Chapter 10 - Political Challenges to Liberalism Flashcards by Mataya Savage

Advantages of Democracy

Rights and freedoms, active citizenship, informed public, protects minorities

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Disadvantages of Democracy

Inefficient, bureaucratic, run by elite groups, voter apathy

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Characteristics of Democracy

Majority rule, citizen participation, limits on dissent, multiple political parties

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Dissent

Oppose/disagree

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Bureaucratic

the business of running an organization or government

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Pre-requisites of Democracy

Reg elections, secret ballot, leadership changes, choice among candidates

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Direct Democracy

where citizens participate directly in decision making

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Two issues with direct democracy

Time consuming and expensive for a big group of citizens to gather, and individuals are very busy and might not have the time to partake

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Inititative

citizens draw up a petition and if enough people sign, it can force a public vote

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Referendums and Plebiscites

a direct vote by citizens on a law as opposed to representatives and usually reserved for important decisions

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Representative Democracy

citizens elect a candidate to make decisons on their behalf

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Non-confidence vote

bills of importance must be passed or executive must step down

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What else is a single member constituency called?

First past the post

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What is a single member constituency?

where candidates who pass a certain point in the
race with the highest number of votes in each of their ridings win

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Riding

an electoral district

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Bicameral system

two chambers (HOF and senate)

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How is it determined who will be in the senate?

appointed by the governor general by the recommendation of the prime minister

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What does the senate do?

act as a sober second thought, offer amendments to bills passed by the HOC

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Constitutional monarchy

queen as head of state

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Parliamentary

actions associated with the HOC

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Periodic elections

holding elections (within every four years)

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Civil service

ex. jobs hired (not appointed) to fill roles in govt services

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Opposition party

second largest party

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Responsible government

the executive must respond to the wishes of the legislative branch

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Cabinet ministers

given special responsibilities

Caucus

meeting of all members of a party

Party (cabinet) solidarity

practice of party members to publically support policy

Party whip

responsible for discipline

Partisanship

act of following party policy

Bipartisan

two political parties cooperate on an issue

Non-partisan

joint efforts, not political

Who is apart of the executive branch in Canada?

governor general, prime minister and cabinet

Who is apart of the legislative branch in Canada?

senate and the house of commons

Who is apart of the judicial branch in Canada?

supreme court

Who is apart of the executive branch in America?

president (head of state and govt), vice president and cabinet (staff)

Who is apart of the legislative branch in America?

congress, house of representatives and senate

Who is apart of the judicial branch in America?

supreme court and lower courts

What does the executive branch do in Canada?

develops policies and introduces bills to transform the policies into law

What does the legislative branch do in Canada?

members of the senate and HOC review and pass bills which then become laws

What does the judicial branch do in Canada?

has the final say on laws and helps resolve conflicts related to laws

What makes Canada and America's democracy different?

Canada has a monarch, but the US is a republic country where there is no king or queen head of state

Republican

president is head of state

Presidential

involving actions and policies outlined by the President

Congressional

act of the House of Representative and the senate combined

Separation of power

having distinct powers for the different branches of govt which as a balance or control

Checks and balances

system designed to prevent any one group in govt from controlling the state

Fixed date elections

elections are held on designated days; the presidential election

Federalism

sharing powers; having a national govt and regional govts w/ their own responsibilites to rule the country

Veto

ability to override a decison

When can a veto be used in democracy in America?

the President can override a congressional bill, and congress can override that veto with a 2/3 vote

Filibuster

deliberate delay of passage of bill through long speeches, etc

Electoral college

voting for President is based on pop. and each state given so many electoral votes if they win the state

How may a judge be removed in the US?

by impeachment by the legislative branch

Enforces laws

executive branch

Makes laws

legislative branch

Interprets laws

judicial branch

Proportional representation

where citizens vote directly for a party, then representatives are assigned based on the amount of popular support gained

First Past The Post

where voters cast a vote for a single candidate, and the candidate with the most votes wins the election (single member constituency)

Pros of FPTP

stable majority govts, majority govts have the ability to ensure laws are efficiently passed, parties focus on many issues for a wide demographic

Pros of proportional representation

greater diversity in govt, less voter apathy, will of citizens more accurately reflected

Who does proportional representation tend to be helpful for?

smaller parties

Who does FPTP tend to be helpful for?

larger parties

Pros of Canada's demoncracy

majority govts get a lot done

Cons of Canada's democracy

instability/frequent elections with minority govts, majority govts can wield a lot of political power

Pros of America's democracy

checks and balances on power of the executive

Cons of America's democracy

deadlocks between executive and congress, lack of choice between two parties

Gerrymandering

the dividing of a country, province, etc., into election districts so as to give one political party a majority in many districts

Lobby groups

special interest groups who wield influence using financial means

Rep by pop

each citizen should have one vote, and each vote should have the same weight to it

Senate Reform in Canada

the senate was designed as a sober second thought to make sure the laws passed by the HOC were just, senates are appointed, not elected