Elementary PowerPoint 1: Government and Democracy

What would your classroom be like if there were no rules? What would society be like if there were no laws?

What is government? The role of government is to make decisions about the land, resources and people living within its borders Governments create and enforce laws (rules to live by), and provide services to help its citizens.

How do governments compare? Governments around the world differ from one another and they can be compared by asking the following questions: Who has control or holds power? How do they get to be in power? What rights and freedoms do people have?

What is a right? A privilege or freedom that is protected. Rights are not usually provided automatically; they are usually fought for and claimed. Example: Every child has the right to learn (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child).

Dictatorship A dictatorship = one person is the leader. The dictator often takes control through a military takeover without permission of the people. Political opposition is forbidden. No independent media. Citizens have limited or few rights and freedoms.

Oligarchy An oligarchy = a few people have power. Political power is shared by a small group of people, usually the rich. Citizens have some rights and freedoms. An oligarchy can also be a dictatorship.

Democracy A democracy = all citizens have a voice in political decisions and a say in determining the government. A representative democracy = citizens select representatives through elections to make decisions for them. There are free and fair elections and citizens can run for political office. The rights and freedoms of citizens are protected.

Discussion Questions Can you think of an example where a decision was made by one person? Can you think of an example where a group of people were involved in making a decision? What are the pros and cons to having a democracy or a dictatorship?

Canada’s Government Canada is a parliamentary democracy, which means we elect people to represent us in our parliament and legislatures. The political party or ‘team’ with the most representatives takes control of the government. Canada is also a constitutional monarchy, which means that the Queen (of England) is our head of state. Although the Queen’s powers are limited by our constitution, she still has important ceremonial and symbolic roles. Canada has three levels: one government for the whole country, one for each province and territory, and one for each community.

Constitution of Canada A constitution is a rule book for government. Canada’s has one of the oldest constitutions in the world. The Canadian Constitution is a collection of laws, traditions, decisions made by judges, and explains our system of government. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms outlines our individual civic and political rights. It was added to the Constitution in 1982 and signed by Queen Elizabeth II.

Seven Sections of the Charter The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has seven sections that define our rights as Canadians: Fundamental (or basic) freedoms Democratic rights Mobility rights Legal rights Equality rights Official languages of Canada Minority language education rights

Fundamental Freedoms (Basic Rights) The right to worship your god or no god (freedom of religion) The right to form your own opinion (freedom of thought) The right to share your opinions (freedom of expression) The freedom of the media to report on all matters and events The right to join or leave groups (freedom of association) The right to gather and protest (freedom of peaceful assembly)

Our Democratic Process There are too many people in Canada for everyone to have a say in all decisions, so we vote for representatives to make decisions and pass laws on our behalf. This is called a representative democracy. Elections are the process by which those elected representatives are chosen.

Our Democratic Rights Every Canadian citizen, 18 years and older, has the right to vote in an election and to be a candidate in an election if they choose to be. Our democratic rights also includes the requirement that governments hold elections at least every 5 years.

What goes along with having rights?

What is a responsibility? A duty or obligation. It is something you should do to show that you respect your rights. Example: your right to an education comes with the responsibility to show up to school prepared and on time.

Responsibilities in a Democracy It is the responsibility of all Canadians to respect and follow the rules set out in the Constitution. The right to vote comes with the responsibility to cast a ballot and to make an informed decision.

Final Thoughts What are some rights and responsibilities that you have at school? Or in the community? How important is it that individuals behave as responsible members of society? Why?