Ideals and institutions of Democracy Chapter 5: Canada in the Contemporary World
Democracy A political system based on rule of law: (#6 Definitions) free, fair, and frequent elections of candidates from at least two parties. text book page 108 an independent judiciary, and freedom of the press and other media from government control. https://freedomhouse.org/about-us (5:33)
What do you know about Canadian citizenship and government systems today that help to prevent civil conflicts from spreading out of control? How does a democracy resolve conflicts among people?
Civics Civics can be defined as the study of the rights (things you are morally or legally entitled to) and duties of citizenship. Rights and responsibilities were introduced in the previous cluster.
Citizenship Citizenship is defined as the condition of receiving rights, duties, and responsibilities as a member of a state or nation. The discussion of citizenship can raise some difficult questions. Who defines rights, duties, and responsibilities? How do we balance rights with duties and responsibilities? Who gets to be a citizen? This brings us to the civics concept of government.
Government Government is a system by which a group of people make the laws (principles and regulations) that are enforced to guide the affairs of a community, such as a country, province, territory or municipality. Let us explore citizenship and its relationship to government and public decision making.
Politics Definition: A human activity in which one individual or group opposed to another, mobilizes support to obtain power to govern. Power is the ability of a group or individual to get what it wants. Informally politics occurs whenever individuals or groups struggle for advantage. Formally, politics is associated with governments.
Politics Politics can be done openly and honestly It can be done secretly and through manipulation, threats, and bribes.
Types of Government Authoritarian Democratic Government by consensus
1. authoritarian Little or no input from the people. Often dominated by one person (dictatorship). If dictators do what the people want then they have wide public support. Authoritarian dictatorship does not tolerate opposition.
1. authoritarian They rely on these to eliminate opposition: Large military forces Informers Secret police They may also use and control the: Media Schools Public events Where are examples of dictatorships around the world? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy-Dictatorship_Index
Examples of authoritarian governments Authoritarian monarchy (old style monarchy) Dictatorship (rule by one) Oligarchy (rule by a select few) Communism (Socialist authoritarianism) Military regimes (gain power by military coup)
2. Democratic Make decisions based on the will of the people. Citizens choose individuals in elections to represent them in government. Democracies tolerate opposition. (Is the driving force) Citizens Groups The media Political parties
2. Democratic Political parties are organizations of people who share similar political beliefs and who work to have their candidates win votes during elections. Opposition and criticism are part of the democratic system. http://www.dwatch.ca/
Examples of Democratic governments Direct Presidential democracies Representative parliamentary democracies There are more parliamentary democracies than presidential democracies in the world. The most striking difference between presidential and parliamentary systems is in the election of the chief executive. In the parliamentary system, the leader of the elected party becomes the prime minister. In the presidential system the president is elected directly by the people.
3. Government by Consensus Before contact with Europeans, Aboriginals had a variety of decision- making structures. Each culture had its own system of government and laws reflecting: Values Practices Traditions In many cultures decisions were reached by consensus. Men, women, elders and youths – discussed an issue until everyone agreed.
3. Government by Consensus Traditional Aboriginal attitude toward governance was egalitarian in nature. Based on the equality of all people. This attitude is reflected in two Cree words: Weyasowewin – “setting the standard” Nakayatotamowin – “what is usually done”
Examples of Government by Consensus Aboriginals in Canada (Assembly of First Nations) Belgium Denmark Germany Iraq Sweden Switzerland
Examples of Government by Consensus The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an assembly, modelled on the United Nations General Assembly, of First Nations represented by their chiefs. It emerged from and replaced the Canadian National Indian Brotherhood in the early 1980s. The aims of the organization are to protect and advance the aboriginal and treaty rights and interests of First Nations in Canada, including health, education, culture and language. Text book page 109
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