Unit 3 Some Elements of Culture Chapter 9 China: Government and Culture

INTRO First part of the chapter will focus on GOVERNMENT!!!!! What do governments do? What influence do they have on your life in school? What are some different kinds of government? Second part of chapter will focus on the China…the country, its government, and its people

Names Justin Trudeau Andrew Scheer Frazer Russell Julie Payette Jagmeet Singh Queen Elizabeth Gerry Rogers Ches Crosbie Dwight Ball Judy Foote Colin Holloway Churence Rogers

MHA for Terra Nova MP for Random-Burin-St.George’s

3 Main Types of Government Authoritarian Government: one person/group holds all power and makes all decisions usually take control by force and use the military to hold onto power one person in charge is called a dictator and the government is called a dictatorship

Hereditary Government: power is passed down from one family member to the next person in line happens in a monarchy…where a king, queen, or royal family rules

Democracy: people have the power to elect their government people can change the government if unhappy WE have a democracy… a representative democracy : citizens vote for people to ‘represent’ them and make decisions for them in government. There is also a… direct democracy : everyone has a ‘direct’ say in decision making

Types of Governments continued… There may be characteristics of more than one type… In Canada we have a ‘monarch’, the Queen of England (our head of state)…but she has no real power, as Canada is mainly a democracy.

Monarch (Queen) Governor General Prime Minister | Cabinet House of Commons (MPs) Senate Judiciary (courts) People of Canada (voters)

Functions of Government (1). create and enforce laws laws: -the rules of a country -keep societies organized and protect people (2). national defence (3). provide services including health care, police, child care, education, etc. (4). communicate with other governments around the world (5). represent people and make their lives better …other functions exist

CHINA A few interesting facts: capital city is Beijing approx. 1.3 billion people largest city is Shanghai (approx 16 million) main languages are Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese Chinese has an area of about 9.5 million square kilometers home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations

China’s Government and Culture In the past… for over 2000 years, China was ruled by emperors…inherited the position, made all the laws, appointed people to help him First Emperor – 221 BCE - Zheng…called himself “Qin Shihuangdi” -ruled for 15 years -standardized Chinese writing and laws -built new roads and canals -began the Great Wall of China -sometimes killed people who disagreed with him! last emperor was in 1911 – only 6 years old!

1949-1976 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control by force a one-party state dictator, Mao Zedong, was leader no one was allowed to criticize his government…used army and police to enforce this controlled all newspaper, radio, and television stations all resources were owned by the state all rules made by communist government people had a right to vote and to run for election (but only for the Communist Party)

Cultural Revolution in China launched by Mao in 1966 he claimed China’s ancient cultural heritage was out of date and wanted people to reject the old ways many traditional cultural activities (art, music, etc.) were banned educated people were persecuted schools closed students worked on farms thousands killed and/or arrested if they opposed Mao

Government today in China… Chinese Communist Party Decisions made by Politburo POLITBURO: a group of 22 people who control the Communist Party and make all decisions and laws elected representatives must follow what Politburo decides decides who holds positions in government including jobs in military, courts, and schools not as strict as before encourage education (especially science, engineering, skilled trades) over 90% of people can read/write cultural traditions are being revived BUT, NO OPPOSITION allowed influence from other countries has caused some Chinese to request more freedom