1. Slide Deck 1: Government and Decision-Making Processes

2. Who makes these rules and decisions?
What types of rules and decisions are needed for people living in a community?
Who makes these rules and decisions?

3. Governance is the system of practices and processes that a community or group uses to organize themselves and make decisions
Governance models determine who has authority or a voice in making decisions, how decisions are made and who is accountable for them

4. Governance styles
Autocratic – One person has complete control over all decisions with minimal input from others
Democratic – Collective decision-making and the sharing of tasks and responsibilities; leadership changes regularly with participation from many
Consensus – Group decision-making, in which group members collaboratively agree to support a decision in the best interest of the whole
Laissez-faire – The absence of an organized leadership style; there is no authority and group members are responsible for decisions

5. Which governance styles can be found in Nunavut?

6. Kinship
Kinship is a complex system of social organization covering roles, responsibilities and reciprocal bonds that determine people’s relationships to one another
Kinship influences interpersonal relations based on respect

7. Inuit Kinship
Inuit have kinship relationships with the immediate family (the nuclear family) as well as extended families on both the maternal (mother’s) and paternal (father’s) sides of their family (joint kinship)
Traditionally, Inuit lived in small groups with their extended families; decisions were made together
Every individual had their own unique responsibilities, and set rules ensured social cohesion and mutual respect

8. Who has authority in your family?
How are responsibilities distributed?

9. Governments are made up of the people and institutions put in place to manage a country, nation or community and make decisions on behalf of citizens

10. The role of government Create and enforce laws Provide services
Manage land and resources
Make decisions for the benefit of the people living within its regional borders

11. What would happen if there was no government responsible for creating laws and providing support to citizens?

12. Different types of government
Governments from around the world differ from one another. They can be compared by considering the following questions:
How are decisions made?
How many people have access to power?
c) What types of rights and
freedoms are given to
citizens?

13. What is a RIGHT? What are some rights that you have?

14. What is a right?
All citizens living in a democracy have guaranteed rights and freedoms
A right is a legal privilege or entitlement that is protected
Rights are usually fought for and claimed, and less often simply granted
Examples: the right to express yourself, freedom of religion

15. Individual and Collective Rights
Rights are divided into two categories:
Individual rights represent the rights of each person to be treated fairly and equally regardless of their social, cultural, ethnic, sexual or political identity
Collective rights are held by a group, rather than each person; these rights may include language and cultural protection, land rights, and political autonomy

16. of a type of government and where it’s used?
Do you know an example
of a type of government and where it’s used?

17. Autocracy
A type of government where political power is concentrated in the hands of one person who rules without restriction
No rule of law, the leader is supreme
People are not consulted on the decisions and affairs of the country
An autocracy can be a dictatorship or an absolute monarchy

18. 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

19. Oligarchy Power rests with a small number of people
These are usually those who are rich and powerful, often due to family lines, wealth or prominent connections
People living under oligarchic rule usually have some rights and freedoms
Similarly, in an aristocracy the power is in the hands of a special class of people
Aristocrats are connected to royal families through family relations

20. Democracy
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 also have access to power, which means they can choose to run for political office
Individual civil and political rights are protected (such as freedom of speech, religion and assembly, free and fair elections)

21. Monarchy
A monarch (king or queen) or royal family holds political power that is inherited and usually lasts until death
There are two main types:
In an absolute monarchy, a monarch (or dictator) has complete political power
In a constitutional monarchy, a monarch’s power is more symbolic and it is limited by a constitution

22. Would you prefer to live in a democracy or a dictatorship?
Why?

23. Constitutional Monarchy
A constitution includes the basic principles and laws of a nation or state that outline the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people
A constitutional monarchy has a democratically elected government with a government leader
The monarch remains the head of state and performs ceremonial duties
Government exercises rule of law

24. Republic A sovereign state, country or government without a monarch
Democratically elected government holds all political power
Government exercises power according to the rule of law
Republics usually have a constitution

25. What are the differences?
What are the similarities between a constitutional monarchy and a republic?
What are the differences?

26. Which government types are used in Canada?

27. Government in Canada
Canada’s system of government is a parliamentary democracy
Elected members represent citizens in the federal parliament and provincial/territorial legislatures
The political party with the most representatives forms government
Canada is also a constitutional monarchy and the Queen is the head of state
Every act of government is done in the name of the Queen
The authority for every act comes from the Canadian people through the Constitution
The Constitution of Canada is the highest legal ruling in the country
The Constitution includes laws, decisions by judges, agreements between federal and provincial governments, traditions and civil and political rights

28. Which government type is used at the territorial level in Nunavut?

29. Consensus Democracy
Consensus refers to general agreement in decision-making
Consensus democracy uses a consensus decision-making model to develop laws and policies
The goal is to be more collaborative and inclusive by gathering a broad range of opinions
In a consensus government, elected representatives do not belong to political party (e.g., Nunavut, Northwest Territories)

30. Debrief
What would happen if there was no government or any rules or laws in society?
How important is it that individuals are responsible members of society?