1. Chapter 1 How Effectively does Canada’s Federal Political System govern Canada for all Canadians?
Prime Minister Liberal Leader NDP Leader Bloc Quebecois Leader Green Party Leader
Stephen Harper Michael Ignatieff Jack Layton Gilles Duceppe Elizabeth May

2. Create a KWL chart in your notes about Canada’s Federal System
K= “What do I know about Canada’s Federal Government?”
W= “What do I want to learn about Canada’s Federal System?”
L= “What I learned about Canada’s Federal System K
What do I know about Canada’s Federal Government? W
What do I want to learn about Canada’s Federal System? L
What I learned about Canada’s Federal System

3. Walk In Assignment #1
If you were old enough to vote in a federal election, what would be the most important issues to you that you would want the Federal government to address and why?
After writing your response in complete sentences, rank order your top 5 priorities for the Federal government.

4. Focus Questions of this Chapter
What is the structure of Canada’s federal political system?
How do bills become laws?
How do the media connect Canadians to their government?
What do lobbyists do?

5. Read Intro to Chapter 1 as a class page 16
After reading the intro get into groups of 2 and create a chart to organize your thoughts during the group discussion. Complete the chart in point form.
”What challenges does the government of Canada have when they make decisions that reflect the needs of all Canadians?”

6. Possible Group Responses
It is impossible to govern to all Canadians. The government is likely to make decisions that represent the majority opinion. They Govern to the majority so they get re-elected.
The decisions that governments make will never please every single Canadian; all Canadians have different POINTS OF VIEW…therefore not everyone will be satisfied with government decision making.
The government is in office for 4 years at a time…in this time they cannot possibly deal with all the concerns that Canadians have.
The government is located in Ottawa so they may not be in touch with what is happening is all parts of Canada. Some voters feel “left out” of the political process even though they have the right to vote.
If the government has a minority in the House of Commons, they may having difficulty passing legislation for fear that opposition parties will vote against them in the House of Commons (This is called a non-confidence vote). If this happens the Prime Minister would be forced to call an election before they are ready for one.

7. Viewing Comic Rick Mercer explains Canada’s Federal System

8. Critical Thinking Challenge
Look at the pictures on page 17 in your textbook. Then answer the Critical Thinking Challenge in your “Walk in Assignments” section of your binder and label it #9.
To what extent might the different experiences of the Canadians on this page affect their views or perspectives?

9. Chapter 1 Assessment… Your Task
Create a comic book in groups of 3 that show the responsibilities and challenges of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of Canada’s Federal Government.
This will be taken in and evaluated as a term
1 mark.

10. Getting Started
Read page in your text. Make a brainstorming chart in your notes similar to the one in your text to organize your group discussion.
Inquire
Example
What is the issue about Canada’s government?
What challenges and opportunities
does the issue create for Canadians?
How will you use what you know about the political system to respond to the issue?

11. What is the structure of Canada’s federal political system?
The Queen
The Executive Branch
The Legislative Branch
The Judicial Branch
Read page 22 in your text and fill out this chart. In point form write down what each branch of government is responsible for doing.

12. Viewing: What is the structure of Canada’s Federal System?1. 2.

13. CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
Add term to Glossary
Canada is a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY, the head of state being a monarch (a king or queen). The monarch’s representative in Canada is the Governor General who fills the role of approving laws made in Canada and other formal functions. The representative of the monarch in the provinces is the Lieutenant Governor.

14. Governor General Add term to Glossary
The Governor General is appointed by the monarch (Queen) on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General following a recommendation by the premier of a province to the prime minister.
Governor General Michaelle Jean

15. Governor General
The Governor General has the power to appoint the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the political party that holds the most seats in the House of Commons. The Governor General and Lieutenant Governor generally acts on the advice of the prime minister or premier of the province.
No bill gets passed in either parliament or a provincial legislature without ROYAL ASSENT- from the Governor General or Lieutenant Governor.

16. The House of Commons Is made up of 308 elected Members of Parliament
Is the principal law making body in Canada
Members devote most of their time to debating and voting on bills
They also….
Represent constituents views
Discuss national issues
Call on the government to explain its actions

17. The House of Commons Lower House

18. The Executive Branch The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
Read page in your text to find out more about this branch of government.
2. Add the terms Executive Branch, Political Party, Prime Minister, Cabinet into your glossary sheets.
Note: The terms political party, prime minister and cabinet are not bolded, but you can create your own definition by reading page 24.

19. Walk in Assignment# 2
What factors do you think the prime minister takes into account when appointing the members of cabinet?
Tip: Look on page 25 at the list of portfolios that cabinet ministers have. What kind of experience do you think cabinet ministers need to do their jobs?

20. Walk in Assignment #3
As Prime Minister, how could you use cabinet positions to respond to issues about government that concern Canadians?

21. The Legislative Branch Parliament
Read page to learn more about this branch of government.
Add the terms legislative branch, House of Commons, constituents, popular vote, into your glossary sheets.
Note: If the words are not bolded, then make the definition up based on your readings.

22. Walk in Assignment #4
If you were prime minister, to what extent would you work with the opposition?
You could use your answer, supported with facts and reasons, as a step toward completing your chapter task.

23. Members of Parliament MP’S
Read page in your text and answer the following questions.
What are the 2 key roles of MP’S?
Look at the graph and map on page 30, and respond to the question:
“What if the votes in the 2006 election had been counted by popular vote instead of by riding? How would the way Albertans are represented in the House of Commons be different?

24. Answer to Question #2
In the 2006 election all of Alberta’s 28 ridings were won by the Conservative Party. If the election was determined by popular vote, then other political parties would have won seats in Alberta.

25. The Senate The Upper House
Read pages to find out more about the Senate. Then do the following tasks:
Add the terms: Senate, senators, minorities to your glossary sheets.
Answer question #1 on page 33 Connect to the big ideas.
Answer the 3 Critical challenges on page 31,32,33, in your Walk in Assignments.
Viewing 1. 2. 3.

26. Walk in Assignments #5 - Page 31
Why might the role of the Senate to represent minorities be important to governance in Canada?
#6 -Page 32
Why might Canadians have different views and perspectives on the role of the Senate in Canada’s political system? What evidence can you find on this page?
#7- Page 33
How does the structure of the Senate represent Canadians in a different way than the House of Commons? How does this structure help the Senate act in the interests of regions and minority groups?

27. The Judicial Branch
1. Read page to find out more about this branch of government.
2. Add the terms: judicial branch, judge, accountable, civil service, assimilation into your glossary sheets.

28. Walk in Assignment #8
How does the judicial branch connect to peace, order and good government for all Canadians?
Note: Canada’s motto is peace, order, and good government. The motto in the United States is Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

29. How do laws become laws?
Read pages to find out how bills become laws.
Take down notes in point form on:
How bills become laws.

30. Case Study The Federal Accountability Act
Read the case study on page 39, then answer the Critical thinking challenge on this page in your Walk In Assignments.
Walk In Assignment #17
How might making Canada’s government
more accountable contribute to good government
for all Canadian’s. What other measures might
contribute to good government?

31. Federal Accountability Act
Look at the diagram on page Answer the following question.
How many readings does it take for a bill to become a law in each house?
What would be the advantages and disadvantages of this process? Record them down in a chart like this.
The Senate is not democratically elected by the people; instead they are appointed by the government. What would be some advantages and disadvantages of the senate. Who is the Senate suppose to represent in Canadian society?
Note: To help you answer question #3 Read page 44 “What voice do First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people need?
Advantages of the Process of Bills Becoming Laws
Disadvantages of the Process of Bills becoming Laws

32. Connect to the Big Ideas Page 45
Answer question #1 and 2 on page 45. These questions will help you to prepare for you Chapter Task. Which is due at the end of this chapter.

33. How do the media connect Canadians to their government?
Take the short survey “Is digital my first or second language?”, then respond to the questions that follow the survey.

34. Is digital my first or second language? Survey
Below is a set of preferences. For each set, rate your preference by choosing one from either A or B
Column A
Column B
Telephone
Edmonton Journal
Face to face conference
Book Stores
Daily Planner
Cd’s
Internet is second choice for information
Televised government debate
Text Messaging
exchanges
Blackberry
Mp 3’s
Internet is first choice for information
You Tube

35. Class Discussion Questions
What role does the media play in keeping you informed about your government?
Why is the information shift (the digital age) important for governments to be aware of?
Are we more informed today about politics then people were 30 years ago?
What are the challenges that governments face because of increased media scrutiny?
What are the positive aspects of more media scrutiny on politicians, for the Canadian voter?

36. Media and Government
Read pages in your text to learn more about how the media impacts government decision making.
Add the terms slogan and bias to your glossary sheets.
Answer question #3 on page 50 Connect to the big Ideas.

37. Walk in Assignment # 9 and #10
Page 47 and 48
#9 How do different types of media cover government decision making? How do journalists get information? What is the relationship between politicians and the media?
#10 Why do you think groups in Canada want media outlets that serve their communities?

38. What do Lobbyists do?
Read pages to find out how lobby groups can influence government decision making.
Add the term lobbyist to your glossary words.
Take a look at the clip art below to help you with examples of lobby groups in our society.

39. Walk in Assignment #11 and #12 Page 51and 52
#11 How might lobbyists affect political decision making and the lives of Canadians?
#12 To what extent do lobbyists represent Canadians? In what ways do they help or hinder effective government decision making around issues?

40. Connect to the big ideas Page 53
Do questions #1,2,3 on page 53. Do this in the section of your notes under the divider Governance and Rights.