Midterm Review Flashcards
Weeks 1-6
what is first-past-the-post
the winner is whover receives the majority of the votes
what is a run-off systems
if there’s no majority after one round, the top candidates go to another round until someone receives majority
what is proportional representation
the number of seasts in the leglisature is proportional to the percentage each party wins
what is a direct democracy
a democracy where citizens select policies themselves
what is a representative/indirect democracy
a democracy where citizens select representatives to make policies
difference between provincial vs federal powers
- provincial powers: education, health care, natural resources, some taxation power
- federal powers: military trade, criminal law, Indigenous policy, full taxation power
pros and cons of federal systems
- pros: sub-national governments are closer to people they represent, better at managing diversity
- cons: harder to assess accountability, local groups of power can go unchecked, more prone to instability
what is a federal system
central and reigonal government share power
what is a unitary system
the power is concentrated in a central government with sub-national divisons but have limited power due to shape and policy and their powers are delegated by central government
pros and cons of unitary systems
- pros: efficiency and clearer lines of accountability
- cons: centre of power can be less in touch with concerns on the periphery and therefore poses difficulties for cultrual diversity
what are the branches of government
- parliamentary system (CA)
the executive is a part of the leglisative body and is responsible to parliament, and the PM chooses the cabinet from the members of parliament - presidential system (US)
the executive is separate from the leglisative body
what is the constitution
- the basic laws of any state, they can be written or unwritten
- creates a framework for lawmaking
- defines the relationship between government and individuals
- acts as a national symbol by embodying the foundational principles of democracy
what does the constitution do
- creates the framework for lawmaking
- defines the relationship between government and individuals
- acts as a national symbol by emboyding the foundational principles of democracy and unity
what is legitimacy
a political community beleif that those in authority are there for justifiable reasons and worth
what does theory mean
to witness something and then attempt to explain it. e.g. viewing an apple off a tree then explaining it
what is political theory
to witness politics and attempt to explain the events at higher level
what is a conceptual question?
asks questions about principles and ideals rather than just facts, encouraging deeper thinking
what are the main points of neoliberalism
- free markets: letting supply and demand set prices without much government control
- privitization: selling public services and companies to private buisnesses
- deregulation: reducing rules for buisnesses to encourage growth
- free trade: lowering barriers to trade between countreis
- individual responsibility: encouraging people to rely on themselves rather than the government
what is nationalism?
the ideaology that people should be proud of their country and its culture, it focuses on unity and the nations identity, looking to protect the nations interests and independence
what did hobbes say about the state
he wanted an absolute sovergin, beleiving that people dont understand how much better is and if they were rational they would live under an absolutle arbitrary soverign
when did canada ahceive confederation?
july 1st 1867
what characterizes the problems in indigenous politics?
- land rights: disputes over owner land ownership, seeking recognition and respect for their traditional lands
- self-governance: indigenous communities seeking to be soverign
- social inequality: indigenous communities often face poorer access to healthcare, education, & clean water
- reconciliation: need to address historical injusticies including residential schools, broken treaties
what are equalization payments?
federal government transfers money to provincial governments to ensure they can offer similar levels of social services
* i.e. public transit, healthcare
what is a representative/indirect
democracy?
citizens who elect representatives who will make policies and laws on their behalf
