Political and Economic Understandings of Canada

Standards:SS6CG3 The student will explain the structure of the national government of Canada. a. Describe the structure of the Canadian government as a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy, and a federation, distinguishing the role of the citizen in terms of voting and personal freedoms. SS6E1 The student will analyze different economic systems. a. Compare how traditional, command, and market, economies answer the economic questions of 1-what to produce, 2-how to produce, and 3-for whom to produce. b. Explain how most countries have a mixed economy located on a continuum between pure market and pure command. c. Compare and contrast the basic types of economic systems found in Canada, Cuba, and Brazil.

SS6E2 The student will give examples of how voluntary trade benefits buyers and sellers in Latin America and the Caribbean and Canada. a. Explain how specialization encourages trade between countries. b. Compare and contrast different types of trade barriers, such as tariffs, quotas, and embargos. c. Explain the functions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). d. Explain why international trade requires a system for exchanging currencies between nations. SS6E4. The student will explain personal money management choices in terms of income, spending, credit, saving, and investing.

Is a constitutional monarchy (has a king or queen)

A parliamentary democracyA federation of provincesCitizens elect members of

parliament who chose a prime minister

Canada’s Government

Canada has ten provinces and three territories.

Each province has a government that shares power with the national government.

The national government rules the three territories.

Provinces and Territories

Government

Canada’s national government has an executive, legislative, and judicial branch.

Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II serves as Canada’s monarch and the head of the executive branch.

But she has no real power. She appoints a governor-

general to represent her in Canada.

Prime Minister

The Canadian prime minister is the head of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons and acts as the head of Canada’s government.

Prime minister is David Cameron since May 11, 2010

The Canadian parliament serves as the nation’s legislative branch.

The Queen or her representative must approve all bills passed by parliament before they can become law.

Since the Queen’s role is mostly symbolic, such approval almost always happens.

Parliament

Canada’s courts male up the judicial branch.

The country has federal, provincial, and municipal (city) courts.

The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court.

It has nine judges, including one chief justice.

Courts

Canadian citizens have many freedoms and rights.

They also have a voice in their government because they get to vote in elections.

Citizens Rights

Canada had two official languages: English and French.

Citizens have the right to use either language when working with the government.

Canada also has laws protecting the rights of Native Americans.

Official Languages

Canada’s economy is a mixed economy. Much of the economy is a free market. However, the government also controls

some areas, like health care. Canada’s main economic industries include

agriculture, energy resources, foresting, manufacturing, and service industries.

Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest and most-developed nations.

Canada’s Economy

To encourage trade, nations sometimes join trade blocs.

A trade bloc forms when countries in the area of the world agree to reduce political trade barriers.

Trade blocs lead to free trade between nations. They are meant to provide economic growth. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

is an example of a trade bloc. It is an agreement between the United States,

Canada, and Mexico. NAFTA removed tariffs and increased trade between

these countries.

NAFTA

POP QUIZ

In which nation does a government worker have the right to communicate in French?

A.CubaB.CanadaC.MexicoD.Brazil

Question 1

When nations exchange goods, it is called?

A.International tariffB.International tradeC.International capitalD.Entrepreneurship

Question 2

A governor-general to the Queen of England serves in

A.CanadaB.MexicoC.BrazilD.Venezuela

Question 3

Canada’s relationship to the United Kingdom can best be described as

A.UncooperativeB.Closely associatedC.NonexistentD.Unfriendly

Question 4

When Canada sells goods to Mexico and the Unites States without having to pays tariffs, it is benefiting from

A.Natural trade barriersB.Political trade barriersC.Canadian importsD.NAFTA

Question 5

Which of the following describes a nation with a high GDP?

A.Command economyB.Socialist stateC.Entrepreneurship discouragedD.Large investments in capital goods

Questions 6

What answers the economic question “What to produce” in a market economy?

A.The stateB.The governmentC.Buyer demandD.Democracy

Question 7