Unit 1 Flashcards
Define community
A community is a group of people joined by a consciousness of the characteristics they have in common (e.g., ethnicity, culture, language, religion) and by a consciousness of the interests they share (e.g., social, economic, political).
Define constitution
A constitution is a document that contains the “rules of the political game.” More formally, it is the set of fundamental laws, customs, and conventions providing the framework within which government is exercised in a state. Federalism requires a formal written constitution with the division of powers clearly spelled out in a single document.
Define country
A country is primarily a geographic term referring to the territory occupied by a state. Often in political science, the terms country, state, and nation are used interchangeably.
Define government
As an activity, government is the continuous exercise of political power and authority in a society. As an organization, government is the grouping of political institutions that exercise or carry out the authority of the state. The term “government” is also used to refer to the prime minister and his cabinet, as when we say “the Harper government.” (Note that when Americans speak in this latter sense they use the word “administration” rather than “government.”)
Define institutions
Political institutions are enduring structures that regulate relationships among people and groups. Government consists of a number of institutions, each fulfilling a different political function.
Define interstate federalism
A system by which regional, provincial, and local interests are represented by provincial governments interacting with the central government.
Define intrastate federalism
A system by which regional, provincial, and local interests are represented within national political institutions in the context of national politics.
Define nation
A community that can be perceived independently of any particular political organization.
Define pluralism
Pluralism refers to a society in which there are a number of distinct communities and groups, each pursuing its own interests and striving to maintain its distinctiveness.
Define society
A community that possesses control over its activities is known as a society. A society is therefore defined by its structure and possesses both the intent and means to act for a common purpose.
Define sovereignty
Sovereignty refers to the right of a government to take actions and make binding decisions on the citizens of a state. Sovereignty also means that a government can enforce its decisions through the application of coercive force, if it so chooses. In a federal system, sovereignty is divided between two levels of government.
Define state
A state is a legal and political association having the power and authority to command the obedience and loyalty of its members. The essential elements of a state are a population, a territory, a government, and sovereignty. (In some federations the word “state” is used to designate the sub-national units of the federation, equivalent to Canada’s provinces.)
How does a federal system of government differ from unitary and confederal arrangements? (Commentary)
In a unitary state, sovereignty lies with a single legislative body. In a confederal system, several independent states join to form a loose political and economic association. Federalism involves the division of sovereignty between two levels of government.
What are the most important institutional characteristics of a federal system of government? (Commentary)
two basic levels of government (in Canada’s case, we talk about federal and provincial levels).
a national (or central) government, elected by the people, whose actions affect the residents of the entire country.
a number of regional governments (provinces, states, etc.), each elected by the people, whose actions affect only a limited geographic area.
a division of legislative and executive powers between the two levels of government spelled out in a written constitution.
non-subordination: each government is sovereign within its own jurisdiction and neither level of government can unilaterally move to abolish the other.
a sharing of revenue sources (i.e., taxing authority) by the two levels of government.
the use of special intergovernmental bodies for joint decision-making and problem solving.
the use of the courts as an intergovernmental umpire and interpreter of the constitution.
a complicated arrangement for formal constitutional change.
What is a federal society? (Commentary)
Federal society refers to is the forms of social and group diversity that can be found among the inhabitants of a particular country.
What makes a federal society different from a multicultural or pluralistic society? (Commentary)
In a federal society, diversity is territorially based. People living in one area of the country are somehow different from people living in other areas of that country.
Why can Canada be described as a federal society? (Commentary)
If we look at the founding of Canada, we will find the fact that most French-speaking citizens resided within a specific geographic area (what is now Quebec) made the creation of a federal state both logical and desirable.
