Law and Government
Terms
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- Speaker
-
-pnce parliament is formed, a speaker is elected
-this person only votes when there is a tie in the House
-acts as a referee between gov't members and opposition members. - Supreme Court
-
-highest and most powerful court in the U.S.
-has power to overturn decisions made in lower courts and to declare laws unconstitutional - notwithstanding clause
- -clause in the Canadian Constitution that allows Parliament or the legislature of a province to allow an act to stand even though it goes against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Governor General
- One who governs a large territory. Representative of the queen.
- Prime Minister
- The official head of a cabinet. Canada has a prime minister.
- Premier
- A prime minister.
- Senate
- The upper house of the U.S. government.
- House of Commons
- The lower house of parliament in the U.S.
- Bill
- A written plan for a new law, to be debated in Congress.
- Britsh North America Act (BNA)
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-1867
-Canada became own country with BNA Act
-new laws must be passed in England - Cabinet/Privy Council
-
-chosen by prime minister
-decide government policy
-have responsibility for particular departments of government. - Conservatism
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-conservatives
-don't like change
-freedom of the individual is important. - Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
-
-1982
-Canadian Constitution created out of BNA Act
-inside is Charter of Rights and....
-is basis for all law and governence in Canada. - Caucus/Caucus Meeting
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-members of each party meet
-discuss policies and bills being proposed
-held privately
-members voice their opinions. - Communism
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-governed by totalitarian government
-goods owned in common
-no private property
-doing everything for society, not for individual - Constitutional Monarchy
- -powers of ruler are restricted to those in constitution and laws of nation
- Dictatorship
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-one person rule
-ruler has total control
-absolute monarchs are also dictatorships. - Socialism
- A theory by which the means of protection and distribution are owned by society rather than by individuals.
- Capitalism
- Is a social system based on individual rights.
- Totalitarianism
- When the government demands total obedience from citizens and controls all aspects of society.
- Fascism
-
-totalitarian government
-one group has complete control
-individual freedom and liberty is eliminated - Pure Democracy
- A democracy in which the power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than their representatives.
- Representative Democracy
- Government in which people elect representatives who hold the decision making power.
- Monarchy
- A type of government in which a ruler, such as a king or queen, inherits his or her position.
- Meritocracy
- A system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement.
- Federalism
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-controlled by one central power or authority
-each state also has its own government and can make its own laws. - Free Vote
-
-prime minster declares "free vote"
-each member of governing party vote by their own opinion
-usually held around moral issues and bills - Legislative Assembly
-
-is like the "House of Commons"
-total members ->79(MLA's) - Majority Government
-
-party that has a majority of the seats (more than 151)
-generally expected to pass all bills it proposes. - Law
- A rule made by the government that must be obeyed.
- government
- The people who rule or govern a country or state.
- rule of law
- The principle that people are governed by laws, and that no person is above the law.
- Liberalism
-
-liberal is one who believes in more government action to meet individual needs
-rights of the individual are important
-should be protected only as it does not interfere with someone else's freedoms - infrastructure
- Structures such as roads, railways, powergrids, and communications links that are basic to the life of society.
- Common Law
- Law that is based on rulings made by judges in court cases.
- Lieutenant Governor
-
-formal head of the government of a Canadian province
-appointed by fed. gov.
-representative of the Queen. - Residual powers
- In Canada's Constitution, any powers that are not specifically listed are held by the federal government or the Crown.
- Sovereignty
- Complete independence and self-government.
- Magna Carta
-
-1215
-signed in England by King John I
-gave British protection from unreasonable arrest and the right to a fair trial
-also sets limits on the gov't power - Motion of non-confidence
-
-occurs in the House of Commons
-if the motion if passed, the government has lost the confidence of the House
-the government must then either resign or call an election by asking the governor general - Oligarchy
- -form of government in which the power is in the hands of a few persons or small group who have the combined power of a dictator
- Question Period
-
-at the end of the day
-members of the government and opposition debate over a current issue or recent event and Canada's role in it - Republic
-
-a form of government in which the people have the power to elect representatives who manage the government
-republics often have presidents - Ridings
- Individual areas that are represented by members of Parliament in the House of Commons. ex. South Surrye, Surrey Central, North Surrey.
- Minority Government-> Coalition
- A government in which the ruling party has less than half the seats in the legislature.
- Opposition Party
- Party has second greatest number of seats in the House. Named official opposition.
- Party Solidarity
- Each party's goal to present a joint front on issues, policies, proposed bills. especially the government.
- whip
- individual who makes sure all party MP's attend votes, and vote according to party policy
- Abstain
- Refuse to cast a ballot when voting.