BC Social Studies 11 curriculum

1. Government and
Election Review!

2. Foundation of Government
• British roots
• Representative Democracy
– elected representatives make
decisions on our behalf
• Constitutional Monarchy
– monarch has only the powers laid
out in the nation’s constitution and
laws

3. Federal System
• National government + Provincial and
Territorial governments = Canada

4. Division of Power
• Federal Responsibilities
• Provincial Responsibilities
• Shared Responsibilities
• See p. 224
• Residual Powers
• areas that did not exist or were not
listed in 1867 are assigned to the
federal government

5. Municipal Government
• Responsibilities
– Garbage collection, sewage
treatment, fire protection, water
supply and the establishment of
schools
• Powers given and taken away by
Province

6. Branches of Government
Executive Branch
make decisions and administer them
(through the civil service)
Legislative Branch
make laws
Judicial Branch
interpret and administer the law

7. Executive Branch
• Makes decisions and administers
them (through the civil service)
• Federal
– Governor General, Prime Minister,
Cabinet, Civil/Public Service
• Governor General – mostly
ceremonial, Royal Assent
• Prime Minister – head of
government, nation, political party

8. Executive Branch
• Cabinet – MPs chosen by PM to
lead government ministries
– Cabinet shuffle
– Cabinet solidarity
– Party whip
• Public Service
– employees who perform the on-
going business of government

9. Legislative Branch
• Makes laws
• Federal
– Governor General, House of
Commons, Senate
• House of Commons – 308 MPs
– Constituency
– Caucus
– Speaker of the House
– Free Vote

10. Legislative Branch
• Senate
– Appointed by GG on PM’s
recommendation
• Patronage
• Selected regionally
– “sober second thought”

11. Provincial Government
Federal British Columbia
Governor General Lieutenant Governor
Prime Minister Premier
Cabinet Cabinet
House of Commons Legislative Assembly
Member of
Parliament (MP)
Member of
Legislative Assembly
(MLA)
Senate No Equivalent

12. How a Bill Becomes a Law
• See p. 237
• Bill Drafted – by MP or Senator,
but usually Cabinet
• First Reading - bill is introduced
• Second Reading - bill is debated
and possibly changed
• multi-party committee studies bill
(Committee Stage)
• Third Reading - bill is accepted
or rejected (vote)
• Senate – may suggest changes
• Royal Assent – GG signs it; bill
is now law

13. Elections
• Eligibility Requirements
– 18 years old and a Canadian citizen
• Three Stages: Campaigning, Voting,
and Tabulating
• PM asks GG to call an election
– At least once every five years
– Reasons: government is popular, test for
support, catch the opposition at a bad time,
vote of non-confidence, or budget defeated

14. Elections
• First Past the Post – whoever has the
most votes wins
– Pros: simple, easy to understand
– Cons: all or nothing, fewer people may have
voted for winner than others
• Proportional Representation
– % of votes = % of seats
– Pros: more representation from other parties
– Cons: little local representation, minority
governments

15. Types of Governments
• Majority Government – more than
50% of seats from the same party
– Pros: stable, consistent, efficient
• Minority Government – ruling party
has less than 50% of the seats
– Pros: responsive, accountable,
transparent