Government Terms Ch1

Question 1

what are canada’s party platforms?

Answer 1

• liberalism/liberal party
• conservative
• bloc quebecois
• green
• ndp

Question 2

what does the liberal party support?

Answer 2

• individual freedom and equality for all
• expansion of social programs (healthcare and education)
• value of multiculturalism
• free trade
• middle class

Question 3

what does the conservative party support?

Answer 3

• balanced budget and social programs
• equality of all canadians/freedom of individual
• free enterprise/reduce taxes for small businesses
• free trade
• traditional family values

Question 4

what does the NDP party support?

Answer 4

• gov should intervene w/ important aspects of economy
• welfare measures (employment insurance and welfare payments)
• gov should pay for healthcare and educations
• canadians should have equal access to services

Question 5

what does the green party support?

Answer 5

• initiatives to care for environment and environmental issues
• justice initiatives
• “grassroots” democracy/gov that is closely connected to the ppl

Question 6

what does the bloc quebecois party support?

Answer 6

• created in 1990 as result of meech lake accord failure

- quebec should be an independent state and separate from canada

Question 7

how does a bill become law?

Answer 7

-bill can beintroduced by any cabinet member
-goes through three readings
1st reading: introduction to HC-no debate
2nd reading: principle behind bill debated extensively by HC
3rd reading: goes to senate if accepted for sober second thought, after given to GG for royal assent, bill is signed and made into law

Question 8

what is a majority government?

Answer 8

• when a political party wins more than half the seats in the HC in an election
• it is the ultimate goal of a political party

Question 9

what is a minority government?

Answer 9

-when a political party elects more MPs than any other party but not more than all the parties added together

Question 10

what is a coalition government?

Answer 10

• when two or more parties join together to form a governent, forming more seats than the elected party
• the PM is a leader from one of the parties

Question 11

what is an official opposition?

Answer 11

• party with the second most seats in the HC

- its job is to criticize the governing party to keep them accountable

Question 12

what is the constitutional act of 1867?

Answer 12

• the BNA act renamed
• document of rules for how the new country would be run
• when the BNA colonies were made into four provinces (nova scotia, new brunswick, quebec, ontario)

Question 13

what is the executive branch?

Answer 13

• the power to administer and carry out laws/make and apply gov decisions
• consists of GG and PM at fed level

Question 14

What is the role of the prime minister?

Answer 14

• to govern the country/head of canadian gov/leader of cabinet
• act as voice of nation
• develop foreign trade and policies
• recommend new judges and senators
• spokesperson for their party/lead caucus
• select and supervise members of cabinet
• advise GG when to dissolve parliament

Question 15

what are amendments of the BNA act?

Answer 15

• new amending formula (7 out of 10 provinces with 50% population must agree for change to occur)
• charter of rights and freedoms

Question 16

responsiblities of federal government?

Answer 16

• national defence
• foreign policy
• aboriginal affairs
• postal services
• banking systems
• marriage/divorce
• criminal law
• federal prisons

Question 17

responsiblities of provincial government?

Answer 17

• education
• charities
• healthcare services/hospitals
• licenses
• highways
• provincial courts
• provincial police/prisons

Question 18

what is the role of the governor general?

Answer 18

• announces gov decisions
• acts entirely on advice of cabinet minersters in HC
• makes formal announcement of decisions alr made by gov

Question 19

who run canada’s government?

Answer 19

-prime minister

Question 20

who is canada’s head of state?

Answer 20

• ruling monarch of UK, queen elizabeth ||

- position has no political powers but more a symbolic ceremonial position

Question 21

what is the speaker of the house?

Answer 21

• member elected by MPs from among their own members to run daytoday business in the HC
• controls debate and maintains order

Question 22

what are cabinet ministers?

Answer 22

• members of the cabinet selected by PM from among the MPs apart of the winning party from election
• have no set term/remains in office until gov is defeated or HC term expires
• responsibe to iniate new laws and administer gov policies

Question 23

what is a lieutenant governor?

Answer 23

• the queen’s representative prov level

- gets the passed bill from legislature

Question 24

what is a vote of non confidence?

Answer 24

• vote in which a majority no longer supports the policy of a leader or governing party
• gov must resign if occurs

Question 25

what year was the charter of rights and freedom established in?

Answer 25

-1982

Question 26

what is a patronage?

Answer 26

- the practice of the PM filling the seats of the senate with supporters of their party - it is an act of rewarding their party members for their loyalty and support

Question 27

what is communism?

Answer 27

- economic system based on community ownership of all property and means of production - individuals unable to pursue business how they want - gov is tightly controlled by one small group and individuals own the barest essentials - economic equality/everyone shares the wealth and has appox the same wealth - no classes (rich, middle, poor)

Question 28

what is facism?

Answer 28

- belief in action over thought/nationalism/purpose of individual is to serve state - rules out any decison making based on moral convictions or principles - economic and intellectual resources are to be directed to the state to be used to build a proud, united country w/ strong military

Question 29

what is the first past the post system?

Answer 29

- the candidate with the most votes in each riding is the winner - only need more votes than any other single candidate

Question 30

whate is the universal declaration of human rights?

Answer 30

-the first international statement to recognize that all human beings have specific human rights and freedoms

Question 31

what is a democracy?

Answer 31

- a government where ppl rule it by themselves - from greek words meaning "rule by the people" - gives citizens sense of freedom and power - political system where control is in citizens hands - prevents one from becoming too powerful/an overuse of power

Question 32

what is the role of the senate?

Answer 32

- review bills passed by HC/is final check of decisions by HC - has power to suggest changes and send bill back

Question 33

what is the legal age to vote?

Answer 33

-18

Question 34

what is the legislative branch?

Answer 34

- power to make and amend laws - determines how gov will spend money collected from the ppl - consists of HC, senate, GG

Question 35

what is the judicial branch?

Answer 35

-power to declare who has broken laws and set out penalties

Question 36

what are the important functions of democracy? (6)

Answer 36

- constitution - human rights (basic freedoms & charter of rights and freedoms) - regularly scheduled elections - universal suffrage - judicial and political roles are separate - several levels of gov (3)

Question 37

what does the house of commons do?

Answer 37

- focal point in canadian gov - represents power that help canadians exercise democratic control of gov - approves/vetos laws

Question 38

when did facism emerge?

Answer 38

-after WW1 (italy 1922-germany 1933)

Question 39

what responsibilites do fed and prov gov share? (5)

Answer 39

- immigration - agriculture - health care - natural resources - environmental issues

Question 40

what is a free vote?

Answer 40

-MPs vote to what they best believe in or what their constituents best believe in

Question 41

what is a private member's bill?

Answer 41

-bill introduced by non-cabinet member

Question 42

who passed the canadien bill of rights and when?

Answer 42

-former PM john diefenbaker in 1960