Understanding Canadian Government: Types and Decision Making

1. Canadian Government Mr. Bauer

2. Issues W h y d o w e n e e d g o v e r n m e n t ? W h a t c a n g o v e r n m e n t d o ? W h a t t y p e s o f g o v e r n m e n t e x i s t i n C a n a d a t o d a y ? H o w d o e s d e c i s i o n m a k i n g o c c u r a t t h e f e d e r a l , p r o v i n c i a l , a n d l o c a l l e v e l s o f g o v e r n m e n t ?

3. Government Introduction T h e N e e d f o r G o v e r n m e n t S i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f c i v i l i z a t i o n t h e r e h a s b e e n a n i n h e r e n t n e e d f o r s o m e t y p e o f s o c i a l o r d e r . O n e o f t h e e a r l i e s t t y p e s o f g o v e r n m e n t w a s t h e m o n a r c h y . T h i s t y p e o f g o v e r n m e n t i n v o l v e s t h e r u l e b y o n e p e r s o n ( m a n ) t h r o u g h d i v i n e r i g h t ( G o d s r u l e ) . T h e p o w e r i n t h i s t y p e o f g o v e r n m e n t i s p a s s e d t h r o u g h h e r e d i t y .

4. T h i s t y p e o f g o v e r n m e n t w a s n o t t r u l y i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e p e o p l e . A s a r e s u l t i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s ; E n g l a n d ( 1 2 1 5 ) , F r a n c e ( 1 7 8 9 ) , R u s s i a ( 1 9 1 7 ) , a n e w t y p e o f g o v e r n m e n t d e v e l o p e d - D e m o c r a c y ( r u l e b y t h e p e o p l e ) . T h e r e a r e t w o m a i n t y p e s o f d e m o c r a c y : 1. D i r e c t - w h e n e v e r y p e r s o n p l a y s a n a c t i v e p a r t i n t h e d e c i s i o n m a k i n g p r o c e s s . 2. I n d i r e c t - w h e n a g r o u p o f p e o p l e e l e c t s o n e p e r s o n t o r e p r e s e n t t h e m i n g o v e r n m e n t

5. I n C a n a d a w e h a v e a s y s t e m o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d e m o c r a c y t h a t p r o v i d e s a n e f f i c i e n t a n d e f f e c t i v e m e c h a n i s m f o r r u n n i n g t h e c o u n t r y T h e g o v e r n m e n t i n C a n a d a p r o t e c t s i n d i v i d u a l r i g h t s a n d f r e e d o m s , m a i n t a i n s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , a n d d e a l s w i t h o t h e r c o u n t r i e s .

6. The Purpose of Government G o v e r n m e n t i s a n o r g a n i z e d s y s t e m o f d e c i s i o n m a k i n g t h a t g i v e s i n d i v i d u a l s a n d a n a t i o n a s a w h o l e a s e n s e o f o r d e r a n d s e c u r i t y . T h e g o v e r n m e n t m a k e s l a w s a n d c a r r i e s t h e m o u t . I t a l l o w s p e o p l e t o m a i n t a i n t h e i r s e n s e o f i n d i v i d u a l f r e e d o m .

7. The Constitution of Canada O u r s e t o f r u l e s f o r v a r i o u s l e v e l s o f g o v e r n m e n t t o f o l l o w i n d e c i s i o n m a k i n g . O u r C o n s t i t u t i o n c o n t a i n s a w r i t t e n a n d u n w r i t t e n p a r t . T h e u n w r i t t e n c o n s t i t u t i o n i s b a s e d o n t r a d i t i o n s f r o m t h e p a s t . M o s t o f t h e s e t r a d i t i o n s a r e b a s e d o n t h e B r i t i s h p a t t e r n o f p a r l i a m e n t a r y g o v e r n m e n t .

8. Our Constitution T h e r e a r e 3 m a i n p a r t s t o t h e w r i t t e n c o m p o n e n t o f o u r c o n s t i t u t i o n . 1. T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n A c t 1 8 6 7 . T h i s d e s c r i b e s t h e a u t h o r i t y , p a r t s , a n d f u n c t i o n s o f p a r l i a m e n t . 2. T h e C h a r t e r o f R i g h t s a n d F r e e d o m s . T h i s d e s c r i b e s t h e b a s i c r i g h t s a n d f r e e d o m s a l l C a n a d i a n s h a v e . 3. T h e A m e n d i n g F o r m u l a . T h i s s e t s o u t w a y s t h a t t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n c a n b e c h a n g e d .

10. Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau signing the Constitution on April 17, 1982.

11. Constitutional Monarchy O u r C o n s t i t u t i o n a l M o n a r c h i s Q u e e n E l i z a b e t h I I . T h e M o n a r c h i s c u r r e n t l y t h e h e a d o f o u r s t a t e . T h e y h a v e l i t t l e o r n o p o w e r , b u t p e r f o r m m o r e o f a s y m b o l i c r o l e . T h e y a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a p p o i n t i n g t h e G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l . T h e G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r e p r e s e n t i n g C a n a d a i n m a n y s i t u a t i o n s . Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michalle Jean

12. The Governor General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Canadian parliament. The Governor Generals responsibilities include: the opening of parliament 1. Giving royal assent to laws. 2. Greeting officials 3. Giving out awards The Governor Generals role is purely symbolic

13. The Party System A common set of beliefs is called an ideology . Political parties may be active through all levels of government. They can choose how active they are and at what level. A political party is a group of people that represent the citizens of Canada at a Federal level. They have common beliefs and ideas and plans of how to govern.

14. Leader of the Liberal Party Leader of the Conservative Party Stephane Dion Stephen Harper

15. Leader of the Bloc Qubcois Party Leader of the NDP Party Gilles Duceppe Jack Layton

16. Representative Democracy Canada is a Democracy . This means that the people govern the nation. Individual citizens give their power to an elected representative who acts on their behalf. By voting we choose who will best represent our beliefs and interests. The elected representative is accountable to the voter.

17. The Federal System A system of government that is responsible for handling decisions made on behalf of all Canadian Citizens. A federal system was created in order to assure the equality among provinces and also to create a consistent national policy followed by all Canadians.

18. Levels of Government

22. Structure of Federal Government

23. The Executive Branch T h e e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h o f C a n a d a i s c o m p o s e d o f t h r e e e l e m e n t s - t h e s y m b o l i c , p o l i t i c a l , a n d p e r m a n e n t - t h a t w o r k t o g e t h e r a s t h e g o v e r n m e n t . T h e s y m b o l i c e x e c u t i v e i s c o m p o s e d o f t h e Q u e e n , w h o i s t h e l e g a l h e a d o f s t a t e o f C a n a d a , a n d h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , w h o f u l f i l l t h e m o n a r c h ' s d a i l y d u t i e s i n C a n a d a .

24. T h e p o l i t i c a l e x e c u t i v e i s t h e l e a d i n g e l e m e n t o f t h e e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h . T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r i s t h e h e a d o f g o v e r n m e n t . T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e i r C a b i n e t . T h e p e r m a n e n t e x e c u t i v e i s t h e b o d y o f p r o f e s s i o n a l c i v i l s e r v a n t s w h o m a n a g e a n d a d m i n i s t e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s p o l i c i e s .

25. T h e e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h h a s t w o d i s t i n c t r o l e s t o p l a y i n g o v e r n i n g t h e c o u n t r y : t o d e c i d e o n t h e n e e d f o r n e w l a w s a n d t o i n t r o d u c e n e w l a w s t o e n f o r c e a l a w o n c e i t i s p a s s e d Can. Fed. Cabinet Feb 06

26. The Legislative Branch T h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s i s w h e r e c r i t i c a l i s s u e s o f C a n a d a a r e d e b a t e d . I t i s t h e l a w m a k i n g b o d y i n C a n a d a

28. T h e S e n a t e s t u d i e s , a m e n d s a n d e i t h e r r e j e c t s o r a p p r o v e s b i l l s p a s s e d b y t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s . I t c a n a l s o i n t r o d u c e i t s o w n b i l l s , e x c e p t t h o s e t o s p e n d p u b l i c m o n e y o r i m p o s e t a x e s . N o b i l l c a n b e c o m e l a w u n t i l i t h a s b e e n p a s s e d b y t h e S e n a t e . The Senate The Senate

29. Canadian Senators

30. The Judicial Branch T h e J u d i c i a l b r a n c h o f g o v e r n m e n t c o n s i s t s o f t h e S u p r e m e C o u r t a n d t h e f e d e r a l j u d g e s o f C a n a d a . T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t o f C a n a d a i s t h e h i g h e s t c o u r t i n o u r n a t i o n . I t i n t e r p r e t s t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e l a w s a n d o u r c o n s t i t u t i o n , a n d i t a c t s a s a c o u r t o f l a s t a p p e a l . T h e m e m b e r s o f t h e S u p r e m e c o u r t a r e a p p o i n t e d b y P a r l i a m e n t .

31. Structure of the Judicial Branch

32. Provincial Governments Executive Branch Modeled after the federal system, this branch holds the positions of Lieutenant Governor, Premier, Cabinet, and Public Service Provincial Executive Cabinet Lieutenant Governor Public Service Premier

33. Provincial Governments Legislative Branch Modeled after the House of Commons. Provincial bills become law the same way Federal ones do. However there is no Provincial Senate.

34. Provincial Governments The Judicial Branch Provincial courts exist to settle disputes and to try those charged with breaking laws. Each province has a Supreme Court.

35. Local Government Like the provincial and federal governments the municipalities are broken into executive and legislative branches of government. Local governments do not have a judicial branch. The mayor, councilors, and alderpersons are all elected representatives and are accountable to those who elect them. Stephen Mandel Mayor City of Edmonton

36. DIVISION OF POWERS: FEDERAL, PROVINCIAL, AND MUNICIPAL Federal Powers Defence Regulation of trade and commerce Citizenship Taxation Currency and coins Native peoples and Native reserves Postal service Patents and copyrights Marriage and divorce Navigation and shipping Fisheries Criminal law and federal penitentiaries

37. Provincial Powers Education Hospitals and charities Licences (e.g., driving and fishing) Private property and civil law Direct taxation (e.g., income tax and sales tax) Management of natural resources (e.g., rests and electrical energy) Local public works (e.g., roads and canals) Courts and the administration of justice Local (municipal) government

38. Municipal Powers Water and sewer service Public transit Fire and police protection and ambulance service Licensing and inspection (e.g., houses) Street lights, sidewalks, and local roads Public health services Recreation facilities Libraries Animal Control

39. Interest Groups A n i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n t h e d e m o c r a t i c p r o c e s s i n C a n a d a , i s d o n e b y t h e w o k o f i n t e r e s t g r o u p s . W h e n a n u m b e r o f p e o p l e h a v e a s h a r e d c o n c e r n , t h e y c a n f o r m a n i n t e r e s t g r o u p . I n t e r e s t g r o u p s r a i s e m o n e y t o p a y f o r a d v e r t i s i n g t o m a k e t h e p u b l i c a w a r e o f t h e i r c o n c e r n s . T h e y a l s o e m p l o y p e o p l e t o p u t p r e s s u r e o n p o l i t i c i a n s t o b r i n g a b o u t c h a n g e s .

40. T h e t a c t i c o f p r e s s u r i n g p o l i t i c i a n s i s c a l l e d L O B B Y I N G . T h e g o a l s o f a n i n t e r e s t g r o u p , i s t o g e t t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o m a k e n e w l a w s t o i m p r o v e t h e i r s i t u a t i o n . A n e x a m p l e o f a n i n t e r e s t g r o u p i s P . A . I . D . W h i c h s t a n d f o r P e o p l e A g a i n s t I m p a i r e d D r i v i n g I t i s t h e g o a l o f t h i s i n t e r e s t g r o u p t o m a k e t h e p u b l i c a w a r e o f t h e p r o b l e m s c a u s e d b y d r i v e r s a n d t o c o n v i n c e p o l i t i c i a n s t o c r e a t e l a w s t o l e s s e n t h e p r o b l e m .

41. Chapter 9- The Structure of Canadas Government Do Activity Sheet 9-1 Know the diagrams (structure/organization of government; how a bill becomes law, etc.) Know your politicians (current PM, MP, MLA, GG, LG, Mayor, etc.) Do Text Activities: -Page 226-#s1-6 -Page 231-#s 1-3 -Page 240-#s 1-5 -Page 246-#s 1-4

42. Chapter 10- The Citizen & Government Do Activity 10-1 using 2011 election results Know Election Process, Political Parties, & Ideologies Do Text Activities: -Page 253-#s 1-5 -Page 258- #s 1-4 -Page 264- #s 1-4 -Page 267- #s 1-3

43. Chapter 11- Canadas Legal System Do Activities 11.1 & 11.2 Know the Court Diagrams Do Text Activities: -Page 273- #s 1-3 -Page 275- #s 1-3 -Page 280- #s 1-3 -Page 288- #s 1-4 -Page 290- #s 1-3

44. Chapter 12- The Era of Human Rights Do Activities 12.1-12.2 Do Text Activities: -Page 297- #s 1-3 -Page 300- #s 1-3 -Page 304- #s 1-3 -Page 306- #s 1-2 -Page 308- #s 1-5 -Page 312- #s 1-3