Government Terms Ch1 Flashcards
what are canada’s party platforms?
- liberalism/liberal party
- conservative
- bloc quebecois
- green
- ndp
what does the liberal party support?
- individual freedom and equality for all
- expansion of social programs (healthcare and education)
- value of multiculturalism
- free trade
- middle class
what does the conservative party support?
- balanced budget and social programs
- equality of all canadians/freedom of individual
- free enterprise/reduce taxes for small businesses
- free trade
- traditional family values
what does the NDP party support?
- gov should intervene w/ important aspects of economy
- welfare measures (employment insurance and welfare payments)
- gov should pay for healthcare and educations
- canadians should have equal access to services
what does the green party support?
- initiatives to care for environment and environmental issues
- justice initiatives
- “grassroots” democracy/gov that is closely connected to the ppl
what does the bloc quebecois party support?
- created in 1990 as result of meech lake accord failure
- quebec should be an independent state and separate from canada
how does a bill become law?
-bill can beintroduced by any cabinet member
-goes through three readings
1st reading: introduction to HC-no debate
2nd reading: principle behind bill debated extensively by HC
3rd reading: goes to senate if accepted for sober second thought, after given to GG for royal assent, bill is signed and made into law
what is a majority government?
- when a political party wins more than half the seats in the HC in an election
- it is the ultimate goal of a political party
what is a minority government?
-when a political party elects more MPs than any other party but not more than all the parties added together
what is a coalition government?
- when two or more parties join together to form a governent, forming more seats than the elected party
- the PM is a leader from one of the parties
what is an official opposition?
- party with the second most seats in the HC
- its job is to criticize the governing party to keep them accountable
what is the constitutional act of 1867?
- the BNA act renamed
- document of rules for how the new country would be run
- when the BNA colonies were made into four provinces (nova scotia, new brunswick, quebec, ontario)
what is the executive branch?
- the power to administer and carry out laws/make and apply gov decisions
- consists of GG and PM at fed level
What is the role of the prime minister?
- to govern the country/head of canadian gov/leader of cabinet
- act as voice of nation
- develop foreign trade and policies
- recommend new judges and senators
- spokesperson for their party/lead caucus
- select and supervise members of cabinet
- advise GG when to dissolve parliament
what are amendments of the BNA act?
- new amending formula (7 out of 10 provinces with 50% population must agree for change to occur)
- charter of rights and freedoms
responsiblities of federal government?
- national defence
- foreign policy
- aboriginal affairs
- postal services
- banking systems
- marriage/divorce
- criminal law
- federal prisons
responsiblities of provincial government?
- education
- charities
- healthcare services/hospitals
- licenses
- highways
- provincial courts
- provincial police/prisons
what is the role of the governor general?
- announces gov decisions
- acts entirely on advice of cabinet minersters in HC
- makes formal announcement of decisions alr made by gov
who run canada’s government?
-prime minister
who is canada’s head of state?
- ruling monarch of UK, queen elizabeth ||
- position has no political powers but more a symbolic ceremonial position
what is the speaker of the house?
- member elected by MPs from among their own members to run daytoday business in the HC
- controls debate and maintains order
what are cabinet ministers?
- members of the cabinet selected by PM from among the MPs apart of the winning party from election
- have no set term/remains in office until gov is defeated or HC term expires
- responsibe to iniate new laws and administer gov policies
what is a lieutenant governor?
- the queen’s representative prov level
- gets the passed bill from legislature
what is a vote of non confidence?
- vote in which a majority no longer supports the policy of a leader or governing party
- gov must resign if occurs
what year was the charter of rights and freedom established in?
-1982
what is a patronage?
- the practice of the PM filling the seats of the senate with supporters of their party
- it is an act of rewarding their party members for their loyalty and support
what is communism?
- economic system based on community ownership of all property and means of production
- individuals unable to pursue business how they want
- gov is tightly controlled by one small group and individuals own the barest essentials
- economic equality/everyone shares the wealth and has appox the same wealth
- no classes (rich, middle, poor)
what is facism?
- belief in action over thought/nationalism/purpose of individual is to serve state
- rules out any decison making based on moral convictions or principles
- economic and intellectual resources are to be directed to the state to be used to build a proud, united country w/ strong military
what is the first past the post system?
- the candidate with the most votes in each riding is the winner
- only need more votes than any other single candidate
whate is the universal declaration of human rights?
-the first international statement to recognize that all human beings have specific human rights and freedoms
what is a democracy?
- a government where ppl rule it by themselves
- from greek words meaning “rule by the people”
- gives citizens sense of freedom and power
- political system where control is in citizens hands
- prevents one from becoming too powerful/an overuse of power
what is the role of the senate?
- review bills passed by HC/is final check of decisions by HC
- has power to suggest changes and send bill back
what is the legal age to vote?
-18
what is the legislative branch?
- power to make and amend laws
- determines how gov will spend money collected from the ppl
- consists of HC, senate, GG
what is the judicial branch?
-power to declare who has broken laws and set out penalties
what are the important functions of democracy? (6)
- constitution
- human rights (basic freedoms & charter of rights and freedoms)
- regularly scheduled elections
- universal suffrage
- judicial and political roles are separate
- several levels of gov (3)
what does the house of commons do?
- focal point in canadian gov
- represents power that help canadians exercise democratic control of gov
- approves/vetos laws
when did facism emerge?
-after WW1 (italy 1922-germany 1933)
what responsibilites do fed and prov gov share? (5)
- immigration
- agriculture
- health care
- natural resources
- environmental issues
what is a free vote?
-MPs vote to what they best believe in or what their constituents best believe in
what is a private member’s bill?
-bill introduced by non-cabinet member
who passed the canadien bill of rights and when?
-former PM john diefenbaker in 1960
