Ella Erhimedafe - Videos and Student Questions - 3496971.pdf

Government Unit – Video #1 “Introduction to Politics” https://youtu.be/AHCk-njPtuM?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What does democracy mean? Democracy means a government system which values people’s opinions and that they can speak up about it by voting on a government de...

Government Unit – Video #1 “Introduction to Politics” https://youtu.be/AHCk-njPtuM?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What does democracy mean? Democracy means a government system which values people’s opinions and that they can speak up about it by voting on a government decision. Democracy takes some individual concepts. 2. What is the difference between an interventionist government and an individualistic government? An interventionist government believes that there should be 100% government intervention, and the government makes all the decisions. An individualistic government believes that the government shouldn’t have full control and that we are allowed to make our own decisions. 3. Why can it be confusing when we talk about right wing and left wing governments? 4. What are the four reasons why most Canadians support a democratic government? Video #2 – Democracy https://youtu.be/9nw_WhsAaqI?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. How was Athens, Greece the first direct democracy? They each voted for themselves instead having someone to represent their opinion. 2. Why can’t Canada be a direct democracy? Too much chaos and it is time consuming. 3. Why is it important for people in a democracy to be educated and have information clearly communicated to them? So that they have enough information on what they are voting for and what will happen if they are in power. It is important to be clear, so things won’t be misinterpreted. 4. What is representative democracy? A person who represents a group of people to decide on what they want as a whole.  5. What are the eight things that are important to every representative democracy? (Can you explain why each of these is important to protect our rights?) Secret ballot, elections, political parties, lobby groups, independent courts, press, representation by population, power of the purse. When you're voting your voting with background. 6. What does the term “federal system” mean? Shared power and to deal with diversity more effectively. 7. What are the three levels of government in Canda and What is the main focus of each of those levels? Federal government: Central government. In charge of the central economy. Municipal government: People in charge of the city. Garbage disposing. Provincial government: People in charge of the province. Resource development and education 8. What is the title of the people elected to the legislative branch of the three different levels of government? Provincial: MLA Federal: MP Municipal: Alderman Video #3 – The Constitution https://youtu.be/bfUgeAHPlBM?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What is a constitution? Highest law of the land, this is how our government is decided and a guidance as to how decisions are made. Because we are domestic, they have to make sure that this is constructional. 2. What was the first constitution of Canada and what was the problem with this constitution? The first constitution was established in 1867, and it was called the BNA Act. The problem with this was that it was created in Britian, so we needed to ask them for permission to change it and they only gave us control over domestic affairs. 3. What was the Statute of Westminster? So that we can control our foreign affairs. 4. What is an amending formula and what is Canada’s constitutional amending formula? 7 of our provinces must agree to change and 50% for them to change or amend the constitution. It was made a rule in 19. 5. What does it mean when we say we “patriated” the constitution in 1982? To bring home the constitution. Bringing it home is that we can govern ourselves. 6. What does it mean when we say something is “entrenched” in the constitution? Making it a part of the constitution. 7. How can we have an unwritten constitution? We follow some British tradition, so unwritten laws are just as important as written ones. Video #4 - (Part One) - The Branches of Government https://youtu.be/Ww5ocmaLcoo?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. Why did Montesquieu want there to be three branches of government? So that each branch could limit the power of the other branch. 2. What are the three branches of government and what are their responsibilities? The legislative- Writes the laws The executive- Enforces the laws The judicial- Interprets the laws  3. What does bicameral mean, and what are the organizations of our federal bicameral legislature called? Bicameral means having two areas or chambers where laws are discussed and voted on. The upper house (the senate) and the lower house (house of commons). 4. Why is the seating in the House of Commons significant? The party with the most seats get to be the government. 5. What is the job of the official opposition? Their job is to find fault with the government. 6. What does it mean when we say that the Senate is the “sober second thought”? It means that the senate being a fully conscious second thought. 7. What are the differences between Canadian and American Senators? Canada’s senators are pointed but America’s senators are elected. Video #5 - (Part Two) - The Branches of Government https://youtu.be/i8YpL9qHnhE?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What is the difference between the head of state and the head of government AND who is our current head of state and head of government? The head of the state has important constitutional responsibilities but no political role, but the head of government does. Our current head of state is the queen, and the head of government is the prime minister. 2. What’s the difference between a constitutional monarchy and a republic? A constitutional monarchy has a king or queen in charge and a republic votes on a government to be in charge. 3. How does the Prime Minister get the job? Elected to a seat in the house as an MP. 4. What is a cabinet minister? They have a specific area of responsibility known as their portfolio. 5. What is a civil servant? Works in a department of a country’s government. 6. What does responsible government mean? Responsibility of being part of the executive.  7. How is the US system of separation of powers different from responsible government? Separation of powers: 3 branches of government Responsible government: Legislative control over prime minister 8. How does a judge interpret the law? They impose the sentence. 9. What does the Supreme Court focus on? Deal with appeals that have already been delt with in the lower courts. 10. Why is it important for the courts to be independent? It is important because it protects rights and freedoms, ensures fair trials, and builds public trust. Video #6 – Political Parties https://youtu.be/2S2FhNpgxWg?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What are political parties? Groups who share similar ideas on how a country should be run. 2. Why does a candidate have a loyalty to their party? They share the same beliefs, get support like money and campaign help, and want to work as a team. 3. What is party solidarity? Members of a political party stick together and support the same decisions. 4. Why do most Canadians not vote for independent candidates? Because they do not have the same resources or visibility as big parties. 5. What are the main parties in Canada’s multiparty system AND where do they fit on the economic spectrum? Liberal Party Conservative NDP Green Party PCP Bloc Quebecois 6. Why are political parties more likely to be near the center of the economic spectrum in a two-party system? They aim to win the most votes. Video #7 – The Role of the Media and Lobby Groups https://youtu.be/Sk2sXksUxXo?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp  1. What is a lobby group? People who work together to influence the government to support their ideas. 2. How can lobby groups get support for their ideas? Talking to government leaders, running campaigns, sharing information with the public, and building partnerships with other organizations. 3. What is the main issue with opinion polls? They can be biased and not represent anyone's views. 4. What is a lobbyist and what is the concern with lobbyists? A person hired by lobby groups to talk to the government to push certain ideas. The concern is that they have too much influence. 5. How do lobby groups use the judicial branch to get their ideas responded to? They can use the court to challenge laws that they do not agree with. 6. Why is the free press so important to a representative democracy? It keeps people informed on what the government is doing. 7. What is the concern with the free press? It may be biased and controlled by powerful people. Video #8 – Elections https://youtu.be/h9ePe_5Rgcw?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What does “suffrage” mean? The right to vote in elections. 2. How has voting changed in Canada over time? At first only wealthy white men could vote then overtime they started letting others vote too such as Black people, women, indigenous people, etc. 3. Why does Canada have a relatively low voter turn-out? Some people feel like their vote does not matter, don’t understand the process, or are too busy. 4. Why does the size of ridings change? The increase in population. 5. What is the difference between a periodic election and a fixed-date election? Periodic Election: the government decides to call it. Fixed-Date election: happens on a set schedule (every 4 years). 6. What is the difference between getting a vote and getting the seat? Vote: Person/party gets supported from voters. Seat: Wining enough votes in a riding to have a representative in a government. 7. Explain “first past the post”, including the issue of artificial majorities. The candidate with the most votes in a riding win.  8. Explain proportional representation. The number of seats a party gets matches the percentage of votes they received. 9. What is the downside of proportional representation? Harder to run because smaller groups need to work together. Video #9 – How Laws are Created https://youtu.be/HPVobVGCAHc?list=PLIoMfeUpHuoTII7R2lgvwZhWgOS2G9fAp 1. What does the seating plan in the House of Commons have to do with making laws? It shows were each party sits, government one side opposition the other side making this easier to debate. 2. What is a bill? An idea for a law. 3. What is a private member’s bill? Introduced bt someone not part of the government. 4. What can a party member do if they disagree with what the party wants to do? Speak in private or sometime vote against their party. 5. Why does a majority government always get their important bills passed? Has more than half of the seats so they have enough votes to have the bills passed every time. 6. How does a vote of non-confidence relate to the concept of responsible government? The parliament no longer supports them, and they may have to resign or hold an election. 7. List the steps a bill must take before it can become a law. First Reading: Bill is introduced Second Reading: MP’s debate and vote on the bill Committe Stage: Mp studies the bill and suggests changes Report Stage: MP’s the changes Third Reading: Mp’s debate and vote again Senate Review: looks at the bill and votes on it (Sober second thought) Royal Assent: Approves the bill and then it becomes a law