CIVICS GR.10 UNIT 1 TEST Flashcards
Civics
study of relationships between the people and the government (government, voting systems, and distribution of power/wealth).
Common Good
something that benefits all (or most people in a community).
Magna Carta
issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law. It also granted
rights and freedoms vital to our society today.
Where did Democracy begin
Athens
Hobbes beliefs
Natrually selfish and we need a powerful goverment
Rousseau beliefs
We know what is morally right and wrong so we need a social contract which represents the genral will of the people
Locke beliefs
people are naturally good but selfishness and greed are part of human
nature. They know right from wrong, but are blank slates from birth (tabula rasa- learn from
experience).
Citizenship
membership in a political community, such as a country, including rights, duties and responsibilities.
Government
a system by which a group of people makes laws that are enforced to guide the affairs of the community.
Politics
a human activity in which opposing individuals or groups mobilize support to obtain power to govern.
Rule of Law
fundamental constitutional principle that no government or person is above the law and that society is governed by laws that apply fairly to all.
Direct Democracy
a government in which all citizens directly participate in decision making without representatives.
Representative Democracy
a democracy in which citizens periodically elect others to represent them in government.
Authoritarian
one person or small group makes all the decisions.
Democratic
decisions are made by a system of voting. All individuals get to vote on the outcome.
Consensus
all group members must agree in order for a
decision to be made.
Power
power is the ability of a person, group, or nation to get what it wants.
Hard Power
power using military force.
Soft Power
power using persuasion.
Federal
Responsible for things which oversee the whole country
Immigration, national defense, etc
Provincial
Responsible for things which oversee their province
Healthcare, education, etc
Municipal
Responsible for things which oversee a town, or city
Recreational centers, waste collection, etc
MP
an elected member of parliament.
MPP
member of Provincial Parliament. Elected by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Prime Minister
leader of the federal government.
Governor General
symbolic head of state and represents the King in Canada.
Premier
leader of the provincial government.
Lieutenant Governor General
represents the king in Ontario.
Mayor
leader of the municipal government.
Councillor
member of municipal government.
Ward
An electoral district used in elections.
Executive Branch
carries out the plans and policies of the government. It is on the
federal and provincial level.
Federal: King > Governor General > Prime Minister > Cabinet
Provincial: King > Lieutenant Governor > Premier > Cabinet
The Legislative Branch
(Parliament) is the branch that has the power to make, change and
cancel laws. On the federal level, the most powerful part of this branch is the House of
Commons. The Senate works as a rubber stamp and senators are not elected. The provincial
equivalent is the Legislative Assembly.
Judicial Branch
made up of the courts and the judges. This branch is separate from
the other two branches. This ensures that Parliament and its members are not above the law.
They determine if people charged with crimes are guilty or innocent and decide on
punishments for those found guilty. They also interpret laws when disputes arise between
individuals, groups, or even different levels of government.
Cabinet
the group of ministers that decides what the government policy should be.
Legislative Assembly
the legislative chamber of a province/territory.
House of Commons
the most powerful part of the federal legislative branch and the lower house of the Parliament of Canada.
Supreme Court
the highest court in the judicial branch of Canada.
Senate
the upper house of the Parliament of Canada.
Senators
discuss new laws and review public policy, as well as to debate matters of public importance.
Ridings/Constituencies
in Canadian politics, riding is a colloquial term for a constituency or electoral district.
Candidate
one of the people trying to get elected
Campaign
political parties advertising their party.
Platform
a government platform is the political platform of a government. When entering office, a new government lists their objectives for the term.
Popular Vote
the choice expressed through the votes cast by the electorate.
First Past the Post
first past the post is the winner-take-all voting system used for federal and provincial elections in Canada.
Official Opposition
the party with second most seats is called official opposition
Majority/Minority Government
Majority - When the winning party has more seats than the other parties combined.
Minority - When the winning party has less seats than the other parties combined.
Non-Confidence Vote
If the leading party is outvoted in parliament (non-confidence vote), parliament dissolves and a new election is called.
