SS 11 – Ch 9 QuestionsName: ______Block: _____

Ch. 9: Citizens Effecting Change

Democracy begins with the People

1. What does active citizenship mean in a democracy?

2. Choose one of the “issues of importance to Canadians” listed on p. 290. Why is this issue important to you?

Influencing Government

3. List 5 ways individuals can influence the government between elections.

4. What are pressure groups and why might they be more effective than individuals?

5. What do lobbyists do? Give 2 reasons they have an unfair advantage over pressure groups or individuals.

6. Explain why using the courts to influence government and effect change can work. Why might it be difficult to use the courts to effect change?

7. What is the role of the media in government?

8. In what ways have traditional media been replaced or changed by new technologies? In your opinion, will new technology help voter awareness and participation? Explain.

9. List the three principles of civil disobedience.

10. Why are the three guidelines above an important part of this approach to changing government policies?

11. Why were blockades more effective at Clayquot Sound than a violent protest might have been?

Political Ideologies and Parties

12. Explain the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy.

13. Explain the two main principals of democracy.

A Guide to Government (page 304)

14. “Canada’s government operates as a federal system.” What is a federal system?

15. What do the legislative and executive branches of the federal government do?

16. What does the judicial branch do?

17. How does the government pay for its programs?

18. Explain how surpluses and deficits can affect the national debt

19. Use Figure 9-16 on p. 304 to fill in the following table. You may wish to use different colours to distinguish between the three branches of government.

Parliament

Judiciary

20. What is the role of the civil service, or bureaucracy?

21. Together the Prime Minister and the Cabinet form the executive branch, which make most of the important decisions in government.The PM has considerable powers; provide a list of some of the powers the PM?

22. What are the responsibilities of Cabinet ministers?

23. Why do some people feel the PMO and PCO have too much power?

24. Explain the term “Order-in-Council”. Why is it seen as being undemocratic?

25. Why are there so many steps in the process of making laws?

26. At which stage of passing a bill is it most heavily debated?

27. At which stage might the government seek public input into a new law?

28. How do political parties ensure support among their members in Parliament?

29. When might free votes occur in the House of Commons?

30. Why are private member’s bills seldom passed?

31. Complete the following chart delineating the steps in making a law. See Figure 9-20 on p. 308.

Law Making Process in Canada

32. Read the information on page 310 to complete the following table.

Minority / Majority
Benefits / Drawbacks / Benefits / Drawbacks

33. Why is proroguing Parliament seen as undemocratic?

34. Under what circumstances can Parliament be dissolved?

35. How do political parties choose candidates?

36. List and describe the steps to a federal election in Canada.

37. What is voter apathy?

38. Describe the difference between first-past-the-post (FPTP) and single transferable vote (STV) electoral systems.

39. Do you agree with compulsory voting? Why or why not? (p.318)

40. What are the major reasons for young people not voting?