Why Do We Need Government? ? Ideologies: Chapter 3: The Ideals of Democracy Case Study 1: Democratic...
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Why Do We Need Government? ? Ideologies: Chapter 3: The Ideals of Democracy Case Study 1: Democratic Institution s in Canada and the US Case Study 2:
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Transcript of Why Do We Need Government? ? Ideologies: Chapter 3: The Ideals of Democracy Case Study 1: Democratic...
Why Do We Need Government?
? Ideologies:
Chapter 3: The Ideals of Democracy
Case Study 1: Democratic Institutions in Canada and the US
Case Study 2: Democracy in Sweden
THOMAS HOBBES(1588-1679)
“Leviathan”
• Individuals are innately selfish and see other people only as a means for their own advancement.
• Government is required to provide security.
• People accept it to avoid war.
• Force, or the threat of force is required to maintain the existence of
government. (order & security)
• Individuals must surrender all rights to govern themselves to an authority (leviathan).
• Complete obedience is required. Resistance to authority is never justified.
JOHN LOCKE(1632-1704)
“Two Treatises of Civil Government”
• Was optimistic of man that they would be reasonable and cooperate with each other.
• Govt. was established for law & order (interest of the people).
• Social Contract: government holds power with permission of citizens.
• If ruler was a tyrant and broke the contract people had the right to rebel. (Govt. must protect natural rights)
Charter of Rights (Canada)
Bill of Rights (USA)
Periodic elections
LOCKE’S“SOCIAL CONTRACT”
JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU(1712-1778)“Social Contract”
• Human nature basically good but society corrupts people.(noble savage)
• All people should be equal (egalitarianism) and all rank should be abolished. (against private property)
• People give up some freedom for the “General Will”. (Common Good)
• Individuals must be forced to submit (conform) to the authority that represents the “general will” of the people.
Equality before law in democracy
Rule of majority
Individual Freedom VS. Group Welfare
How much power should the state have over the individual?
How do you achieve the proper balance between public order and
individual freedom?
Are there circumstances under which citizens are justified in disobeying the law, or in using violence to achieve
their goals?
Extreme Left Left Centre Right Extreme Right
LIBERAL
(Democracy)
CONSERVATIVE
(Democracy)SOCIALISM
(Democratic Socialism)
RADICAL
(Communism)
REACTIONARY
(Facism)
BASED ON CHANGE
Types of Political Systems
ANARCHY
• A society without government or law. Based on faith in the individual.
ARISTOCRACY
• A state ruled by a privileged class (determined by birth or wealth).
DEMOCRACY
A government with supreme power vested in the people and exercised by them or their elected agents.
DESPOTISM
• A system of government in which unlimited power is held by one person, a monarch ruling without restriction.
DICTATORSHIP
• A form of government in which one person or a small group has absolute power, without effective constitutional limitation.
MAJORITY TYRANNY
• A system in which the majority rule without respect for the rights of minority groups
MONARCHY
• A government in which power is vested in a king or emperor who can pass power on to his or her heirs.
OLIGARCHY
• A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or clique have power.
PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY
• A system with a king or queen as head of state, but real political power in the hands of elected officials who must obey codified and/or common law.
PLUTOCRACY
• A political system in which the government is controlled by the wealthy class.
REPUBLIC
• A type of democracy in which the citizens are represented and governed by people elected in fair and competitive elections.
TOTALITARIANISM
• Centralized government with absolute power in the hands of one political party or group, the activities of citizens are regulated and closely monitored
Extreme Left Left Centre Right Extreme Right
LIBERAL
(Democracy)
CONSERVATIVE
(Democracy)SOCIALISM
(Democratic Socialism)
RADICAL
(Communism)
REACTIONARY
(Facism)
BASED ON CHANGE
CONSERVATIVE
• “The problem with society today is that young people don’t go to church anymore. They are not being exposed to good moral values.”
RADICAL
• “People say life is getting better, but you look at the stats. Life is only getting better for the rich and powerful people who control business and government. The average Joe is actually getting poorer. And you know the rich fat cats control the elections so you can forget about voting them out of power. No, I’m afraid the only way we are going to get real change anytime soon is to rise up, storm the parliament and take control. That’s the only way the common man is going to improve his lot in life.”
LIBERAL
• “Who do these people think they are, telling me I should get married and have children. I have a career. I have a life for myself. I don’t need to have a husband and kids to justify my existence. If that’s the life they want, that’s fine, so long as they don’t try and force me to fit into their picture of what life should be like.”
REACTIONARY
• “Here in this country we used to have a society where people were taken care of. People had jobs. People had food. People had purpose. Since the revolution, rather than the prosperity that was promised, we’ve seen nothing but hardship for everyone except the elite few in power. It’s time we rallied the commanders of our once great army, and encouraged them to overthrow the government while we can still reclaim what we have lost.”
demosdemos (people) + (people) + kratiakratia (government) = democracy (government) = democracy
Historical Overview• Democracy originated in Athens, Greece during the 5th
century B.C..• Reserved for male adult citizens (15-20% of adult
population)• Athens considered a direct democracy
– Every eligible citizen has a moral responsibility and duty to participate in politics.
• Government “by a few” (oligarchy) grew out this democratic ideal.– Frequent meetings called not all could attend.
• Democracy ended by 300 BC in Athens and did not reappear as a form of government until the 1800’s.
TWO TYPES OF DEMOCRACIES
Direct Democracy• All citizens vote on every issue.(Athens)
• Still have examples of direct democracy in Canada today.– Referendum/Plebiscite
• Citizens elect people to represent them in government and to make decisions on their behalf.
• The representatives decide whether to represent the voters opinions/their parties views or their own.
• The party system provides the voter with alternative policies or opinions to choose from.
REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
• Democratic procedures such as a recalls, referendums, and plebiscites provide the citizen with more control over their representatives.
X
Pros• Opinion polls/talk
shows/internet give instant feedback
Cons• Bureaucracy makes
govt. slow.
EXECUTIVE JUDICIAL
LEGISLATIVE
CABINET
Democracy
Representative democracy
Responsible government
Constitutional monarchy
Federal system
Parliamentary System of Government
Government of Canada (Federal)
MONARCH
GOVERNOR GENERAL•Represents queen (Michaëlle Jean )•Head of state•5 year term (appointed)
•Royal assentParty system
•$97 375 per yearWritten and unwritten constitution
• Speech from the throne
EXECUTIVE
CABINET PRIME MINISTER
PARLIAMENT
• Ministers who determine govt. policy•Ie. Minister of Finance.
Minister of Defense
•Stephan Harper (M.P.)
•Head of Government
•5 year term
•Carry out laws
•$195 000
•$118 000
Fusion of power
•When members of the exe. Branch also belong to the leg. branch.
House of Commons Senate
• Patronage• Caucus
LEGISLATIVE
PARLIAMENTHouse of Commons Senate•308 M.P.’s•Each represent a constituency•Rep. by Pop.•Elected 5 yr. Term ($68 000)
•105 senators•Rep. by region•Appointed by P.M.
•Appointed for life (75 years)($68 000)
Bicameral
•2 house law making system
Vote of Non-Confidence
•When govt. bill is defeated in parliament the govt. must resign.
•Make laws
ELECTORATE•Must be 18 yrs. of age
•Must be a Canadian citizen.
•Parties in Canada must have Party solidarity.
Senate Reform
•Triple E
•Equal
•Elected
•Effective
JUDICIAL
Supreme Court of Canada
•Interprets law
Miscellaneous
• notwithstanding clause
• residual powers
ELECTIONS
• When Canadian Federal elections are held (5 yrs) each party is allowed to run one candidate in each constituency.– Elections Canada (Chief Electoral Officer)
– 308 constituencies (based on population)
• Only one person from the riding will become M.P. (member of Parliament)– This is called single member plurality. (single member
constituency)
Liberals
158 seats Conservative
100 seats
Bloc
40 seats
NDP
10 seats
Government
158 seats
Opposition
150 seats
308 seats in Total
A majority government is one in which the party in power has more than half the seats in the House of
Commons
Conservatives
135 seats Liberals
94 seats
Bloc
55 seats
NDP
23 seats
Government
135 seats
Opposition
173 seats
308 seats in Total
A minority government is one in which the party in power holds the most seats, but less than all other
parties combined.
Other
1 seat
Liberals
135 seats Conservative
92 seats
Bloc
55 seats
NDP
26 seats
Government
161 seats
Opposition
147 seats
308 seats in Total
A coalition government is one in which a minority government convinces one of the opposition parties to
join them in power.
Stephen Harper
“Prime Minister”
Michael Ignatieff
Jack Layton
The Government of the United States
Head of State
PresidentChief of the Armed Forces
•Presidential system•Republic
•Federal System
•Written constitution (1787)
Executive Branch
President
Cabinet Secretaries
•Not a member of Congress•Holds office for 4 years, maximum 2 terms•Elected with a Vice-President•Appoints Cabinet secretaries, Ambassadors, Judges (Senate Approval)•Presidential election held on set date every 4 years. (Tuesday after first Monday in Nov.)
•Appointed by President with approval by Senate.•If a member of Congress he/she must resign from elected seat.•No need to practice party solidarity. (no vote of non-confidence)
Legislative BranchCongress
House of Representatives The Senate
•435 members
•2 year term
•Rep. by pop.
•Originate all money($) bills
•Two members from each State
•Elected for a 6 year term 1/3 seeking re-election every 2 years.
•Has the power to confirm or reject major appointments made by president.
•Can initiate legislation except for revenue bills.
•Has a system of separation of powers.
•Executive branch not members of legislative branch
•Legislative branch is bicameral
•Constitutional change by 2/3 vote of Congress
Judicial Branch
•The Supreme Court of the United States
•Each state deals with it’s own criminal law.
Electorate•18 yrs. old
•American Citizen
George W. Bush
Dick Cheney2000-2008
Republicans
Current US Administration: Democrats
Barack Obama
President
Joe Biden
Vice-President
