Civics Key Terms Study Sheet PDF

Civics Key Terms Quiz Review Sheet: Please review the following terms. We will be having a quiz on all of these terms. Fascism: a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology that has a dictatorial leader and uses military force to suppress the opposition Civics : the study of h...

Civics Key Terms Quiz Review Sheet: Please review the following terms. We will be having a quiz on all of these terms. Fascism: a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology that has a dictatorial leader and uses military force to suppress the opposition Civics : the study of how public decisions are made, of issues that are important to the public, and of the rights and responsibilities of citizens Socialist : a person who believes in the collective ownership of the means of production, and emphasizes equality rather than achievement Communism: far left ideology believing in a classless society, a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed Government : a decision-making system that has the power to make laws and direct the affairs of a country, province, or municipality. The word comes from Latin and Greek words that mean “to steer” Conservative : a person who does not like change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics. Dictatorship : a form of government in which a dictator(leader) has complete power and is unrestricted by law, written constitutions, or any other limits Civil Society: voluntary organizations of citizens that work to make a difference on important public issues Liberal: A person who is open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values Democracy : a system in which decisions are controlled by the people. The term comes from the Greek words demo, meaning “people,” and cracy, meaning rule Environmentalist : a person who is concerned with or advocates the protection of the environment. Monarchy: a system in which a state is ruled by a hereditary head of state. Power rests in one person’s hand, usually the oldest male in the family Humanitarian: a person who seeks to promote human welfare Oligarchy: Power rests in a small group of people who have accumulated great wealth and/or land ownership (NOT inherited) Rights and Freedoms : those things we are morally or legally entitled to have or to do Majority Rule : the principle that the opinion of the greater number should prevail Cultural Egalitarian: someone who believes that all people should be treated equally and should be given equal opportunities Minority Rights : the principle that the rights of the minority must be safeguarded Responsibility : a duty or obligation. As citizens, we all have responsibilities, often directly linked to our rights Aristocracy: A system where decisions are made by those who are born into an elite class of wealth and power. Capitalist: a wealthy person who uses money to invest in trade and industry for profit Rule of Law : the principle that people are governed by laws and that no person is above the law Authoritarian : a decision-making system in which people must obey ONE single ruler who has total control over decisions. Cultural Supremacist: an advocate of the inherent superiority of a particular group/culture Theocracy: A government who runs a country based on religious beliefs Totalitarianism: the presence of total government control from a small group (not necessarily a single person) Levels of Government: Federal: Members of Parliament (RCMP, passports, birth certificates, revenue canada, trans canada highway etc) Provincial: Members of Provincial Parliament (OPP, driver’s license, healthcare (OHIP), education, 400 highways etc) Municipal: Town Councillors (Halton Police, parking tickets, property taxes, libraries, parks, local roads etc) Branches of Government: Legislative Branch: Makes the laws Federal: House of Commons: Prime Minister, Senate, Members of Parliament (MPs) Provincial: Legislative Assembly: Premier and Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) Municipal: Town Council: Mayor and Town Councillors and Regional Councillors Executive Branch: Executes the laws Federal: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Revenue Canada, Cabinet Ministers Provincial: Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Cabinet Ministers, Ontario Public Service Employees Municipal: Halton Regional Police, bi-law officers, Oakville parking enforcement Judicial Branch: Interprets the laws Federal: Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Canada Provincial: the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice, and the Ontario Court of Justice Canadian Constitution: 1. A constitution is the supreme law of the country 2. The Constitution Act of Canada was given royal assent (approved) in 1982 and it covers the following: ✣ Aboriginal Rights ✣ Amending Formula ✣ Equalization of Payments ✣ Charter of Rights and Freedoms 3. Section 33 'Notwithstanding Clause’ It’s a magical section of the Canadian constitution that allows provincial governments to simply ignore a key section of the constitution if they don’t like it. 4. Amendments to the constitution: Seven of the ten provinces of Canada representing at least 50% of the population and the Canadian Parliament must agree to most changes.