Final Exam Flash Cards
Brokerage theory
A perspective that maintains that parties do not have clear and coherent ideological programs, and only appeal to the greatest number of votes
Political party
An organization that endorses one or more of it’s members as candidates and supports their election.
Programmic parties
Parties that articulate distinct, consistent, and coherent ideological agendas.
Party system
A pattern of electoral competition that emerges between two or more parties.
Two party system
A pattern of competition in which there are two, or primarily two parties
Two and a half party system
Pattern of competition whereby two major parties win at least three quarters of the vote, and a third party receives a much smaller share of the vote.
Multi party system with a dominant party
One large party recieves about 40 percent of the vote, and the two largest parties together win about two thirds if voter support.
Multi party system without a dominant party
Competition where there is no dominant party and three or four parties are well places to form coalitions.
Social conservatism
An ideology based on a commitment to traditional ideas about the family and morality
Party conventions
Meetings of party members that are held to elect party officials and debate policy and amendments to the party’s constitution
Leadership convention
A meeting of party members to select a new leader
Electoral district association
An association of members of a political party in a territorial area that is represented by a member in the House of Commons
Leadership review
The formal process that see out the procedures for evaluating and possibly replacing a party leader
Electoral system
The system by which the votes that people cast are translated into the representation of political parties in the House of Commons
Gerrymandering
The drawing of boundaries for partisan advantage, particularly for the advantage of the governing party.
Single member plurality electoral system
An electoral system in which voters in each district elect a single representative. The candidate with the most with the most votes is elected, regardless of whether that candidate received the majority of voters.
Majority government
A governing party that has a majority of seats in the House of Commons regardless of whether it received a majority of votes I an election.
Proportional representation system
An electoral system in which the proportion of seats a party recieved in the legislative body reflects the proportion of votes the party obtained
Mixed member proportional system
An electoral system in which voters cast one vote for the party they prefer and one vote for the candidate they prefer. Some legislators represent the district in which they received votes, while other legislators are selected based on the proportion of votes received by their party.
Party identification
A sense of attachment to a particular political party
Minority government
A single party forms the government, but does not have a majority of members in the House of Commons
Constitution
The fundamental rules by which a country is governed
Constitution act 1867
An act of the parliament of the United Kingdom that established canada as a federal union of Ontario Quebec NS and NB
Constitution act 1982
This act patria ted the constitution, established a formula for amending the constitution, added the charter of rights and freedoms, recognized the rights of aboriginal peoples, and made a commitment to the principle of equalization payments
Constitutional conventions
Widely accepted informal constitutional rules
Judicial review
The authority of the courts to invalidate laws passed by parliament or provincial legislature that they deem to be in violation if the constitution
Judicial committee of the privy council
The highest court of appeal for canada until 1949
Supreme Court of canada t
The highest judicial body in canada since 1949
Constitutional amendments act 1996
An act of parliament that sets out the combination of provinces and regions whose support is needed before the Canadian cabinet presents proposed constitutional changes to parliament
Triple-E senate
A proposal that the senate be reformed to be elected and effective based on equal representation from each province regardless of population size
Victoria charter
A tentative deal for constitutional change reached in 1971
Mech lake accord
An agreement on constitutional change reached by the prime minister and premiers in 1987 that failed to be ratified by all provincial legislatures. The accord satisfied the conditions laid out by Quebec for signing the constitution act 1982, while extending the powers granted to Quebec by all provinces.
Distinct society clause
A clause in the meech lake accord that the constitution should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the recognition of Quebec as a distinct society
Charlottetown accord
An agreement in 1992 on a broad package of constitutional changes, including aboriginal self-government, senate reform, and a statement if the characteristics of canada. The agreement, which had the support of the prime minister, all premiers and territorial leaders, and four national aboriginal leaders, was defeated in a referendum.
Parliamentary supremacy
The principle that parliament is the supreme law-making body whose ability to legislate has not been restricted by a superior constitutional document.
Common law
A body of law developed through the accumulation of court decisions that become binding precedents for similar future cases.
Implied bill of rights
The judicial theory that rights are implied by the preamble to the constitution act, 1867, and therefore could not be infringed by ordinary legislation.
Canadian bill of rights
An act of parliament passed in 1960 establishing various rights and freedoms that only applied to matters under federal jurisdiction.
Charter of rights and freedoms
As part of the constitution act, 1982, the charter is superior to regular legislation, allows the courts to invalidate legislation, and applies to the actions of all governments and organizations under the control of government.
Social rights
Rights that require government action, such as the right to education, housing, or employment.
Reasonable limits clause
A clause of the charter of rights and freedoms that allows for reasonable limits on rights and freedoms, provided the limits can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.
Oakes test
A Supreme Court of canada ruling setting out basic principles in applying the reasonable limits clause
Notwithstanding clause
A provision in the charter of rights and freedoms that allows a parliament or a provincial legislature to explicitly declare that a particular law shall operate notwithstanding the provisions of the charter
Charter dialogue
The view that the charter has created a dialogue between the courts and legislatures
Status Indians
Those of Indian ancestry who are listed in the official government registry and are entitled to certain benefits, including exemption from taxation on property or income earned on the reserve
Hawthorn report
A Canadian government report that recommended that Indians should have rights in addition to those citizens and not be forced to assimilate into the majority society
Citizens plus
The idea that Indians possess certain rights in addition to the normal rights and duties of citizens
White paper on Indians
A 1969 Canadian government discussion paper that proposed to end the different legal status of Indians
Inherent right of self government
The perspective that First Nations have the tight to govern themselves
Royal commission on aboriginal peoples
A royal commission established by the established by the Canadian government that recommended a fundamental restructuring of the relationship between aboriginal and settler societies based on the recognition of aboriginal nationhood
Comprehensive land claims agreements
Agreements involving First Nations that had not signed treaties giving up their land
Specific claims
Claims by aboriginal groups based on allegations that treaties and other legal obligations of the Canadian government have not fulfilled or that the Canadian government has not properly administered aboriginal lands and other assets
Inherent right of self government policy
A Canadian government policy adopted in 1995 recognizing an inherent right to aboriginal self government
Kelowna accord
An agreement reached between First Nations and federal and provincial government in 2005 to improve the socioeconomic conditions of aboriginals
Treaty federalism
The view that First Nations and the Canadian government representing later settlers should establish nation to nation agreements that enable the nations as co sovereigns to coexist peacefully as autonomous entities within canada
Federal system
A system of governing in which authority is divided and shared between the central government and provincial governments, with each deriving it’s authority from the constitution
Residual power
Legislative power over matters not listed in the constitution
Classical federalism
The view that a federal system should be based on autonomous federal and provincial governments, each with it’s own specific areas of responsibility
Disallowance power
The right of the Canadian cabinet to disallow provincial legislation within one year of its passage
Reservation power
The right of a lieutenant governor to reserve the passage of provincial legislation until that legislation until legislation is approved by the Canadian cabinet
Declaratory power
The right of the Canadian parliament to declare any local works or undertakings within a province to be for the general advantage of canada or for the advantage of two or more of the provinces and then legislate on that matter
Interstate federalism
A federal system in which provincial interests are represented in national political institutions
Interstate federalism
A federal system in which provincial interests are represented primarily by provincial governments
Cooperative federalism
The feature of Canadian federalism in the two decades following ww2 in which federal and provincial government a generally cooperated under federal leadership in developing the welfare state
Competitive federalism
A feature of Canadian federalism, particularly between the early 1960’s and 1984, in which provincial and national governments competed to maximize their autonomy, power, and popularity with the voters.
Collaborative federalism
A trend in contemporary federalism in which both levels of government try to work together as equals in deciding some major policies
Open federalism
The Harper governments approach to federalism involving such measures as transferrin more money to provincial governments, respecting the constitutional division of powers and provincial autonomy, and limiting the use of the federal spending power
Executive federalism
The basic nature of federal provincial interaction since the 1940s, involving the interaction of the executives of the federal and provincial governments
First ministers conferences
Formal meetings of the prime minister and premiers, along with large supporting delegations of ministers, aides, an officials
First minister meetings
Informal private meetings of the prime minister and premiers
Council of the federation
An organization established by the premiers to enable cooperation among the provinces
Fiscal imbalance
The view that provincial governments do not have a proper share of revenue to carry out their responsibilities
Conditional grants
Federal grants to provincial governments for specific programs that have to meet conditions set by the Canadian government
Shared cost programs
Provincial programs in which the Canadian government generally paid half the costs
Spending power
The ability of the Canadian government to spend money as it sees fit, even on matters under provincials jurisdiction
Block grant
The unconditional transfer of a black of money from the federal government to a provincial government
Canada health transfer
A block grant intended to find Medicare and hospital insurance, although some conditions are involved
Canada social transfer
A block grant intended to find post secondary education, social assistance, early childhood education, and child care programs
Equalization payments
Unconditional grabs from the Canadian government to the governments of the poorer provinces to bring their revenue raising capabilities up to a national standard
Asymmetrical federal system
A federal system in which different provinces have a different relationship with the federal government, including different powers from other provincial governments
Westminster model
The model of representative and responsible government used in the United Kingdom and in other countries to emulate it.
Prime minister
The head of government, meaning the person chosen by the Governor General to form a government able I refrain the confidence of a majority of the elected House of Parliament, the commons
Formal executive
That part of the executive consisting of the queen, the Governor General, and the queens privy council for canada, which possesses formal constitutional authority and by convention acts on the advice of the political executive
Cabinet
The active part of the queens privy council for canada. Composed of the prime minister and ministers, it controls most of the executive and legislative powers of government
The crown
The repository of all the executive powers of the state and is the supreme authority of the government
Prerogative power
The powers the monarch once uniquely possessed that have not been taken away by parliament
Discretionary prerogative powers
Powers that the monarchs representative may exercise upon his own personal discretion. Also called personal prerogatives or reserve powers.
Political executive
The prime minister, cabinet, and ministers of the state
Governor in council
The formal name given to cabinet in order to cloak it’s decisions with constitutional authority. The phrase means that the Governor General is acting on the advice of the queens privy council for canada, the active part of which is the cabinet
Individual ministerial responsibility
The resoponsibility of individual cabinet ministers to the House of Commons for the decisions and actions of the department they administer
Collective responsibility
The convention that the cabinet as a group is responsible to the House of Commons for the decisions and actions I the government
Cabinet solidarity
The basic principle that ministers must avoid public disagreements over policy once cabinet decided on it, and that they must vote in unison in the house on government business
Cabinet secrecy
A convention that forbids the disclosures of the views expressed by particular ministers in the setting of cabinet discussions, in order to encourage frankness
Subordinate legislation
Authority for subordinate legislation that comes from a primary piece f legislation passed by parliament and takes form of orders in council or regulations made by a minister or agency
Departmentalized cabinet
A form of cabinet organization that emphasizes ministerial autonomy and relies on the prime minister and full cabinet to achieve coordination
Institutionalized cabinet
A form of cabinet organization that emphasizes collective decision making and seeks to achieve it by a highly structured system of cabinet committees and central agencies
Prime minister centred cabinet
A form of cabinet organization in which the first minister is so powerful that the nominal mechanisms for collective decision making, such as cabinet committees and central agencies, serve the prime ministers personal agenda
Cabinet committees
Groups of cabinet ministers who examine policy proposals from related policy fields and recommend to the plenary cabinet what action should be taken. Their recommendations are generally accepted
Bicameral legislature
A legislature with two chambers or houses
Glorious revolution
The series of events that led to the removal of James II from the throne in 1688, his replacement by William and Mary, and their acceptance of the bill of rights, 1689.
Bill of rights
The bill that followed the glorious revolution of 1688, which added protections for parliamentary free speech, regular sessions, and other protections, and is generally regarded as the stage of British history when the crown accepted the supremacy of parliament
Confidence chamber
A legislative body whose continued majority support is necessary for the government to remain in office
Caucus
Parliamentary members who belong to a particular party
Party discipline
The expectation that parliamentary members will vote in keeping with the position that their party has adopted in caucus
Speaker
The presiding officer of the House of Commons, who is responsible for applying the rules and procedures, maintaining order in debate, and overseeing the administration of the commons
House leaders
Members of each party who are responsible for their party’s strategy in the House of Commons, including negotiating the parliamentary timetable with other house leaders
Party whips
Members of each party who maintain party discipline and ensure that members attend votes
Speech from the throne
Governments indications of what it considers to be state of the country, together with a general outline of the kinds of legislation that it has planned for the parliamentary session the speech introduces.
Budget
Government statement that proposes tax increases or decreases as well as other revenue and borrowing measures, outlines the state of the economy and government finances in general, and often includes announcements of major new programs.
Estimates
The money the government says is needed by government departments and agencies for the next fiscal year.
Public bills
Proposed laws that have an impact on the whole of society or are designed to promote the general welfare
Private members bills
A public bill put forward by a member of parliament who is not in the cabinet
Private bills
Proposed bills that re of concern to a limited group
Closure
A motion in the House of Commons to limit debate on a bill
Time allocation
A motion in the House of Commons that allocates the time that cane be spent debating a bill
Standing committees
Permanent committees of the house whose responsibilities included detailed examination of proposed legislation an review of departmental estimates
Legislative committees
Temporary committees f the house established primarily to review a specific bill
Special committees
Committees of the House established to study a particular issue
Committees of the whole
The members of the house using relaxed rules of debate and procedure to deal with supply motions or other topics
Bureaucracy
Rules by offices and officials
Public bureaucracy
The staffs of a variety of governing institutions
Private sector
The sector of the economic society that exists in a competitive environment that strives to maximize profit for private owners, be they corporations, family owned businesses, or self employed individuals.
Public sector
The institutions and agencies of the state, concerned, ideally, with acting in the public interest.
Third sector
Voluntary, non profit organizations that contribute to the general good of the public.
Whitehall model
The traditional British style of public administration with such features as ministerial responsibility, public service anonymity and neutrality, secrecy, and the merit principle.
Progressive movement
A late nineteenth century movement that sought to break the spoils system in government by making the public sector at all levels more businesslike and shielding it from the political realm
Scientific management
A complex system of management of the production process, often associated with time and motion studies, that maintains that there is one best way to increase output
New public management
The adoption of the practices of private business in the administrative activities of government
Principal agent theory
A theory based on the idea that the bureaucrat who is supposed to follow the will of the minister or the legislature often uses specialized knowledge to thwart this arrangement
Executive department
An organization headed by a cabinet minister
Semi independent public agency
A government organization that has a degree of independence from executive controls an parliamentary scrutiny
Alternate service delivery
Methods of delivering government services apart from the use d traditional departments and agencies, with the goal of making government more businesslike and responsive to the needs of the recipients of services
Central agencies
The prime ministers office and the privy council office, which provide direct assistance to the prime minister and facilitate the setting of objectives by cabinet
Central departments
The department of finance and treasury board secretariat, which along with the central agencies, advice cabinet and it’s committees and influence the direction and policies of the government.
Line departments
Departments that deliver the basic programs and services f government
Prime ministers office
Provides partisan political advice to the prime minister and is staffed by supporters of the party in power
Deputy minister
The administrative head of a department and the link between the minister who is politically responsible for the department and the non partisan public servants in the department
House officers
Political officers of the House of Commons
Officers of parliament
Independent officials that assist parliament in holding government accountable and protecting various right of Canadians
Procedural officers of parliament
The staff who provide services to the House of Commons and senate
Rule of law
The principle that individuals should be subject only to known, predictable, and impartial rules, rather than to the arbitrary orders of those in governing positions
Public law
Law concerning the relationship of the state to individuals and laws concerning the authority and operations of the state
Private law
Areas of law dealing with the relationships among individuals, groups, and businesses that are primarily of private interest rather than general public interest
Tort
Harmful actions, negligence, or words that allow the injured party to use for damages
Statutory law
A law that has been passed by an act of parliament or a provincial legislature
Common law
Law based on the accumulation of court decisions
Code civil du Quebec
A codified system of law that is the basis of private law in Quebec
Codified civil law
A system of private law used in Quebec based on a comprehensive set of legal principles
Superior courts
Courts in each province whose judges are appointed and paid by the Canadian government
Provincial courts
Trial courts whose judges are appointed and paid by the provincial government
Federal courts of canada
A court that heard cases related to certain acts of parliament, such as laws conceding. Sop height patents, citizenship and immigration, and access to information and privacy. As well it heard appeals against rulings of national administrative bodies
Reference
The opinion of the courts on a Question by the federal or provincial government
Judicial independence
The principle that the courts are expected to be independent of government and it’s agencies, legislative bodies, an other influences.
Canadian judicial council
A body of senior judges established to review complaints about federally appointed judges.
Judicial advisory committee
A committee that assesses candidates for appointment as a superior court judge
Legal model of judicial decision. Making
The view that judges base their decisions on a careful reading of relevant law
Strategic model of judicial decision making
The view that a bargaining process among the judges takes place for them to reach a majority or a unanimous decision
Attitudinal model of judicial decision making
The view that judges pursue their own policy preferences in interpreting the law. As well as being influenced by their attitudes towards the facts of the case
Restorative justice
The perspective that justice should focus on offenders taking responsibility for their actions, repairing the harm that has been caused, and reconciling the offender, the victim, and the community.
sentencing circle
A group that may include the guilty individual, the victim, their families, elders, and other interested members of the community, along with the prosecutor, defence lawyer, and police officer. The goal is to reach a consensus about what measures are needed to reintegrate the offender as a responsible member of the community and to assist the victim.
Alternative dispute resolution
A process where disputing parties choose a third party to try to resolve the dispute.
Liberal internationalist perspective
The view that growing international interaction and interdependence make possible a peaceful and orderly world, particularly through the development of international law and multilateral organizations such as the UN
North Atlantic treaty organization
A military alliance of the US, canada, and democratic European countries
Peripheral dependence perspective
The view that canada is unable or unwilling to develop independent foreign policies because of constraints imposed by the US
Cold War
The severe tensions between the western countries, led by the US and the USSR that developed at the end of world war 2 and ended in 1991
Realist perspective
The view that in a world without a central authority able to impose order, each country is concerned primarily with survival and security
Complex neo-realism
The view that changes in the international system have resulted in Canada becoming a principle power able to independently assert it’s national values and interests in international politics
Balfour declaration 1926
A resolution of the imperial conference that declared that Britain and the dominions are autonomous and equal communities in no way subordinate one to another.
Security council
A key body of the United Nations responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It consists of 5 permanent members who each have a veto and ten members elected by the UN general assembly for 2 year terms
NAADC
A joint US canada organizing that detects attacks by aircraft sir missiles
Classic peacekeeping
Activities carried out under the United Nations banner to support a ceasefire between countries in conflict or to supervise the implementation if a peace agreement
Peace operations
A wide range of activities with the aim of building and enforcing peace, including peacekeeping, peace building, and peace enforcement.
National security
Protection of a country from foreign threats to its population, territory, and independence.
Human security
A view of security that focuses on the protection of people from various threatens to their well being
Responsibility to protect
The responsibility of a state to protect it’s population from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing , and crimes against humanity and responsibility if the international community.
Millennium development goals
Goals established by the United Nations for development of poorer countries
