POWERand

DEMOCRACY

Canadian Government

Government:

A body of people with the power to make decisions for society with intent to bring a sense of order and security.

The political system provides the way to make and enforce rules and decisions in a society. Political systems are fueled by power - the power to decide who will govern and how a society will be governed.

WHAT IS POWER?• Every society needs a political system a

system of government. The government influences our lives daily - from speed limits to taxes, from schools to family allowance, government touches almost every aspect of your life.

• Governments have this influence through its power to:

• Make laws• Interpret laws• Enforce laws

No matter what the type, all political systems are organized to achieve the same goal:

– to resolve the fundamental political problem of who shall govern.

– Who shall make decisions? – Who shall have power?

Power is the currency of the political system just as money is in the economic system. Political power is basically the power to make and implement decisions for a society.

Types of Power

AUTHORITY

• Is the formal exercise of power. People voluntarily comply because government is seen to have the right to make decision

INFLUENCE

• is the power of persuasion. People comply with decisions because they have been convinced to by governments effective use of rational or emotional appeal.

COERCION• is the power to impose negative consequences. People comply with decisions because of governments ability to punish noncompliance.

• In democracies the governments use of coercion is limited by a constitution. A constitution is a document, or a series of precedents and understandings, that clearly defines the rules by which a society is to be governed.

THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION

On April 17, 1982, in a public ceremony on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the Canada Act, the new constitution of Canada. The basic document is still the former British North America Act, 1867, now renamed the Constitution Act, 1982. This act set down the framework for the parliamentary system in Canada. It also spelled out the powers of the federal and provincial governments.

The Canada Act includes an important addition to the constitution. This is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Because the constitution is now the supreme law in Canada, the existence of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has already resulted in sections of certain laws being challenged in courts. Some have been declared unconstitutional. Our law-makers must now consider the Charter carefully when drafting new legislation, since all Canadian laws must be in conformity with the constitution.

• When a society is built on democratic principles, the purpose of the constitution is to guarantee the rule of law rather than rule by people.

– This means that even government must obey the laws a society has made for itself.

• Laws are made to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals from other individuals and from government.

• The decisions taken by government are communicated to its people as a network of laws, rules, and regulations.

• One of the most important functions of a constitution is to identify who has the power to make, interpret, and enforce laws.

• This power is shared by the three branches of government.

DEMOCRACY

What Is Democracy?• To you this may seem a

simple question with a simple answer. After all, you live in a democracy.

• But almost every government in the world today calls itself a democracy. This includes China a country whose democratic nature is questionable.

• How can such a country call itself a democracy?

• When a society is committed to an ideology based on individual freedom, it organizes the political system in a democratic manner.

• The theory of democracy forms a common foundation for all democracies. However, each society practices democracy in a unique way because no two societies are the same. Political power is achieved, exercised, and maintained in different ways by different societies.

• Putting democratic theory into practice is a challenge that may not always be met.

• One of the best known and most widely accepted definitions of democracy comes from the great American president Abraham Lincoln.

• He defined democracy as:

• "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people"

• One-party dictatorships like China believe that only they can identify and govern in the best interests of the people.

• They proclaim themselves democracies because they are governments for the people.

• This is a narrow interpretation of Lincoln's definition, but it is used by many countries today.

Levels of Government

Canada has a federal system (more than one level)

Three levels of government:

Federal

Provincial

Municipal

Canada’s Federal Government

The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch The Judicial Branch

•Propose most laws•Puts laws into action•Runs the day-to-day business of government

•Makes laws•Represents the interests and rights of Canada’s regions

•Applies and interprets laws

Crown

Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch

Prime Minister

Cabinet

House of Commons

House ofSenate

Governor General

Supreme CourtOf Canada

Federal Courts

Provincial Courts

What is a seat?

What is a constituency?

What is the title given to all representatives in parliament?

What is parliament?

In what part of the parliament building would I find my seat if I was elected?

What is the name of the constituency in which you live?

Who is YOUR MP??

To what party does your MP belong?

What is a political party?

CrownThe Queen of Great Britain is the symbolic head of the Canadian government

Her role is traditional only!!

She does not make decisions for Canada.

Governor General

- Appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister

- 5 year term

- Signs federal bills into laws

- Hosts important foreign visitors

- Is the Queen’s representative in her absence

Right Honourable David Johnston

Prime Minister & His Cabinet

- The real power lies with the PM and his cabinet

Prime Minister

Head of Canada’s government

To become PM you must:

- be elected as leader of your party

- be elected as a member of parliament- your party must win the most seats in the house of commons

The Right Honorable Stephen Harper

The Cabinet

- Hand selected by the PM

- Approximately 30 people

- Are MP’s OR senators

- Responsible for various gov’t departments or ministries

- Are called cabinet ministers

- Attend cabinet meetings

The PM and his cabinet propose most of the ideas that become laws!!!

* **They run the day to day business of government ex. Minister of Environment and his staff keep track of air pollution

*

The Honourable Peter KentMinister of the EnvironmentMember of Parliament for Thornhill (Ontario)

Peter MacKayMinister of National Defence

LEGISLATIVE POWER

• This is the power to make laws.

• Generally, the legislature is composed of individuals chosen to represent the wishes of the people.

Canada: Members of Parliament MP

United States: House of Representatives and the Senate = Congress

Legislative Branch Crown

Governor General

House of Commons House of SenateHouse of SenateHouse of Commons

The elected representatives from each of the 308 constituencies across Canada come to take their seats in the House of Commons

They are referred to as Members of Parliament.

The main job of the MP’s is to debate, study and vote on bills.

They meet at least once a year to debate issues they feel are important to Canadians

An MP who is NOT selected as a cabinet minister is called a backbencher.

Role of the Member of Parliament

- Being a legislator

- Being a voice of your constituents

What is party solidarity?

Special Roles in Parliament

Speaker of the House

Party Whip

House Leader

60% Liberal

20% Conservative

4% NDP

16% Bloc Quebecois

45% Conservative

30% Liberal

NDP 5%

20% Bloc Quebecois

Diagram “A” Diagram “B”

Who forms the government???

Fusion Powers

Canada is said to have a fusion of powers because the executive is also part of the Legislative Branch

The Prime Minister and cabinet ministers represent constituencies and can vote on laws

How do we get a Federal Government

•General election is called

•Parties nominate candidates in each of the 308 constituencies

•Candidates campaign

•All eligible citizens can cast 1 vote for a candidate in their constituency

•Candidate with the most votes is proclaimed the Member of parliament for that constituency

The Senate of Canada

What is the Senate?

The senate is an essential part of Parliament. It is the “Upper house” of Parliament and serves as the “sober second thought” of the legislative branch.

What does the Senate do?The senate helps make the laws that we live by. The Senate carefully examines bills to make certain they are the best they can be. Changes are suggested to improve them, and some bills may even be rejected. The Senate may also introduce bills, but that is mostly done in the House of Commons.

Who are Senators?

• Senators are men and women from all over Canada. They come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and this variety of experiences gives them a better understanding of the people they are meant to represent and the problems that Parliament may try to resolve.

What is a day in the life of a Senator?Senators are busy and on any given day they may:• discuss and debate important issues in the Senate chamber• meet with the people they represent• work with office staff• go to committee meetings• submit bills to make laws• answer reporters’ questions• help people solve problems dealing with government• give speeches• represent Canada around the world• Senators work on committees to investigate important issues including

children’s rights, literacy, poverty and terrorism. They represent people whose rights may have been overlooked and give them a chance to have their concerns be heard.

What happens in the senate chamber?

• The Senate Chamber is where senators meet when Parliament is in session.

• They gather to discuss committee reports, debate important issues and to pass laws.

• During question period, senators can ask the leader of the government in the Senate about how the country is being run.

• The Opening of Parliament, the Speech from the Throne and other important ceremonies take place in the Senate.

The Judicial Branch of Canada

What is the Judicial Branch?• The judicial branch

includes Canada’s court system.

• The Supreme Court of Canada is the “highest” court in Canada.

• The judicial branch is separate from the other branches of government because it acts as a system of checks and balances on their powers.

• This is known as SEPARATION OF POWERS

What does the Judicial Branch do?• The Judicial Branch interprets and

applies the laws that are made by the legislative branch.

• It is their job to make sure that no laws in Canada violate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

• It is also their job to make sure that the legislative branch doesn’t become too powerful and become a dictatorship.

Who becomes a Supreme Court Justice?

• There are nine judges in the Supreme Court of Canada.

• They come from 4 regions of Canada (Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada, and Maritimes)

• The judges are appointed by the PM and Cabinet, and they then go through a review committee of other MP’s. However, the PM still has the power to appoint a judge.