Cabinet, and thereby the HoC
parliament (2)
- name given to the group of representatives who govern the country
- branch of government that makes laws
Member of Parliament (MP)
members of the parliament (LMAO) elected from each riding
riding
an area containing about 100,000 people, aka a constituency, electoral district, or seat
who is placed on what level of parliament? (include the MPs, Prime Minister, Governor General, Cabinet, and the Senate)
- PM is the top executive of the parliament
- below the PM is the Cabinet
- below the PM and the Cabinet are the collection of regular MPs who are often referred to as back-benchers
- Governor General and Senate are part of Parliament, but do not have real powers that the MPs have
House of Commons (2)
- groups of all MPs, Prime Minister, and the Cabinet
- spend time debating and passing legislation, while looking after needs of constituents
bill
proposed law that has not been passed
private members’ bills
bills proposed by MP who is not in Cabinet (a backbencher)
Senate (2)
- 105 men and women appointed by Governor General , but by recommendation of the PM
- investigate bills passed by HoC, has to pass Senate before it can become a law, but it is rare for Senate to refuse a bill
executive branch (2)
- make and apply government decisions
- consists of Governor General and PM
legislative council (2)
- make and amend laws
- consists of HoC, Senate and Governor General
