civics

• Types of government


  • Authoritarian
  • Democratic
• Authoritarian


  • Centralization of power
  • Centralized control by government
  • Power concentrated in hands of single ruler or small elite group
  • Control of military, economic, and administrative capabilities
  • Decisive governance but at expense of individual freedoms and societal input
• Types of authoritarian governments


  • Dictatorships
  • Monarchy
  • Oligarchy
  • Theocracy
  • Plutocracy
  • Timocracy
  • Aristocracy
• Dictatorship


  One leader holds absolute power, above any laws or constitution
• Monarchy


  • No criteria other than birth to rule, based on tradition
  • Constitutional monarchy: government and monarchy share power
• Oligarchy


  Small group of people have all the power
• Theocracy


  Ruled by religious few
• Plutocracy


  Ruled by wealthy few
• Timocracy


  Ruled by most intelligent
• Aristocracy


  Privileged class rules, considered best citizens based on birth, intelligence, culture, or wealth
• Divine Right of Kings

  Belief that rulers derive authority directly from God, justifies absolute power and unchallenged authority
• Medieval Class System


  • God
  • King
  • Nobility (Lords, Dukes, Barons)
  • Knights
  • Peasants
• Magna Carta signed


  June 15, 1215
• Magna Carta

  • First written constitution, divided power from King and gave some to Nobility, protected Nobility from arbitrary tax increases, first step towards true citizenship, precursor to Rule of Law
• Rule of Law


  No one was above the law
• Incumbent


  Running for a position while holding a position
• Referendum


  Direct vote (e.g. 1980 Québec vote on independence)
• Ancient Athens' democracy


  • Direct democracy (citizens directly participated in decision-making)
  • Citizenship (only free male citizens born in Athens with military training had political rights)
  • Ostracism (banishing prominent figures deemed threats to democracy)
  • Juries and courts (large juries of randomly selected citizens as judges)
  • Public office (filled by lottery rather than election)
• Challenges to ancient Greek democracy

  • Exclusion of women, slaves, and foreigners
  • Political instability
  • Demagoguery (manipulation by charismatic leaders)
  • Imperfections and injustices
• John Locke


  Believed people were basically good, favored democratic government
• Thomas Hobbes


  Believed people were destructive, favored authoritarian government, saw life as cruel and sad
• Obstacles to democracy


  • Large gap between rich and poor
  • Lack of middle class
  • Low literacy rate
  • Lack of basic education
  • Lack of free press
  • Ethnic differences and conflicts
• Formula for democracy: 1/2 population literate + free press + 1-2 generations of ideals
• Direct democracy


  People vote directly in political affairs
• Indirect democracy


  People vote on representatives to represent them in political affairs
• Parliamentary system


  Party or coalition with greatest representation in parliament forms government, leader becomes prime minister or chancellor
• Democratic governments meet the needs of citizens better due to increased opportunities for citizens to rule their own lives and influence government
• Authoritarian governments


  • North Korea
  • Egypt
• Democratic governments


  • Japan
  • U.S.
• Democratic government


  Shared power but inefficient, balance between government and citizens
• Authoritarian government


  Efficient but total control of state, more prone to corruption and cruel treatment
• Common good


  • What will make most people feel safe, secure, and happy
  • Anything that benefits and is naturally shared by all members of a given community
• Government working for the common good

  • Trying to create laws and policies that are beneficial to the community as a whole
  • Ideally, a common good benefits everyone equally
• Examples of common good


  • Social justice
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Human rights
• When common good conflicts with individual rights

  3 examples
• Citizenship


  • People are citizens of a country either by birth or by choice
  • Common values link people together
  • Sense of belonging determines how much we participate in society
  • Common backgrounds (no diversity) + shared values (diversity) connect people
  • Legally a citizen is a person who has fulfilled the requirements of citizenship and is an official member of a country
  • Citizens belong to their country, but a country also belongs to its citizens
  • Ideally, the relationship is mutually beneficial
• Active citizenship


  • Active citizens are informed, engaged, and participate in their communities
  • Active citizens have civic awareness, civic understanding, civic commitment, civic action
• Responsibility


  • A duty, obligation, or an expectation of how you should act
  • It is the responsibility of all Canadians to respect and follow the rules outlined in the Constitution
  • Responsibilities are not set out by laws, but are duties citizens agree to fulfill
  • Citizenship is based on the understanding that with rights come responsibilities
  • Fulfilling those responsibilities is for everyone's benefit