Vocabulary Terms (Continued from Lesson 2)
Leader of the Opposition
Free Vote
Caucus
Parliament
Senate
Private Members' Bill
Government
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Legislative Branch
|
the leader of the political party with the 2nd most seats in the House of Commons
A situation where all MP's in the House of Commons are free to vote however they like
A meeting with just their own political party members
House of Commons + The Senate
A body within the Legislative Branch that reviews bills passed by the House of Commons
A bill proposed by a backbencher to get reviewed by the House of Comons
an organized, structured system for decision making
consists of the crown, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the bureaucracy
consists of the Supreme Court of Canada and other federally appointed courts
consists of the other members in the House of Commons and the Senate
|
Elections and Voting
Convention
|
it's not a law but is treated like a law
|
When Does An Election Occur?
1) A 5 year period has elapsed since the last election.
2) The Prime Minister's party receives a lack of confidence vote in the House of Commons. (This means the current government has voted against a budget that resulted in a "NO" vote against the leading/governing political party---ultimately toppling the government and "losing the confidence" of their current leader.)
2) The Prime Minister's party receives a lack of confidence vote in the House of Commons. (This means the current government has voted against a budget that resulted in a "NO" vote against the leading/governing political party---ultimately toppling the government and "losing the confidence" of their current leader.)
How Does It Occur? (Process)
1) Dissolution of Parliament
2) Enumeration
3) Nomination
4) Campaigning
5) Balloting
6) Tabulation
|
Prime Minister asks the Governor General to "dissolve" Parliament. (Government closes, no laws passed until after results of new election)
Elections Canada checks names on voters' registration lists for every riding and corrects addresses.
Each political party holds a meeting to decide who will run as candidates and who will be their leader.
By law, an election campaign has a minimum of 36 days from Parliament dissolving until election day. Campaigning= the political candidates give speeches, shake hands with voters, make TV ads, do radio and live interviews. Party leaders usually go to different areas in Canada to gather support during this time--but Canada's geography is HUGE--which makes things difficult.
the actual physical act of voting.
To vote, you need to be a REGISTERED VOTER. (i.e. filling out a form with your name, address, birthday) Why? Because the organization needs to know this info to ensure you don't vote more than once. This is why you need to bring I.D. when you vote so they can cross you off. Counting of votes and announcing winners.
Interesting Fact: Because we have a 3 hour difference between the EAST vs. WEST coasts, there is a law that says "No voting results can be published until the last voting location closes." So no media can start reporting election results until 8:00pm Pacific Standard Time. |
What is Voter Apathy?
Photo Credits:
Political cartoon by Bearman appearing in the online edition of the Cincinnati Beacon (www.cincinnatibeacon.com) on November 9, 2007. Cartoon focuses on an apathetic voter who complains about the election results but doesn't vote herself. |
Voter Apathy is a term that describes people who do not express interest enough to vote. Why is it important for people to choose who their leader is in the country? Because you don't want only a handful of people to choose a leader who make decisions for Canadians when actually the majority of the Canadians disagree with this person's decisions.
Every citizen has a responsibility/obligation to cast a vote so that if the governing party is doing something against the will of their people, you can do something about it.
Every citizen has a responsibility/obligation to cast a vote so that if the governing party is doing something against the will of their people, you can do something about it.
Disclaimer: Videos below contain coarse language and mature content. Viewer discretion is advised.
|
|
|
If voting gives you the right to protest..how do people protest?
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
different_forms_of_protest_groups.pdf | |
File Size: | 77 kb |
File Type: |
Review Worksheet:
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/pdf.png)
elections_worksheet_1.pdf | |
File Size: | 94 kb |
File Type: |