social studies ch5

• Government


  Brings order to our lives. Without government there would be chaos, no law, no order, no rules, no economy, no jails. Governments make important decisions that affect all of our lives.
• In Canada we have a democratic government
• Types of government


  • Democracy
  • Dictatorship/Fascism
  • Communism
  • Totalitarianism
  • Socialism
• Democracy


  Control of organization or group by the majority of its members
• Dictatorship/Fascism


  One who rules with absolute power
• Communism


  Everything and everyone is considered equal, people share in both the work and the profits. The idea is that no one is rich or poor.
• Totalitarianism


  Ruled by the state
• Socialism


  Believed that for the greatest good of the people, resources should be controlled by the people of the government
• The BNA ACT was the constitutional that established our country in 1867
• Constitution


  A set of rules for the government
• The constitution can't be changed, but it can be amended by a tad mounts of Votes
• Main parts of the constitution


  • Actual set of laws /the constitutional act in 1867
  • Charter of Rights and freedoms
  • Amording formalld
• Amending the constitution


  1. Approved by the federal government

  2. Approved by 7/10 provinces

  3. Provinces must make up at least half of Canada's population
• Canadian government


  Not just a democracy, can be described in 4 different ways
• 4 ways to describe Canadian government

  • Constitutional Monarchy
  • Federal system
  • Party system
  • Representative democracy
• Constitutional Monarchy


  Recognition of a king or queen as head of state, currently King Charles. The governor general is the King's Representative.
• Federal system


  Government is split into federal and provincial levels, with the federal government having more power and giving powers to the provinces
• Party system


  A political party is a group of people who have common beliefs, ideas and plans about governing
• Representative democracy


  Citizens give their individual power to elected officials who act on their behalf
• 3 branches of federal government

  • Executive branch
  • Legislative branch
  • Judicial branch
• Executive branch


  Consists of the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and Prime Minister's Office
• Legislative branch


  Parliament, composed of the Monarch, House of Commons, and Senate
• Judicial branch


  Consists of the Supreme Court of Canada and Federal Judges
• How a bill becomes law


  1. Cabinet minister has an idea for a bill

  2. Cabinet approves bill

  3. Bill introduced to House of Commons or Senate

  4. First, second, and third readings in Parliament (debates and votes)

  5. Bill passes House and Senate

  6. Governor General gives royal assent, bill becomes law
• Lieutenant Governor


  Representative of the Queen in the provincial government