Chapter 1 (grade 9): How effectively does Canada's federal political system govern Canada for all Canadians
structure of Canada's federal political system
How laws become laws
Media connecting Canadians to government
Lobbyists
the news connecting people to what goes on in the government
reporters: being able to find information and share it with the public
Canada constitution
the Federal Accountability act
work to influence MPs and government about specific viewpoints
Monarch of Canada: represented by governor general, King/queen is the statue head
executive branch
legislative branch
puts laws into action
represents regions
runs business of government
proposed most laws
makes laws
the judicial branch
supreme court (provincial/ territorial court) highest court in Canada
applies and interprets laws
Prime minister and the cabinet
Members of cabinet are called cabinet ministers
PM choses the cabinet ministers
cabinet included people from different government departments with different skills and responsibilities
Cabinet proposes most ideas that become laws
prime minister is the head of government. To be PM you must be elected as a political part leader and win the most seats
PM and cabinet run day to day business and keep track of ideas and solutions
Political party: a group of people with similar ideas about how issues facing society should be controlled by government. In election candidates of each party seek to become part of government
House of Commons, Senate, governor general
HOUSE OF COMMONS: major law making building in Canadas federal (national) government
SENATE: members of the Canadian senate (senators)
appointed by prime minister and can remain in office until 75
represent interests of Canadian REGIONS and MINORITIES
MPs (members of parliament) are part of the HOC and are elected. They represent a ridding or district
MPs usually belong to political parties and the one with most MPs makes government
members of house of commons debate, study, and vote on bills
everything in legislative branch is in English and French
all proceedings in French and English
gives a "sober second thought" to bills being passed to give different perspectives
CAN NOT propose laws that have to do with TAXES
BILLS only become laws after senate and house of commons pass it
GOVERNOR GENERAL: represents the monarch of Brittan. The queen is like a head figure.
in legislative and executive branches
deliver speeches as head of state
gives the ORDER OF CANADA
JUDJES:
come from legal profession
supreme court has final word on all decisions
has the main responsible to PROTECT AND RESPECT CANADAS RIGHTS
persuasive communism
how to persuade people (techniques)
support idea with evidence
Communicate idea in the best way possible (charts, pictures, etc...)
Know your audience: have there best interest in mind
Organize points (good point, better point, best point
state ideas
issues include:
accountable government spending
protection against people who blow the whistle against civil services
more information about lobbyists
Steps of the act:
SENATE:
HOUSE OF COMMONS
SENATE
first reading
second reading
study
accept #
committee stage: examine the bill in more depth
accept #
ammend
report stage
third reading
debate and vote on senate amendments
accept some #
accept all
reject all
debate and vote on house of commons decisions
reject #
Accept #
royal assent: passed by governor general and becomes law
voices of First nations, Inuit and Metis
BNA act saw them as responsibilities and where not given all rights
Parliamentary Press Galary
association of reporters (about 350) who report the decisions made in government
Bias: things written from only one perspective or viewpoint. Not always true.
everyone in Canada has the ability to know who these people are
voice issues