quiz 2 Flashcards
consociationalism
A system of
government whereby different
ethnic or cultural groups share
power, usually in the form of
a coalition government with
different parties representing the
different cultural groups in the
country.
Statute of Westminster
A law
passed by the British Parliament in
1931 that granted the dominions
in the British Empire control over
their own foreign affairs.
classical federalism
The theory
that each order of the government
in the federation is legally equal
and should operate independently
of each other.
asymmetrical federalism
A type
of federalism in which the prov-
inces exercise different powers.
spending power
The ability of
the federal government to spend
monies on programs and services
that are outside its jurisdiction.
opt out
The ability of provincial
governments to remove them-
selves from national shared-cost
programs and receive compensa-
tion from the federal government.
However, provincial governments
must still establish comparable
programs with similar standards.
Parti Québécois (PQ)
The main
sovereignist party in Québec. It is
a provincial party that is dedicated
to making Quebec a sovereign
country.
sovereignty-association
The
proposal made by René Lévesque
for a new constitutional arrange-
ment between Quebec and
Canada, where Quebec would
receive more powers and juris-
diction but would still be loosely
affiliated with Canada.
amending formula
The procedure used to amend a constitu-
tion. Before patriation, Canada
did not have its own amending
formula but instead relied on the
British Parliament for constitu-
tional amendments.
Quiet Revolution
The transformation of Quebec from a deeply
conservative society to a progressively liberal society in the 1960s.
mega-constitutional politics
The political quest for an
agreement on the fundamental
definition of the country and the
principles on which the constitution is based.
compact theory
An argument
that the Canadian constitution
represents a compact or a contract
that can only be changed with
the consent of the parties to the
contract.
two nations thesis
A version of
the compact theory, which states
that Canada was a creation of two
peoples—English and French.
official policy on multiculturalism
A policy adopted by the Liberal Party of Canada in 1971 that
declared Canada to be a bilingual
and multicultural country.
Front de libération du Québec
(FLQ)
A Quebec-based terrorist
group that sought to establish an
independent, socialist Quebec
through an armed struggle.
War Measures Act
parliament that was invoked
during wartime that curtailed civil
liberties. It was invoked during
the October Crisis in response to
the kidnappings and bombings
conducted by the FLQ. It has since
been replaced with the Emergen-
cies Act.
October Crisis
A series of events
that occurred in 1970 when the
FLQ kidnapped a British diplomat
and a Quebec cabinet minister.
The War Measures Act was invoked
in response and lasted for the
duration of the crisis.
Gang of Eight
The premiers of
eight provinces that opposed
Prime Minister Trudeau’s plan to
patriate the constitution. Only
Ontario and New Brunswick sup-
ported Trudeau, and consequently
they were not members of the
Gang of Eight.
7/50 rule
The term commonly
used for the general amending
formula for the constitution in
Canada
general amending formula
The
formula that was agreed to for
the constitution in Canada. It
stipulates that for most constitu-
tional amendments to be ratified,
the federal parliament and 7 of
10 provinces representing 50 per
cent plus one of the population
must consent. Also known as the
7/50 rule.
notwithstanding clause
Refers
to section 33 of the Constitution
Act 1982. It allows Parliament or a
legislature to enact a piece of leg-
islation that violates section 2 and/
or sections 7 to 15 of the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It
expires after five years, and must
be repassed if it is to remain in
effect.
night of the long knives
Refers
to the episode during the
patriation negotiations where all
provincial premiers but Premier
Lévesque of Québec were included
in a late-night, last-minute deal on
patriation.
unanimity amending formula
The unanimity amending formula
applies to the fundamental
institutions of the Canadian
political system: the Crown, the
Supreme Court, bilingualism, the
representation of the provinces in
Parliament, and changes to this
amending procedure itself.
general amending formula
The
general amending formula
stipulates that most constitutional
amendments require the consent
of the federal Parliament and
7 of 10 provincial legislatures
representing 50 percent of the
population. Also known as the
7/50 rule.
7/50 rule
the term commonly
used for the general amending
the formula for the constitution in
Canada.
Bill of Rights
A statute enacted
in 1960 by the government of
John Diefenbaker. It enumerated
the common law rights enjoyed
by Canadians and prohibited
discrimination based on race,
national origin, colour, religion,
or sex. The Bill of Rights was not
entrenched in the constitution; it
was a statutory law.
advocacy groups
Organiza-
tions representing the concerns
of various social movements or
economic interests. Rather than
contest elections like a political
party, advocacy groups seek to
influence government policy from
the outside. They are sometimes
called interest groups, although it
should be noted that this term is
often used pejoratively.
Charter Canadians
Minority
groups with a vested interest in
particular sections of the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms, such as
section 27, which recognizes the
multicultural heritage of Canada.
notwithstanding clause
Refers
to section 33 of the Constitution
Act 1982. It allows Parliament or a
legislature to enact a piece of leg-
islation that violates section 2 and/
or sections 7 to 15 of the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It
expires after five years, and must
be repassed if it is to remain in
effect.
limitations clause
Section 1 of
the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, which enables
governments to place reasonable
limits on the rights guaranteed by
the Charter.
