Social Studies 6 Democracy and Provincial Exam Study Guide

Democracy and Dictatorship / Democracy - Power is held by the people (citizens) / Democracy - Voting, debates, freedoms, rights, constitution, charter of rights and freedoms. / Dictatorship - Power is held by one of a few people. Not many rights and freedoms for the citizens. / Democracy - Power is held by the people (citizens) / Democracy - Voting, debates, freedoms, rights, constitution, charter of rights and freedoms. / Dictatorship - Power is held by one of a few people. Not many rights and freedoms for the citizens.

Two Kinds of Democracy / Direct Democracy - Every decision is voted on by the citizens directly. / Representative Democracy - Citizens vote for representatives to make the decisions for them. / Canada is a representative democracy. / Direct Democracy - Every decision is voted on by the citizens directly. / Representative Democracy - Citizens vote for representatives to make the decisions for them. / Canada is a representative democracy.

Democractic Values, Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilites / Democratic Values include: liberty (freedom), equality, and equity (fairness) / Right - Something a citizen is guaranteed to have without having to earn it. (eg. Right to an education) / Freedom - Something a person is allowed to do without being punished, discriminated against, etc. (as long as it doesn’t hurt someone else’s freedoms or rights) (eg. Freedom of expression) / Democratic Values include: liberty (freedom), equality, and equity (fairness) / Right - Something a citizen is guaranteed to have without having to earn it. (eg. Right to an education) / Freedom - Something a person is allowed to do without being punished, discriminated against, etc. (as long as it doesn’t hurt someone else’s freedoms or rights) (eg. Freedom of expression)

Responsibilities Cont’d / A democracy is only as strong as its citizens, and these citizens have the following responsibilities: / Stay informed about what’s going on; and if you don’t like what’s going on, then it’s up to you to take action to change things (eg. Petitions, etc.) / Vote in elections, after you do your necessary research. / Defend your rights, freedoms, and country / A democracy is only as strong as its citizens, and these citizens have the following responsibilities: / Stay informed about what’s going on; and if you don’t like what’s going on, then it’s up to you to take action to change things (eg. Petitions, etc.) / Vote in elections, after you do your necessary research. / Defend your rights, freedoms, and country

Provincial Government - Executive Branch / 3 Branches: Executive, legislative, and judicial. / Executive Branch: Symbolic Part: King or Queen of England (Queen Elizabeth II) and her representative, the Lieutenant Governor (Hon. Norman Kwong) who is chosen by the premier and can serve for as long as they like. / Real Part: Premier+Cabinet who are part of the party to win the most seats in an election. / 3 Branches: Executive, legislative, and judicial. / Executive Branch: Symbolic Part: King or Queen of England (Queen Elizabeth II) and her representative, the Lieutenant Governor (Hon. Norman Kwong) who is chosen by the premier and can serve for as long as they like. / Real Part: Premier+Cabinet who are part of the party to win the most seats in an election.

Provincial Government - Legislative Branch / Legislative Branch: All the members elected to the Legislative Assembly, including opposition members and the speaker. / Each member is called a MLA, they represent a riding (part of Alberta), and they have their own seat. / Legislative Branch: All the members elected to the Legislative Assembly, including opposition members and the speaker. / Each member is called a MLA, they represent a riding (part of Alberta), and they have their own seat.

Provincial Government - Judicial Branch / Judicial Branch - Lawyers and judges of the courts of Alberta. / Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Appeals is the most important judge in Canada / Judges have two jobs: Interpret and apply the law/constitution to criminal and civil cases. / If a law passed by the government doesn’t agree with the constitution, then the judges can tell the L.B. to scrap it or change it. / Judicial Branch - Lawyers and judges of the courts of Alberta. / Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Appeals is the most important judge in Canada / Judges have two jobs: Interpret and apply the law/constitution to criminal and civil cases. / If a law passed by the government doesn’t agree with the constitution, then the judges can tell the L.B. to scrap it or change it.

Roles of Each Branch / E.B: Propose or change laws. In control of taxes, spending, and proposing new bills. / L.B: Debates and passes new laws. Also chosen in elections every five years. Each MLA can propose new laws. / J.B: Interpret new laws and court case according to Constitution and Charter of Rights. Chosen by E.B. They have jobs until 75 or retirement. / E.B: Propose or change laws. In control of taxes, spending, and proposing new bills. / L.B: Debates and passes new laws. Also chosen in elections every five years. Each MLA can propose new laws. / J.B: Interpret new laws and court case according to Constitution and Charter of Rights. Chosen by E.B. They have jobs until 75 or retirement.