Unit 1: Canadian Government and the three Branches Flashcards
Define Govern
To make decisions as a government and put decisions into action
Define Government
The body with power to make decisions for a society
Define Governance
The process of governing
What is the role of Canada’s constitution
- Describes governance in Canada
- Sets the role of the governor general and three branches of government
- State how three branches work together
- Sets out institutions such as Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Numbered treaties etc.
- All subsequent laws must follow the constitution - it is the highest law
What are the three branches of Canadian Government
- Executive
- Legislative
- Judicial
What is a Majority Government
When the party than won the most seats won over half the total amounts of seats
What is a Minority Government
When the party that won the most seats did not win over half the total amount of seats
What is the Popular vote
- The total support or votes a political party wins during an election. This is simply votes, it does not necessarily mean that the number of seats won
- To win a seat a candidate needs to win 50% + 1 votes
What are Portfolios
roles assigned to cabinet ministers (minister of health)
What are slogans
memorable quotes, phrases or key messages sent to the media by politicians
What does accountable mean in the context of this chapter
Accountable, this was the slogan used by the Conservatives after the sponsorship scandal. John Baird and the conservatives created and passed the Federal Accountability Act (FAA)
What is the Executive Branch
propose most laws, put laws into action, run day to day business of government
What is a bill
A proposed law from the House of Commons or the Senate that has not yet passed
what is the BNA act
what makes us a country, sets all the rules like the constitution
What does debate mean
Both the House of Commons and the Senate debate on bills before they are passed
What is a riding
A district in which one candidate is elected to represent the occupants
what is a Lobbyist
someone hired by a pressure group to influence MPs and government officials….must be registered with the government
what is Royal Assent
governor general gives it, must have royal assent for a bill to become a law
what are MPs
members of parliament, the representative of people who live in their constituency, voted in
what is the Auditor general
gives objective and unbiased information to the government through audits
What are Senators
Appointed by the Prime Ministers to represent minorities that are not represented by MPs. Can propose laws, but can’t for any that will create or use taxes
Who is elected
All MPs are elected
Prime minister is elected indirectly, most become leader of their party and then win in their riding
who is appointed
governor general (by the Monarch after advisement from PM), senators (by PM), supreme court judges (PM and Cabinet)
what is bias
a type of thinking rooted in a person’s point of view, often creates an unbalanced view of someone or a subject word choice, overall topic, pictures)
What are Constituents and Constituencies
Constituents are the people who vote for and elect a representative
Constituencies are the areas that elect a representative
What is the Parliament
An assembly of elected representatives from regions all around Canada
What is the House of Commons
All MPs are part of the House of Commons, including all party leaders and Cabinet Ministers
What are the roles and responsibilities of the Executive branch
- Propose most laws
- Put most laws into action
- Run day to day business of Government
What is the role and responsibilities of the Legislative branch
- Make laws
- Represent interests of Canadians in their region
What are the qualities of a good politician
- mission driven
- creative problem solvers
- can function strategically with limited resources
- integrity
- communicate vision
what happens to the party with the most seats and the party with the second most seats
The party with the most seats become the head party
the party with the second most seats becomes the official opposition and all other parties are the opposition
what happens to the party with the most seats and the party with the second most seats
The party with the most seats become the
How many Supreme Court Judges are there
Nine from four regions of Canada
Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada and Maritimes
How do Supreme Court Judges get their position
appointed by Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, goes through a review committee of MPs. Final say given by PM
What is unique about the Judicial Branch
Everyone is from the legal profession
What is the process for creating a law
Senate
- First reading
- Second reading
- Committee Stage
- Report stage
- Third Reading
House of Commons
6. Debate and vote on Senate amendments
Senate
7. Debate and vote on House decision
- Royal Assent
What is the F.A.A.
The Federal Accountability Act
- makes government responsible and accountable for spending
- Protects government employees who blow the whistle
Created after the “sponsorship scandal” in 2006
