Quiz 1 Flashcards
Features of Westminister Parliamentary System
- bichameral legislature
- head of state is the Queen
- head of gov is the PM (first among equals)
- gov is made up of the party who won the most seats
5 principles of liberal democracy
- freedom
- secular
- rationality
- univsersality
- progress
democracy
-human beings are created equal before the law
crown
-political instituions that holds all executive power
powers of the crown
- statutory
- prerogative
- reserve
If an alien came to earth…..what is the crown?
- crown hold exectuive power while the governemetn is the political executive
- a bulwark against abuses of power
what is responsible government
-democracy is injected into responsible government and is controlled through constitutional conventions
unity in the charter
- charter give equal protections to minorities and unifies differnt cultures together as not cultureal identites but canadian citizens with equal rights under the crown
- republican principles
direct democracy
-when mempers of palriament represent the eexact wants and interests of their electorate through pleacuy votes and town hall meeting etc.
indirect democracy
-citizen electings mp’s to make decisiosn and laws on their behalf
diversity in bicameral
- there is diversity in the senate where the chamber represents regions not population
- each senator represents the diversities of regions particular issues such as relgion, ethinicity, ideologies, geography, economy, language, etc.
diversity in the crown
- the crown acts as an overarching body that is above the fray of politics.
- it has no loyalty to party or any one converstion taking place
- it ensures that the insitituions run smoothly and effectively and that they abide by the rule of the land which is the constititution
unity in the crown
- serves as identity
- fathers sought to rally canada under not a cultural umbrella but a political institutional one
- identitiy through parliamentary values
- monarch remain above the fray of politics as a symbol of unity
three functions of the crown
- ceremonial role of GG, LG
- institutional in principle of organization
- symbolic representation of unity
why did they decide on a westminister style parliament
- it was more sensible and less suspicouous
- simpified the task of univfying british north America
- there would be no ratifiying conventions or elecitons to see who should compose them
- legislativie union with a consititiuional recognition of the federal principle
why was a consititutional monarchy better than a union
-instead of having just one princple of eleciton and the rule of many, they could be election, merit and monarchy as three principles
what are important princples borrowed from the british system of governance
-rule of law, monarchal principle, aristocratic principle (senate), responsible government, independent judiciary,
federal principles
-woven in the consistions where sets out the division of powers between the federal government and the provincial government
difference between american system
-design flaw in which the states had a lot of power besides congress
Where is the democracy aspect in Canadas Westminster system?
- Responsible government
- confidence convention
- accountability
- governments mandate
What are the functions of parliament?
- form a government
- provide and opposition
- allow for public scrutiny
- create and debate laws
- forms special commissoin for unique purposes
- represent population and regions
Why did Canada decide on a federation?
- Riker: alternative to an empire to acquire terriory without the use of violence
- regional diversities
- demographic diversiteis
- ideologic diversities
- linguistic diversities
What are imporant features of a federation?-
- bichaermal legislature
- levels of government
- homogenizes interests, stabilizes
- constitutional documents
- supreme court
What are the benefits of having seperate heads of state and head of governmnet?
- protects neutrility of the state (crown)
- HOS acts a consttualiton arbitrator
- HOS emboides consittioanl authority and makes sure goverment is bound my law
Why was canada’s confederatoin so unique?
- diversities
- british colonists wanted to avoid unitary strucure
- inhabitants saw what happend with republic in the states( no overarching authority)
- hybrid system
- canada is unique, geographical, demographically.
Functions of the media
- watchdog
- educator
- independent
- can add spin (making it negative or positive)
Why PR be better
- accurate translation of votes to seats
- greater satisfaction/turnout
- smaller parties can be effective
- higher minority interest (less people left out)
Why is FPTP good?
- more competitive smalller parties
- high accountability
- more efficient
Define representation
-making somthing present that is not currently present
Liberal Democratic principles
- equality
- poiltical soveriegnty
- rule of law
- political competition
- minory rights
- majority rule
Does Federalism benefit democracy or hinder it
- Acton: blocks tyranny of the majority
- Dicey: Inhibites responsivness
- Breton: Cooperative federalism will evolve to executive fedealism
Where is democracy in Federalism
- sefl rule
- senate
- rule of law
Republicanism
- patriotism is unifiying aspect as to the crown
- liberalism is successfull child
- civic virture
- direct participation
- legal mechanisms
- ethical dimension
- non domination (pettit - slaves)
- people give it direction
- machevelli: based on laws not men
