Civics Quest #2 Political Spectrum

Question 1

What are 3 points of the Left Wing on the Political Spectrum?

Answer 1

1. Government has a larger role than individuals
2. Spends MORE on social welfare programs
3. Individual rights are paramount

Question 2

What are 3 points of the Right Wing of the political spectrum?

Answer 2

1. Individuals have a larger role than government
2. Spends LESS on social welfare programs
3. Law and order are paramount

Question 3

What are 2 points on the centre of the political spectrum?

Answer 3

1. Maintain existing social welfare programs

2. Must be mix between individual rights and social stability

Question 4

What are the main differences between the Left Wing and the Right Wing?

Answer 4

Left Wing focuses

• Equality
• More on government intervention
• Public health care

Right Wing focuses

• Liberty
• Less on government intervention
• Private health care

Question 5

What are the 5 steps of the election process?

Answer 5

1. Election call (governor general dissolves parliament, calls an election)
2. Voters List (Canadian citizens 18/+ can vote)
3. Campaigning (Candidates try getting support from voters)
4. Voting (citizens cast their ballots for preferred candidate)
5. The Results (Results of votes are shared with media)

Question 6

What is an electoral district?

Answer 6

Area represented by Member of Parliament in the House of Commons or area represented by member of provincial/territorial legislative assembly

Question 7

What are other terms that are used to call an electoral district?

Answer 7

A riding, a constituency.

Question 8

What are 3 ways that candidates can do to promote themselves?

Answer 8

1. Lawn signs
2. Speeches
3. Social Media

Question 9

What is the importance of debates?

Answer 9

• Show candidate’s quality of performance
• If strong quality, it can boost candidate’s campaign
• If poor performance, can cause voters have doubts about candidate

Question 10

What do they talk about at debates?

Answer 10

Health care, aboriginal issues, taxes, economy, etc.

Question 11

What is Voter Turnout?

Answer 11

Total number of eligible voters turn out for an election v.s. the total number of eligible voters.

Not good because more and more ppl decline to vote, since they consider it as a duty.

Question 12

What is the definition of Majority Government?

Answer 12

• Government formed by party that wins more than half of the seats in House of Commons or legislative assembly

Question 13

What is the definition of Minority Government?

Answer 13

• Government formed when 2/+ political parties form a majority government in House of Commons/legislative assembly
• By having greater total number of seats than any other single party