political systems

Question 1

proportional representation

Answer 1

an electoral system that allocates seats in the legislative body proportionate to the amount of votes per party.

Question 2

‘first past the post’

Answer 2

is a system which candidates who pass a certain number of votes in their riding wins.

Question 3

constituency

Answer 3

or riding, is a designated voting area in which its population votes for an electorate to represent them in the legislative body of gov’t.

Question 4

representation by population

Answer 4

is an political system that allocates seats of the legislative branch based on the population of a determined area (province).

Question 5

vote of non-confidence

Answer 5

within a parliamentary democracy, a vote taken when the executive government is suspected of not carrying the will of the people. ex. members of the hoc take a vote of non-confidence on the executive branch of government (prime minister).

Question 6

parliamentary democracy

Answer 6

a form of government where the branch that proposes laws (executive) is dependent on the legislative branch (majority of MPs in HOC) and judicial branch (Supreme Court).

Question 7

judicial branch (canada)

Answer 7

consists of the supreme court of canada who’s role is to make final decisions on constitutional questions and defined classes of important civil and criminal law cases.

Question 8

legislative branch (canada)

Answer 8

consists of the house of commons & senate. hoc is the publicly elected chamber of parliament who represent their constituents during creation of legislation. senate must approve bills to be passed & the senate is appointed by the governor general based on recommendations of the prime minister.

Question 9

executive branch (canada)

Answer 9

comprises of the prime minister, governor general, and the cabinet. their role is to lead government, create and enforce laws.

Question 10

house of commons

Answer 10

one of two legislative bodies found within canada. elected members are responsible for making, changing, and repealing laws based on the wishes of their constituency. all legislation must be approved here through majority vote.

Question 11

senate (canada)

Answer 11

one of the two legislative bodies found within canada. appointed by governor general on behalf of pm recommendation. like hoc, all legislation must be approved through majority vote.

Question 12

supreme court (canada)

Answer 12

found within the judicial body of government and its 9 members are appointed by the governor general on behalf of the advice by the national cabinet. supreme court gives ability of the court to declare legislative or executive act in violation of the constitution.

Question 13

electoral college

Answer 13

body of people representing the us, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Question 14

constitutional monarchy

Answer 14

parliamentary democracy where a hereditary symbolic head of state preforms representative roles but does not exercise executive or policy-making power.

Question 15

republic

Answer 15

a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and the government has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Question 16

responsible government

Answer 16

government in which the executive branch, who proposes laws, is dependent on the direct or indirect support of elected members of the legislative branch.

Question 17

sovereignty

Answer 17

the authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Question 18

will of the people

Answer 18

general will of the population within a society.

Question 19

bicameral (canada)

Answer 19

two legislative chambers to provide two different legislative bodies, each based on a form of representation by region, rather than representation by population.

Question 20

rule of law

Answer 20

gives government and individual accountability to laws: makes the government less powerful and less likely to corrupt.

Question 21

multi-party

Answer 21

this political system allows for multiple perspectives.

Question 22

democracy

Answer 22

a form of government in which power is ultimately vested in the people.

Question 23

direct democracy

Answer 23

people participate in deciding issues and decision-making directly.

Question 24

representative democracy

Answer 24

elected officials who represent the people and make laws with voters’ interests in mind.

Question 25

legislative branch (USA)

Answer 25

comprising of the congress, a bicameral system: consisting of senate and house of representatives. hor, has 435 members each representing a district (rep by population). senate is allocated based off of state, each state elects 2 senators. legislation cannot be passed without consent of both chambers.

Question 26

senate (USA)

Answer 26

elected representatives (two per state). there are one hundred senators that are staggered in six year terms. senate is empowered to ratify treaties and to approve top presidential appointments. they have the sole power to try impeachement cases. all legislation must be passed through this body.

Question 27

house of representatives

Answer 27

435 members each represent a district, serving a two year term. this legislative body has the power of impeachment, and the power to initiate bills. they also elect the president during electoral college deadlocks. all legislation must be passed through this body.

Question 28

Canadian constitution

Answer 28

provides framework for governance.

Question 29

independent judiciary

Answer 29

ensures in particular that judges are free to conclude that actions taken, or decisions made by the government (or even by others) are in breach of the law, and that they are in particular in breach of an individual’s rights.

Question 30

oligarchy

Answer 30

a form of government in which power rests within a small elite segment of society.

Question 31

one-party-states

Answer 31

a type of system where only one party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election.

Question 32

military dictatorships

Answer 32

a form of government in which political power resides with the military leadership.

Question 33

propaganda

Answer 33

persuasive technique that uses media to create support for the regime

Question 34

vision

Answer 34

a rallying call to embrace a new future, based on security, economic security, economic gain, nationalism, and unity

Question 35

controlled participation

Answer 35

citizens are key participants in staged events designed to show mass support of the dictatorship.

Question 36

indoctrination

Answer 36

a purposeful contrived program to promote acceptance and obedience, targeting youth groups and the education system.

Question 37

censorship

Answer 37

state control of the information, used with propaganda and indoctrination to control and manipulate information.

Question 38

secret police

Answer 38

use of agents, informants, militia, and the army to foster fear and terror when required in order to control the citizenry.

Question 39

the purge

Answer 39

elimination of real or perceived enemies of the state

Question 40

scapegoats

Answer 40

redirecting of popular group discontent towards a particular group.

Question 41

fascism

Answer 41

a political system headed by a dictator in which the government controls business and labour and opposition is not permitted.

Question 42

totalitarianism

Answer 42

a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.

Question 43

totalitarianism vs authoritarianism

Answer 43

Totalitarianism attempts to do this by asserting total control over the lives of its citizens, whereas authoritarianism prefers the blind submission of its citizens to authority.