Chapter Five: How Does Local Government Work? Flashcards
What are the steps to passing a bylaw?
1) Bylaw motion introduced at community or council meeting
2) Councilor makes motion to pass bylaw at council
3) Council considers the motion for the first time
4) Council considers for the motion for the second time
5) Council considers for the motion for the third time
6) Members of council vote on motion
7) Motion fails or passes
8) If motion passes, motion becomes bylaw
Advisory Committee
a committee made up of concerned citizens and members of government. They give advice to the council
What are examples of local government services?
- public transportation
- libraries
-waste disposal
- fire protection
- streets and roads
- school boards
- senior’s facilities
Ballot
a piece of paper used for voting that lists all the names of the candidates
What are the types of schools in Alberta?
- public schools
- separate schools
- Francophone schools
- charter schools
- First Nations schools
Bylaws
laws that are passed by a local government
What are the 3 types of municipal areas in Alberta?
Urban, Rural, Aboriginal/Indigenous
Councilor
a person elected to local government
How many school boards are there in Alberta?
60
Expenditures
an expense (money that is spent)
Budget
a list of items that shows how much money will be spent on each item
Forum
a meeting place where public discussions happen
Local Government
the administration of a city or municipality by elected officials who make decisions and laws about local issues and services
What are the responsibilities of the local government?
The local government’s responsibilities are:
- providing services
- collecting taxes
- make laws
Motion
an idea or proposal that is discussed and voted on at a meeting
Council
a group of elected representatives who make decisions for a local area
Petition
a written request that contains the signatures of citizens who support its request
In counties and municipal districts, councilors represent wards or zones because:
a) rural areas like counties and municipal districts cover large areas and needs may be different from area to area
b) all the good candidates seem to come from one area
c) they want to ensure that all areas of the district have the same population
d) that’s the way it has always been
a
How often are school boards elected?
every 3 years
Municipal Area
a region that has its own local government
Nominate
to identify a person as a possible candidate for an elected position
What are the names of representatives of a Metis settlement council?
- chairperson
- councilors (5)
Revenue
income (money that is collected)
Trustee
a person who serves on a school board
Municipal District
a rural area that has its own local government
What are the steps in the election process?
1) Nominating
2) Campaigning
3) Voting
4) Declaring the Outcome
SHORT ANSWER: Do you think local governments should collect more taxes so they can provide more services to all its citizens in need?
The local government should not collect more taxes because services cost a great deal, and the governments often don’t collect enough taxes to pay for every service that is needed. Instead, concerned people get involved and take action to help others in their communities.
What are 4 ways that students might approach the government about a concern they have?
- Call the councilor
- start a petition
- write letters and emails to the council
- put together a presentation to the council;
What are ways that an individual can influence their local government in an election?
- work on a campaign
- vote in elections
The most likely reason why an urban municipality would choose to elect more councilors would be because:
a) the mayor was not doing a good enough job
b) there was a big gain in population
c) the population decreased
d) a new community centre needed to be constructed
b
What are jobs of trustees?
- make rules
- make decisions about services
- make decisions about school building and transportation
- listen to people’s complaints
- making sure the curriculum is taught
- listen to what parents think is important for their child’s education
- decide how the budget is spent
Superintendent
a person responsible for running the schools in a school district
What are 4 ways that public education fits with the principles of democracy?
- gives all students equal access to knowledge and skills (equity)
- every child is allowed to attend school regardless of gender, race, religion, etc. (equity)
- provide programs that accommodate special needs (equity)
- paid for by taxes, even if the taxpayer has no children in school (representation/equity)
What are characteristics of a Francophone school?
- run by Francophone school boards
- instruction in French
Why is it that every community in Alberta does not have the same bylaws?
Every community in Alberta does not have the same bylaws because the bylaws can only be enforced in the area where they have been passed.
SHORT ANSWER: Describe the process that a group of citizens should follow if it has a concern it thinks it should be addressed by the council
- Identify your concern
- research your concern
- find out who supports you
- create a plan
- take action
- evaluate the plan
- apply your learning
What are examples of Aboriginal/Indigenous municipalities?
- First Nation’s Authorities
- Metis Settlement Councils
The main reason that rural municipalities are larger in area than urban municipalities is because:
a) there are fewer people living in most urban municipalities
b) urban municipalities are now allowed to grow in area
c) there are fewer people living per square kilometer in rural areas compared to urban areas
d) the people who serve on rural governments have to be born in a rural area
c
What are characteristics of a public school?
- open to all students
- mostly English speaking
- some have French immersion/bilingual programs
What are characteristics of a separate school?
- most teach some classes about Roman catholic religion
What are characteristics of a charter school?
- not governed by a school board
- have special focus
SHORT ANSWER: Think about how local governments are selected, what their responsibilities
are, and how they operate. How do they support the principles of
democracy (Justice, Equity, Freedoms, Representation)
Local governments are elected by all citizens. Their responsibilities are to provide services, collect taxes, and make bylaws. They support justice by enforcing bylaws. The bylaws apply to everyone (rule of law). The local government supports equity because different communities pass different bylaws to suit their community. The government supports freedom because citizens are free to debate and discuss a motion 3 times before it gets voted on. Lastly. it supports representation because a council has a certain number of councilors, led by a mayor/reeve, is elected by citizens of a municipality or local government.
What are characteristics of a First Nations school?
- have some instruction in First Nations language
What are the representatives in an urban municipality?
- mayor
- councillors
How are the representatives are selected in an urban municipality?
- The mayor and councilors are elected by all citizens
How do First Nations Authorities and Metis Settlement Councils reflect the rights outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
a) The Charter upholds existing Aboriginal and treaty rights
b) The Charter can be changed if there is enough interest from Canadians
c) The Charter gives Aboriginals the right to choose or not choose to obey Canadian laws
d) The Charter states that Aboriginals cannot move off their reserves
a
What are the characteristics of a county/municipal district?
- residents live on farms and in hamlets (centers with fewer than 300 people)
What are characteristics of a specialized municipality?
- very large areas with few residents
OR
- large areas with a mix of rural and urban residents
What are the names of representatives of a specialized municipality?
- head of government (either a mayor or reeve)
- councilors
What are the names of representatives of a county/municipal district?
- councilors (minimum of 4)
- reeve
How are the representatives in a county/municipal county selected?
- councilors are elected from wards or zones
- reeves are elected by councilors
When local governments make decisions of behalf of all citizens, which principle of democracy is being used?
a) freedoms
b) representation
c) equity
d) justice
B
How are the representatives in a specialized community selected?
- councilors are elected from wards
- head of government is elected by people or councilors
How many councilors minimum are selected in a village?
2
What are characteristics of First Nations Authorities?
- FNA (First Nations Authorities) come from the Treaty rights of First Nations
- Treaties are historical agreements negotiated between First Nations & Canada’s government
What are the names of representatives of a First Nations Authority?
- chief
- councilors (minimum of 3)
How can a group influence their local government?
- speak at a council meeting
- lobbying
- petitions
- demonstrations and rallies
How are the representatives selected in a Metis settlement council?
- the councilors are elected by all members of a Metis settlement
- chairperson is chosen by councilors
What are the characteristics of a Metis settlement council?
- Metis settlements are Metis lands established by Alberta’s laws in 1990
- Metis settlements reflect the rights of the Metis as one of Canada’s Indigenous peoples
How are the representatives of a First Nations authority selected?
- the chief and councilors are elected by all members of a First Nation
How many councilors minimum are selected in a city and town?
6
There are usually more councilors in a city than in a town or village because:
a) there are better people to choose from in a city
b) people in cities are more interested in serving on council
c) there is a greater population in a city so it take more councilors to address its needs
d) city people have more education
c
How can an individual influence their local government?
- work on a campaign
- vote in elections
- direct contact
- speak at a council meeting
- petitions
- surveys
- public meetings
