Introduction to Democracy and Governance in Canada

It is a ruling body that runs the affairs of the country, province, city, town, or district. It is involved in almost every aspect of your daily life. Its purpose is to provide a sense of order and security in a country. It makes laws and sees that they are carried out. It is designed to work with citizens in a spirit of cooperation.

• Judicial system

• Monarchy

• Government

• The Politburo

This system of government divided the different responsibilities of government and delegated them to different levels of government.

• Federalism

• Minimalism

• Provincialism

• Direct Monarchy

This allows the First Nations to pass their own laws to develop, conserve, protect, manage and use their lands.

• The Indian Act

• Constitution

• Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• Self-Government

In Canada Electoral districts, also known as ridings or constituencies are small geographic areas of relatively similar numbers of people. Each of these ridings elects one person to represent them at government.

• Representative Democracy

• Monarchy

• Authoritarianism

• Tribunal

Canada is a ______________ monarchy. The Fathers of Confederation all agreed that they wanted to remain a monarchy. Both the French and British were accustomed to having kings and queens as rulers in their respective countries. Since Canada was under the British Crown at the time of Confederation, the Queen of England became the Queen of Canada. Therefore, the queen or king of England is also the queen or king of Canada.

• representative

• constitutional

• voting

• golly gosh darn

We use this system of government in Canada. ______________ system. Today, there are four major political parties in Canada: the Bloc Quebecois, the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party. Elections Canada, however, has many more official parties Canadians can support. This does not mean that the people who get elected sit around partying all the time. People vote for their favored political party.

• voting

• birth right

• natural selection

• party

The ________________ or the monarch is Canada’s head of state.

• Premier

• President

• Pope

• Queen

These are appointed by the prime minister for a term of approximately five years. Even though they represent the head of state in Canada and is the Commander in Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces, his/her role is largely symbolic.

• Governor General

• Attorney General

• Clown General

• Big man on campus

To be considered for appointment to the Senate, a person must:

• Be at least 30 years old

• A Canadian citizen

• Own $4000 worth of property in the province they represent.

• All of the above

This branch of the government can make, change, ore repeal (cancel) any federal law. It is made up of the monarchy, the House of Commons, and the Senate.

• Judiciary

• Executive

• Legislative

• none of the above