Civics @ WDHS
  • Home
  • WDHS Student Parliament
  • Unit One
  • Unit Two
  • Unit Three
  • Unit Four
  • Unit Five
  • Culminating Assignment
  • Symbols of Canada
  • Important Links

Unit Three: The Orders, Workings, and Elections of Government


Picture
Our Country Our Parliament
File Size: 6683 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Confused??

Don't panic! Click on the file at left (Our Country Our Parliament) for a great booklet created by the Parliament of Canada to help explain itself to the citizens of this country. Highly visual with language that is easy to understand, this reasource might help make things a little clearer for you. Of course, don't hesitate to ask your teacher for help.

Orders of Government

Orders of Government Group Brainstorm.pdf
File Size: 169 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Which Order of Government?
File Size: 666 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


The Closest Order to you - MUNICIPAL

Picture
Coat of Arms of Hamilton
Citizens of counties, towns, and cities elect representatives to be responsible for municipal, or local, government.  The elected representatives of counties and other rural bodies, such as improvement districts, are called reeves (the heads) and councilors.  People elected to run towns and cities are called mayors (the heads) and aldermen and/or councilors.  In both cases, the group together is called a council, and by "local government," we mean the various councils.  Councilors may belong to political parties, but they do not represent a party when they run for election.  Also, unlike the Prime Ministers or Premiers, reeves and mayors are elected directly to their positions.

Each provincial Legislature decides what local governments are responsible for.  Usually they are given authority in matters such as local fire and police services, libraries, transportation within the municipality or county, local health issues, pest control, and so on.  Municipal governments may pass laws governing these areas, and these laws are called bylaws. (Alberta Online Dictionary)




THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO - PROVINCIAL

 

Picture
Coat of Arms of Ontario
Government in the provincial order consists of the Premier and Cabinet Ministers.  Like their federal counterparts, the Premier and ministers are almost always from the same political party, the one with the most elected members in the Legislative Assembly.

The premier, cabinet ministers, and all other elected members together make up the Legislative Assembly and are called Members of the Provincial Parliament or MPPs (i.e. Ted McMeekin), while the Legislature is the Legislative Assembly together with the lieutenant governor (who represents The Queen).  The provinces' areas of responsibility, defined in the Constitution Act, 1867, include health, child welfare, municipal government, highways, labour, property and civil rights, and education.


Alternative Assignment - Creating your own Private Members' Bill

 
creating_your_own_provincial_law.pdf
File Size: 2354 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Government of Canada - FEDERAL

Picture
Coat of Arms of Canada
In the federal order, the government consists of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers.  The Prime Minister and cabinet are always members of the same political party, usually the one that has the most members in the House of Commons, unless a Minority Government is currently in power. 

In the federal order, the government is part of an institution called Parliament.  Parliament consists of the Queen, represented by the governor general, and two Houses, the House of Commons (the "lower House") and the Senate (the "upper House").  In turn, the House of Commons consists of all Members of Parliament - MPs - while the Senate is made up of Senators appointed by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister.  Parliament's areas of responsibility under our Constitution include citizenship, foreign policy, national defense, currency, banking, and the postal service.


Elections - The Vote and Political Parties in Canada

Where do you sit on the political spectrum?.pdf
File Size: 249 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Optional Activity: Bowling for Columbine and the Political Spectrum

Bowling for Columbine is an excellent way to review concepts of bias, political and personal ideologies and their impact on poltics.
Bowling for Columbine.pdf
File Size: 208 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


The Election Campaign

Perceptions of politics: Lois battles Adam West for the mayor's office
Family Guy Election Campaign

2008 "Time for some Campaign'in"
Can you find some clues that tell you about Barack Obama and John McCain's political ideologies?
Where would you put them on the political spectrum?

What is an attack ad? The following campaign against Prime Minister Jean Chretien was infamous during 1993 - do you think there is any value to such a strategy?
1993 "Face of a Prime Minister" Attack Ad
Conservative Party 2013 Trudeau Attack Ad

2008 Sarah Palin's Newspaper Question
2008 vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin runs into a problem when she can't name a newspaper she reads

Note: The Vote in Canada

Download the note below to learn about what happens during a Federal election:
First Past the Post.pdf
File Size: 103 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Vote Note
File Size: 172 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Videos: Different ways of voting - Is our system the best?

Our Electoral System
The Problems with "First Past the Post"
Mixed-Member Proportional Representation

Assignment: Political Party Assignment

Using the websites located in the "Interesting Websites" section of this website (Under the heading "Political Parties") complete the following handout:
Political Party.pdf
File Size: 597 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Assignment: Classroom Election

Students are asked to create their own political parties, holding a mock election in the classroom over six days.
Create Your Own Political Party.pdf
File Size: 89 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Election ballots used around the world:

Ballots: Canada, New Zealand, Angola
United States, Congo, Barbados

  • Home
  • WDHS Student Parliament
  • Unit One
  • Unit Two
  • Unit Three
  • Unit Four
  • Unit Five
  • Culminating Assignment
  • Symbols of Canada
  • Important Links