Week 5

Question 1

The structure of____________ systems plays a significant role in determining who gets elected and what groups of interest are going to be the most influencial on local agendas

Answer 1

Electoral a.k.a Electoral systems

Question 2

define Democracy

Answer 2

is the right to elect one’s government freely

Question 3

Voting elegibility in Canada

Answer 3

A voter is required to be a Canadian citizen 18 years of age or older, who has lived in the city or province for several months or a year.

Question 4

What are plebiscites and referendums?

Answer 4

Plebiscites and referendums are a form of direct democracy. However, Plebiscites are advisory (consultative) while referendums are mandatory(binding) in most places.

Question 5

______and______ are not common in federal governments and provincial governments but are used more frequently in municipal governments.

Answer 5

Plebiscites and referendums

Question 6

With referendums, an individual has the opportunity to__________vote on a particular issue that has been placed on a_____________agenda

Answer 6

Directly… Public

Question 7

What are the 3 negatives/potential negatives of plebiscites and referendums?

Answer 7

• small groups of people with political, information, or economic resources can manipulate the majority of voters to side with their views or choices.
• Putting bylaws to citizen votes raises a possibility of a “tyranny of masses”.
• Average citizens may not have civic education to have that much voting power.

Question 8

The ward system operates with one or two councillors elected from______________________city.

Answer 8

a specific territory within a

Question 9

The at-large election system elected by city council to represent the views of all__________city.

Answer 9

citizens in the

Question 10

The role of a Mayor

Answer 10

A mayor is a member of the governing council as well as the head of the municipal corperation.

Question 11

Regional governments do not have a mayor. Instead, they have___________

Answer 11

a chairperson

Question 12

“mayor” for Aboriginal council_________

“mayor” for township or village ___________

Answer 12

chiefs

reeve

Question 13

What are the functions of a mayor? 4

Answer 13

• presides over council and maintain order
• acts as a ceremonial leader of the community
• signs all bylaws and ensures they are carried out
• communicates information to the council, citizens, and other govts.

Question 14

What does a municipal council possess?

Answer 14

they possess the legal powers delegated to them by the province

Question 15

Municipal council facts 3

Answer 15

• size of upto >50
• bring issues from residents to governing bodies
• pass by-laws eg smoking, anti-idling

Question 16

What are special-purpose bodies?

Answer 16

• Are local service agencies that open up additional ways for citizens to be represented in public decision-making.
• local service agencies such as schools or library boards.

Question 17

Citizen petitions are a form of__________

Citizen petitions can be about 4 things..

Answer 17

- protest
        4 things:
Road signs, traffic
municipal taxes increase
unwanted facilities
neighbourhood organizations

Question 18

Two ways to engage the public outside of the electoral process

Answer 18

Public driven - protests

Govt. driven - using gatekeepers as a way to hear from the underrepresented groups which increase public participation.

Question 19

Cities are often portrayed as being overrun by__________and________

Answer 19

Single issue politics and NIMBYism

Question 20

NIMBYism stands for?

Answer 20

Citizens that stand against government bodies from building anything in their local area, Not In My BackYard.

Question 21

Characteristics of Neighbourhood/community associations

Answer 21

Good credibility among community
geographical boundary
bring up quality of life issues

Question 22

characteristics of issue-oriented groups

Answer 22

defined interests : poverty reduction
often adversary
often relay on municipal govt for funding

Question 23

charcteristics of Nimby groups

Answer 23

narrow self-interest
smaller affected group
protest for specific facility/projects

Question 24

Role of chambers of commerce

Answer 24

• interests in local business and industry
• influence at all govt. especially on economy development
• role in providing alternatives for service delivery for municipal govt. such as waste collection.