1. What is civics?

2. Civics
Civics is the branch of political science that deals with civic affairs and the rights and duties of citizens.

3. Here’s why you’re so lucky to study civics:
(a) It makes you a more intelligent
voter.
(b) It allows you to understand the
actions of the government.
(c) It allows you to appreciate your
freedoms and responsibilities as
a Canadian citizen.

4. What is democracy?
Democracy is a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

5. So how did Canada get to where it is now?

6. We have to meet some people to help explain……

7. Ancient Greece: 508 BCE
Democracy established, equality before the law. Thanks
Greece!

8. 2. King John (1215) signs the Magna
Carta. Now no one, not even the
King (!!) is above the law. Finally!
The Magna Carta at th the British Library in k London UK.

9. 3. The Iroquois Confederacy (1350) in North America practise decision-making by consensus agreement. This means that decisions are now made to better the whole, not just the single person.

10. Hobbes
No… not that Hobbes

11. Thomas Hobbes ( )
Hobbes was a philosopher who believed that the lives of humans outside of society was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
Life is “anarchic” because humans are all self-centered (our big flaw of greed)
The Social Contract
Individuals come together and cede some individual rights for the good of the whole. This is the basis of society,
New rights are created in order to respect the common good.
Society was thus no longer anarchic.

12. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Agreed with Hobbes’ idea on the social contract.
Rousseau went further and advocated liberty – believing people must have a say in the laws that govern them.

13. What does it mean to be a citizen? Are there responsibilities?
What is citizenship?
Who are citizens?
What does it mean to be a citizen?
Are there responsibilities?
Are there privileges?

14. In ancient Athens, all free male citizens were granted freedom of speech, equality before the law, and membership in the state assembly.

15. But the idea of citizenship has evolved over time.
Women were once not considered citizens.
In many parts of the world, slaves were considered property, not citizens.

16. Activity – Evolution of Democracy

17. So where does that leave YOU?
What is a citizen?
Are you a citizen even if you are too young to vote?
A citizen is more than a resident or inhabitant. A citizen has responsibilities to his/her community. In return, your community has responsibilities towards YOU

18. What are your community circles?
Draw a circle and place yourself inside that circle
Draw a circle around your first circle, and write down all of your immediate communities – ex school, family, friends…
Draw a circle around that circle, and write in any community organizations you belong to or attend – sports, church, band, scouts, YMCA…
This is your neighbourhood circle
Draw another circle, this time for the region – Niagara
Draw another one, for Ontario
One for Canada
One for the world

20. Assignment: Citizenship Profile Who are you?
Fill out the information on the hand out.
Find a creative way to present this information in a visual fashion – on a poster board, t-shirt design, in a song, in a collage…
Show understanding of connection to different communities and civic purpose and responsibility
DUE: