Secondary PowerPoint 1: Government and Democracy

What would society be like if there was no leadership, organization or laws?

What is government? Government is made up of the people and institutions put in place to manage the land, resources and people living within its borders The role of government is to create laws (rules to abide by) and make decisions for the benefit of the people.

How do governments compare? Governments around the world differ from one another and they can be compared by considering the following questions: Who has access to power? How do those leaders get to be in power? c) What types of rights and freedoms are given to citizens?

Dictatorship A dictatorship = one person (a dictator) has complete political power. Often comes to power through a military takeover (also known as a coup d’état). Power is usually maintained without the consent of the people through a one-party state (single party) where political opposition is forbidden. Dictatorships generally restrict individual civil and political rights.

Oligarchy An oligarchy = a few people have power. Political power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of people, who are usually wealthy. Oligarchs make political decisions that usually serve their own interests. An oligarchy can also be a dictatorship.

Democracy A democracy = all citizens have access to power. Power is shared by all citizens and a majority of the population is included in political decision-making. Citizens elect political representatives through elections to make decisions on their behalf. Citizens may choose to run for political office. Individual civil and political rights are protected.

Discussion Questions What are pros and cons of making decisions in different ways (one person vs. whole group)? What type of government do you think is the best and why? What type of government do we have in Canada?

Canada’s Government Canada is a parliamentary democracy, which means we elect people to represent us in our parliament and legislatures. The political party with the most representatives takes control of the government. Canada is also a constitutional monarchy, which means that the monarch (the Queen) is our head of state. The powers of the monarchy in Canada are limited by the Constitution. The Queen abides by the decisions of the Canadian government, but continues to play important ceremonial and symbolic roles.

Constitution of Canada Is the supreme law of Canada and one of the oldest working constitutions in the world. It includes acts and laws, traditions, decisions by judges, and explains our system of government It also includes our civil and legal rights outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982).

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

Fundamental Freedoms freedom of religion (to choose to worship in your own way) freedom of thought (to form your own opinion) freedom of expression (to express your opinion freely) freedom of the press (to report on all matters) freedom of peaceful assembly (to gather and protest respectfully) freedom of association (to meet and associate with others)

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. This also includes the requirement that governments hold elections at least every five years.

What accompanies our 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 abide by the rules set out by the Constitution in order to benefit from their protected rights. For example. the right to vote comes with the responsibility to cast a ballot and to make an informed decision.

Discussion Questions What does democracy mean to you? Is it possible for a democracy to fail? What does it mean if citizens do not participate in their democracy? Will you vote when you turn 18?