civics Flashcards
What is the notwithstanding clause?
the notwithstanding clause can overwrite fundamental freedoms, legal rights and equality rights. It prevents review of the clause until 5 years later
What is the municipal government structure?
-a councillor for your word
- a mayor to represent your party
- councillors debate laws and policies
How many municipalities does Onatrio have?
444
What are municipal powers
- power to tax and to raise taxes
- responsible for roads, housing, waste removal
What are the two branches of the municipal governments
Legislative and Executive branches
What is the legislative assembly
MPP’s are elected from ridings
elected representatives work at the assembly
How many ridings are there in Ontario
124
Provincial responsibilities
health care, education, welfare, transportation in the province, justice, energy
what are the steps of making a bill to a law
1- a bill is proposed
2- the bill is read and printed, MPs vote
3- second reading to debate bill and vote again
4- committee study’s and change wording/details
5- bill is read with all the changes, they debate and vote again
bill passes or is sent back to the committee
6- the exact same process goes to the senate, is sent back to the House of Commons if not agreed on.
7- Royal assent
How many senators are in the Senate and how are they appointed
There are 105 senators and they are appointed by the PM until the age of 75
How many MP are in the House of Commons
there are 338 MP’s from ridings across Canada
What is a 2 house parliament system called?
a bicameral system
How many MPs, MPPs, and councillors are there
338 MPs, 124 MPPs, 25 Councillors
Who represents the sovereign at the federal level?
governor general
Who represents the sovereign at the provincial level?
the lieutenant governor
Fundamental Freedoms
- you have the freedom to pray and worship in your own way or not to at all
- you have the freedom to your own opinions
-the medial is free to report on anything in Canada - You can choose your own friends
- You have the freedom to express your own opinions
-You can hold rallies
Democratic Rights
-If you are a citizen and 18 years old, you can vote in elections
-governments must have elections every 5 years or less
- elected governments must meet at least once a year
if you are a citizen and 18 years old you can compete for an elected representative
Mobility rights
- you can live and work in any province or territory
- you can leave and come back to canada whenever you want
Legal rigts
- If you are arrested, you must be told of your option to see a lawyer
- If needed, you must go to court in an amount of time that is considered fair
-You must be considered innocent until proven guilty
Equality Rights
-You cannot be treated unfairly for your background, religion, gender, age or mental/physical ability
Official Languages of Canada
You can talk or write to the federal government in English or French
What is a Citizen
A citizen is “a legally
recognized subject or
national of a state or
commonwealth, either
native or naturalized.
What is civic education
Civic education is the
study of the theoretical,
political and practical
aspects of citizenship, as
well as its rights and duties.
What is a right?
A right is a privilege or freedom that is protected by law.
Who and when was the Canadian charter of rights signed?
1982 by Queen Elizabeth II
When did women recieve the right to vote federally?
1918
What is Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage is the expansion of the right to vote to all adult citizens.
What is a political ideology?
A political ideology is a set of shared ideas or beliefs about the role of government and how society should work.
Liberalism definition
Favours individual freedom but acknowledges the need for some form of government intervention in the economy.
Conservatism definition
Advocates for the preservation of society and tradition and opposes radical changes.
Socialism definition
The economy and industry is collectively owned by the community.
Libertarianism definition
Advocates for minimal government intervention in the lives of citizens.
Capitalism definition
Industry controlled by private owners for profit, instead of government
Communism definition
Promotes the establishment of an egalitarian and classless society based on common ownership and control of the means of production and property.
Fascism definition
Favours strict social and economical measures as a method of empowering the government and limiting the freedom of citizens.
What are the opposing ends of the political spectrum called?
left - radical, right- reactionary
What does the political spectrum help do?
The political spectrum helps us organize and distinguish between different beliefs, ideologies, political parties and policy ideas.
What is the left, right, top, and bottom of the political spectrum signify
Left - Social Values, more freedom to the people
Right - Social Values, more power to the government, tradition
Top - Economic, more government control in the people’s lives
Bottom - Economic, less government control in the people’s lives
constituents definition
a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.
Federal state definition
This means we have a central government (federal) for general purposes and separate local governments (provincial/territorial) for local purposes.
Parliamentary Democracy definition
We elect members to represent us in our federal parliament and provincial legislatures, and the political party with the most elected representatives forms government.
Constitutional Monarchy definition
The Monarch is the head of the state but their power is limited by the constitution
What is the head representative of the three governments called?
Prime Minister, Premier, Mayor
What are the legislative bodies of the Federal and Provincial Government called?
Federal - House of Commons
Provincial - Legislative Assembly
What is the principle of Subsidarity
the government closest to an issue governs it
Where do municipal powers come from?
The provincial government
Where is the division of powers outlined?
Sections 91-95 of the Constitution Act
concurrency definition
There are also policy areas where the levels of government share responsibility, such as the environment, taxation and natural resources.
Consensus government definition
government representatives do not belong to political parties.
self-government meaning
a First Nation, Métis or Inuit community/nation with control over its own affairs.
Political Significance definition
How important is this issue in relation to the whole society?
ex. is it long lasting, what is the impact
Political Perspective definition
What are the political perspectives, beliefs, judgements of the groups involved in this issue?
Objectives and Results definition
Objectives are the goals of a group, results are what occurs, can be intentional or unintentional
Positive and Negative stability definition
Positive stability - Institutions are working well, people can use the system to better the country, systems do not need to change.
Negative stability - Institutions are not working, systems are resisting change, can not be used to better the people
Positive and Negative Change definition
Positive change resulted in the betterment of the people’s lives
Negative change causes the worsening of people’s lives
Who appoints the lieutenant governor
the Prime Minister
What does the lieutenant governor do?
Summoning, proroguing and dissolving Legislative Assembly on advice of Premier.
Reading the Speech from the Throne at the start of a parliamentary session.
Giving Royal Assent to bills passed by Legislative Assembly.
Ordering elections to the Legislative Assembly
What is a one tier and a two tier city system?
A single-tier municipality has one government and local council and it operates on its own.
A two-tier system involve two layers of government and two councils. (Like York Region, Essex County or Lanark County)
Minority/collaboration governments pros and cons
Pros -
Collaboration
Different viewpoints
Reduces Polarization
Respects the will of the people
Cons -
if sides don’t cooperate parliament is stuck
Can result in a short government and another expensive election
Can lead to voter fatigue
What is a plurality
when one party wins more than 50% of all available seats (majority government)
How many ridings need to be won for a majority government Canada
170 seats
What were the decisions to the politics of Canada prior to confederation?
Canada would be a federal union with two levels of government:
Federal
Provincial
Canada would have a central Parliament with three parts:
Monarch
Senate
House of Commons
The minimum election period
36 days
How is the opposition formed?
the party with the 2nd most number of seats becomes the official opposition
First past the post system
Winner takes all government
Proportional representation definition
Proportional representation is a democratic principle that argues people should be represented in proportion to how they voted. (50% of people vote results in 50 seats)
rejected ballot definition
A rejected ballot is a ballot that cannot be counted because it was not properly marked.
spoiled ballot definition
A spoiled ballot is one that was kept separate and never placed in the ballot box because it was mistakenly marked or torn and exchanged for a new ballot.
declined ballot definition
A declined ballot is one that is left blank. It generally is done so out of protest at provincial level. This is not permitted in federal elections.
What is advance voting?
Advance voting is held prior to election day. There are 4 days of advance voting. It is voting for people who cannot vote on election day
