Types of Government Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 types of government in Canada?

A
  1. Constitutional Monarchy
  2. Federal System
  3. Representative Democracy
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2
Q

What is the Monarch in a Constitutional Monarchy?

A

Monarch/Crown is the “Head of State” NOT of government

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3
Q

How is a Monarch’s power limited in a Constitutional Monarchy?

A

Monarch’s power is limited by the rules in the Constitution; therefore they, cannot have absolute or arbitrary power

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4
Q

Who are the Crown’s representatives in a Constitutional Monarchy?

A
  • Governor General

- Lieutenant Governor

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5
Q

What does the Governor General represent?

A

Ottowa

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6
Q

What does the Lieutenant Governor represent?

A

Province

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7
Q

Who is the current Governor General?

A

Julie Payette

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8
Q

Who is the Current Albertan Lieutenant Governer?

A

Lois Mitchell

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9
Q

How are representatives of a Monarchy chosen?

A

They are “appointed” by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and Parliament

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10
Q

How does the Head of State in the Monarchy affect Canada?

A

They are non-partisan ( no political

party); therefore, are not be biased

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11
Q

How does the Governor General in the Monarchy affect Canada?

A

They add stability. If the PM dies then the Governor General will appoint a successor.

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12
Q

What is a positive of the Monarchy towards the PM?

A

They rarely oppose the wishes of the elected. They are just figurative power.

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13
Q

What are the 2 levels of government? (Federalism)

A
  • Federal

- Provincial and territorial

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14
Q

What does the federal government focus on? (Federalism)

A

“National” issues in Ottawa

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15
Q

What does the provincial/Territorial government focus on? (Federalism)

A

“Regional” issues

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16
Q

What is the power to legislate shared by? (Federalism)

A

The 2 levels of government. Federal and provincial

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17
Q

What does Parliment mean? (Federalism)

A

Federal law making

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18
Q

What does Legislature mean? (Federalism)

A

Provincial law making

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19
Q

What is the legislature called in Quebec? (Federalism)

A

The National Assembly

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20
Q

How does federal and provincial powers affect Canada? (Federalism)

A

Unity and diversity is balance

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21
Q

What type of disputes arise in federalism?

A

Disputes over jurisdiction/control often arise, e.g. who controls and pays for the services we receive such as Health Care and Education

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22
Q

What tends to increase as a result of federalism?

A

Bureaucracy

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23
Q

What is representative democracy?

A

Elected candidates/appointed representatives speak for voters/constituents on their behalf becoming responsible to the electorate.

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24
Q

Who are the representatives in the federal portion?

A

MP’s (Members of Parliament) and Senators

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25
Q

Who are the representatives in the provincial portion?

A

MLA’s (Members of the Legislative Assembly)

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26
Q

What does Quebec call their representatives?

A

MNA’s (Members of the National Assembly)

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27
Q

Who are the Municipal (city) representatives?

A

Councilors (or Aldermen and Alderwomen)

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28
Q

How often are federal elections?

A

Federal every five (5) years

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29
Q

How often are provincial elections?

A

Provincial every four (4) years*

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30
Q

When can elections be called?

A

Sooner, but not later

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31
Q

How do representatives affect Democracy in Canada?

A
  • Sometimes they speak for the voter constituent and sometimes they speak for themselves
  • Representatives do not consult enough with voters
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32
Q

What can interfere with voter wishes in representative democracy?

A

Partly discipline/solidarity

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33
Q

How is rep-by-pop controversial?

A

Can lead to unequal representation since some regions have higher populations than others

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34
Q

What are the 3 branches of government?

A

Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
Judicial Branch

35
Q

What are the 3 groups in the Executive Branch?

A

Prime Minister
Governor General
Cabinet Ministers

36
Q

How does the Prime Minister become the

Prime Minister?

A

He is the leader of the party with the most MPs

37
Q

How do Cabinet Ministers become Cabinet Ministers?

A

They are elected to the House of Commons and appointed to be a Cabinet Minister by the Prime Minister

38
Q

How does the Governor general become Governor general?

A

They are appointed by the queen by recommendation of the prime minister

39
Q

What groups are a part of the Legislative branch?

A
  • House of Commons

- Senate

40
Q

How many people are in the House of Commons?

A

338

41
Q

How many people are in the Senate?

A

105

42
Q

Which party is the party in power in the House of Commons?

A

The

43
Q

What does the party with the fewer seats in the House of Commons form?

A

The Opposition

44
Q

How are people put into the Senate?

A

Members are appointed by Gov. Gen. on the advice of the Prime Minister

45
Q

What does the Senate do?

A

Represent regional and minority interests across Canada

46
Q

How do people join the judicial branch?

A

Qualified lawyers are appointed

47
Q

Why are judges not apart of the Parliment?

A

Because they do not make laws

48
Q

What do judges do?

A

They interpret laws to determine:
o Has the law been followed?
o Are the laws Constitutional?

49
Q

What is a political party?

A

A group of people with common beliefs and plans or goals for a country or province

50
Q

What is a party’s platform?

A

A party’s beliefs

51
Q

What is a Majority government?

A

If a party’s number of elected candidates is more than half of the total number of candidates

52
Q

What is a Minority Government?

A

If a party’s number of elected candidates is less than half of the total number of candidates but more than any other party’s numbers,

53
Q

What is a Coalition government?

A

If no party elects enough candidates to form a government, two (or more) parties can choose to work together in the Executive branch (cabinet).

54
Q

Who is to the left of the political spectrum?

A

NDP and Liberal

55
Q

Who is to the right of the political spectrum?

A

Conservative and wild rose

56
Q

Which government level is the Bloc Quebecois running at?

A

The federal level in Quebec

57
Q

What do left-wing parties believe?

A

Government power should be used to create economic, political, and social equality

58
Q

What do right-wing parties want?

A

To want to limit government involvement in the economy and society, and instead promote individual freedom (particularly to accumulate wealth)

59
Q

What are the hopes of a centre party?

A

They hope to blend the best of the left and the right in order to avoid the extremes of both.

60
Q

Who gives Royal Assent?

A

The governor general Julie Payette

61
Q

What does Julie Payette do for the parliament?

A

Summons, prorogues, and dissolves Parliament

62
Q

Who delivers the speech from the throne?

A

The governor general Julie Payette

63
Q

Who is commander-in-chief of the Canadian armed forces?

A

The governor general Julie Payette

64
Q

What are the emergency powers of the crown?

A

 May choose a new PM in the event of the PM’s death or resignation
 May call a new election if the election is deemed to have been won by fraud, corruption, or terrorism
 May dismiss a PM if the PM behaves unconstitutionally
 May refuse a request by the PM to dissolve Parliament and call an election

65
Q

What is the PM the head of?

A

Canada’s federal government

66
Q

Where should the powers of the PM be mentioned?

A

It is not mentioned in the constitution but it should be

67
Q

What are patronage appointments?

A

Appointments made to loyal party members as a reward for past service and for future support wherever possible

68
Q

Who does the PM appoint?

A

Cabinet Ministers, Senators, the Governor General, Lieutenant Governors, judges, and senior civil servants

69
Q

What is each cabinet minister given?

A

A portfolio

70
Q

Who represents the most powerful political decision making body in the country?

A

The Cabinet

71
Q

What is party solidarity?

A

When a decision on an issue has been made by the PM, ALL Cabinet and other members of the party must publicly support that decision and vote accordingly.

72
Q

What is Party discipline?

A

When if Cabinet members do not follow the party line and side with the PM they may be prevented from oppurtunities.

73
Q

What are the requirements of a senator?

A

o Must be at least 30 years of age
o Must own property worth $4,000.00
o Must retire at age 75
o Must live in the province they represent

74
Q

What is the upper house of the legislative assembly?

A

The Senate

75
Q

What is the lower house of the legislative assembly?

A

House of Commons

76
Q

What are the intents of the Senate?

A

Intended to protect “regional, provincial, and minority interests, property rights and human rights”

77
Q

What is another name for the Senate?

A

“House Of Sober Second Thought”

78
Q

What can the Senate not do?

A

May NOT introduce legislation involving government spending or raising taxes

79
Q

What is the Mace?

A

A symbol of parliament’s authority to govern. The House cannot legally sit without the mace being placed on the table in front of the Speaker

80
Q

Where does the power government and the opposition sit?

A

The government party sits on the Speaker’s right with the opposition on the left

81
Q

Where does the PM and the Leader of opposition sit?

A

They sit directly across from each other in the centre

82
Q

What do clerks and table officers do?

A

Keep the official record of business and advise the Speaker and MPs

83
Q

What do Hansard reporter do?

A

Record debates and proceedings and make them available to the public

84
Q

What do pages do?

A

Carry messages, run errands, and distribute materials for the MPs