Charter of rights and freedoms Flashcards
(8 cards)
Why does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms matter?
It protects liberal democratic values like free expression, equality, and rule of law; limits government power to prevent authoritarianism; ensures accountability through legal challenges; promotes social justice; and guides policy by requiring laws to comply with it.
What ideological values does the Charter embody?
It embodies classical liberal ideals such as individual rights, rule of law, and limited government, while also reflecting modern liberalism by promoting state action for equality and social justice.
How does the Charter balance individual freedoms and collective responsibilities?
Through Section 1’s “reasonable limits” clause, it allows limited restrictions on rights to protect the broader public interest, balancing personal freedoms with the collective good.
: What ideology does the Charter mainly represent?
Modern liberalism — protecting individual rights and freedoms while allowing government intervention to promote equality and social justice.
Where does the Charter fit on the political spectrum?
Center to center-left — it supports classical liberal values of liberty and limited government but also emphasizes equality rights and positive freedoms typical of modern liberalism.
Which groups ideologically support the Charter?
Modern liberals fully support it; classical liberals support its protection of freedoms but may oppose some state interventions; social democrats and democratic socialists generally support it for promoting equality and inclusion.
Who might oppose or criticize the Charter?
Some conservatives criticize it for empowering courts over elected legislatures (judicial activism), and authoritarian or illiberal ideologies reject it for limiting state power and protecting individual and minority rights.
What ideological themes in Social 30-1 does the Charter illustrate?
It shows how liberal democracies protect individuals and minorities from government abuse, highlights the tension between freedom and order, individualism and collectivism, and exemplifies modern liberalism in practice.
