UNIT II VOCAB Flashcards
Politics
the struggle to power (government)
Media
the main means of mass communication
Political Party
Organized groups of people with common values and goals who compete to get candidates elected and to form government
Authoritarian
a form of decision making or government system in which one person holds all power
Representative Democracy
A democracy in which citizens periodically elect others to represent them in government
Municipality
A town or district that has a local government
Majority
when the party in power has more than ½ of the seats, it is a majority government
Bill
A written proposal for a law that is presented to a legislature or a parliament for approval
Premier
Leader of a provincial government
Proportional Representation
An electoral system in which the number of seats each political party receives is proportional to the number of votes they gained
Grassroots
Political actions taken by ordinary people and organizations at the local level
Referendum
a direct yes-no vote on a particular issue, policy or law
Chief Electoral Officer
The head of Elections Canada, an independent, non-partisan agency that administers an electoral event
Criminal Code of Canada
Sets out laws protecting society from criminal action, give federal government responsibility to bring offenders to trial and explains punishment
Plaintiff
The person, or party, who sues in a civil case
Summary Offence
a minor criminal offence
FLQ
Front for the Liberation of Quebec; terrorist group in Quebec who killed and kidnapped cabinet members, wanted separation of Quebec
Restorative Justice
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Pressure Group
a group of citizens who act together to influence government policy
Direct Government
citizens debate and vote on laws that affect them
Royal Assent
Approval by the monarch or the monarch’s representative that turns a bill passed by a legislature into a law
Consensus
A group decision reached through discussion to which all group members agree
Minority
When the party in power has less than ½ of the seats, it’s a minority government
Mayor
The head of a municipal government in a town or a city
Prime Minister
The head of the elected government
FPTP
(First Past The Post), party with most elected candidates take power to government
Resolution
a decision or position on an issue taken by a group
Reform
Changes made to improve something
Scrutineer
Members of the political parties that are participating in a ballot that go to voting places to witness that his/her party has been treated fairly be the elections
Criminal Law of Canada
Group of laws that deals with acts or offences against soceity
Defendant
the person charged in a criminal case or being sued in civil case
YCJA
(Youth Criminal Justice Act); outlines consequences for lawbreakers between ages 12-17
Strike
When workers refused to work
Sentencing Circle
A custom in aboriginal justice in which the offender comes before a circle of the victim and the community take responsibility for harm the offender caused. Through consensus, circle decides on a punishment
House of Commons
Building in Ottawa where elected members of Canada’s federal government meet to discuss and pass law, sometimes called the Lower House
Mediation
To help parties involved in a conflict negotiate a mutual agreeable solution. The mediator must be a third party that is not involved in the dispute
Arbitration
To decide or settle a dispute
Ideology
Right (Conservative); Manages income, traditional, family, military
Center (Liberal); Concerned with equality and rights, moderate and flexible
Left (NDP); socially concern, not bound by tradition, dislikes status quo
Egalitarian
Based on the principal of equality among all people, especially political, economic and social life
Senate
The legislative branch of federal governments that is composed of senators, who are appointed by PMs, sometimes called the Upper House
Coalition
An alliance between two parties
Speaker of the House
An elected representative who is selected to act as a referee to enforce the rules of parliament conduct and debate
MLA
(Members of Legislative Assembly), decide for their assigned province
Stakeholder
A person who will be affected by a decision
Policy
A plan of action in order to achieve a goal made by political parties
Platform
a formal written statement that outlines a political party’s policy
Poll Clerk
Counts votes and makes sure that election was done properly, identifies people at the door
Civil Law
protects private rights; concerned with disputes between individuals regarding property, personal relationships, contracts and ownership
Summons
Documents that states the reasons why you’re suing and damages you’re seeking
Habeus Corpua
The right to know why you’re being arrested
Lockout
When a company refuses to allow workers to work
Healing Circle
A traditional approach in Aboriginal justice in which the offender admit guilt to the victim and tries to reconcile with the victim and the community
Government
A group of people who provide services, leadership and protection
Parliament
Another name for the legislative branch, who has the power to make laws
Constituency
the body of voters represented by an elected legislator or official
Democracy
A form of decision reached through discussion to which all group members agree
Constitution (& parts)
BNA Act of 1867 (sets out parts, power and function of the 3 branches), Charter (states the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizens) and the Amending formula (if changes are to be made, 7/10 provinces must agree and those 7 provinces’ population must equal ½ of Canada’s population)
Caucus
Private Meetings called by each Party
Cabinet
Elected MPs that are selected by the PM to oversee a government department
Official Opposition
The party with the second largest number of seats in the legislative body
MP
(Member of Parliament), the elected representatives of the people who sit in the federal house of commons
Petition
A formal request signed by members of the public and presented to the legislators or other authoritarians in support of persons or ideas
Statute
A law that has been written and passed by a legislature
Amendment
Changes made to an existing or to a bill in process of being made into a law
Entrenched
to be given extra protection by being part of the constitution
Crown
The lawyer representing the state in a criminal case, refers to head of state; Queen
Indictable Offence
a serious or severe offence against the Criminal Code of Canada, contrast; summary offence
Labour Relations Act
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Union
an organization made up of workers that want to improve working conditions and wages
Probation
A suspended prison sentence that allows offenders to live in their community, supervised by a probation officer. Person on probation must abide by certain conditions
Negotiation
To try to reach agreement through talking
Citizenship
Membership in a political community, such as a country, includes rights, duties and responsibilities
