Active Citizenship

1. What role does the media play in effecting change?

1.1. The media has a powerful role in effecting change in government, and this is because a mass majority of the general public is a constant media user. Traditionally, having political advertisements on television, radio, and newspapers was and is a very effective way of spreading your ideologies, but in the modern age of today social media, particularly Twitter, is a hugely more effective way to spread politics. Social media really gets points across to the youth, the future voters in elections. Media in general is an effective way to establish a presence in people lives, and without it politicians would not have the brand recognition necessary to win votes.

2. What are the characteristics of civil disobedience?

2.1. Civil disobedience is when people intentionally break the law while protesting laws that they consider to be wrong and unjust. This can be very effective, and the famous Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela practiced civil disobedience.

2.1.1. Civil disobedience should follow these three rules:

2.1.2. 1. Should not involve violence

2.1.3. 2. Should be directed against harmful laws

2.1.4. 3. You must take responsibility for your actions.

3. What are the similarities and differences among key political ideologies?

3.1. Democracy: Rule by the people for the people. Modern democracy uses representative democracies to allow citizens to elect people to make decisions for them. The main principles of democracy is equality and freedom. Most countries in the world are democratic. Democracy is an umbrella term, with many forms branching out from it.

3.1.1. Socialism: Socialism was developed when capitalism was caused great social harm and poverty was everywhere. Socialists believe the government should control the important parts of the major industries and economy. Canada's first socialist party, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, was formed during the Depression.

3.1.2. Liberalism: Liberalism was a theory that focuses on individual freedom above all else. It started out as being connected to the right to own property and that the government should have minimal involvement, but in the 20th century it shifted its focus from property and individual rights to the idea that the government should intervene to regulate the economy. Socially, liberalism supports government intervention to maintain basic standards of living and to protect the rights of all people.

3.1.3. Conservatism: Conservatism is a stance against change, innovation, and reform, and it aims to maintain established social and political values. It supports minimal government intervention in the economy. In the 20th century, conservatives started to believe that the government had a role in maintaining tradition, and for example they opposed same-sex marriage and abortion.

3.2. Totalitarianism:

3.2.1. Communism: The creators of this political theory believes that the ruling class would exploit the working class, and that the working class would have a revolution resulting in a classless society where property was collectively owned. Modern communisms are one-party states that maintained control with secret police, government control of citizens, and propaganda. Today, societies include China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam.

3.2.2. Fascism: Fascists believe in the importance of the state and the people's responsibility to serve it. They believe that the country requires strong leadership, a collective identity, and military strength. Nationalism and militarism is emphasized. War is necessary to keep a nation strong. Political opposition in forbidden. Nazi Germany was a fascist state.

4. Explain the political spectrum. What characterizes the left, center, and right portions of the spectrum?

4.1. The political spectrum is a visual used to illustrate how political parties relate to one another. The further in each direction parties are, the more extreme; communism is furthest left and fascism is furthest right.

4.1.1. Characteristics of left wing:

4.1.1.1. Supports change to improve the welfare of citizens

4.1.1.2. Government plays larger role in peoples lives, particularly in providing social services

4.1.1.3. Law and order are important to protect the rights of citizens and their equality

4.1.1.4. i.e. socialism, communism

4.1.2. Characteristics of right wing:

4.1.2.1. Tradition is important; change is treated with caution

4.1.2.2. Government plays smaller role in capitalist system. Private businesses ensure the needs of citizens are met.

4.1.2.3. i.e. conservatism, facism

4.1.3. Characteristics of center:

4.1.3.1. Tradition is important, but change is supported

4.1.3.2. Government plays role only when it improves citizen lives

4.1.3.3. Law and order are important to protect the rights of citizens and their equality

4.1.3.4. i.e. liberalism

5. How do Canada’s political parties differ and where do they fit on the political spectrum?

5.1. Canada's main political parties of Liberal Party and Conservative Party aren't very solid. Canada's political parties are a lot more blurred on the spectrum, with the Liberal Party not being very liberal and the Conservative Party not that conservative. The Liberal Party has adapted progressive policies of the socialists such as universal health care. The other prominent party, the NDP, supports social assistance and government funder health care and education, and is against privatization of corporations. The NDP is the most socialist pary in Canada.

6. What are the stages of passing a bill?

6.1. 1. Introduced to House of Commons; here it gets printed and distribute to MPs

6.2. 2. The principles and purpose of the bill are then debated in the House

6.3. 3. A committee examines the bill clause by clause

6.4. 4. Committee reports back to the House, which reviews amendments to the bill

6.5. 5. Gets read a third time; MPs have final chance to review the bill

7. What are the benefits and challenges of a minority government?

7.1. Benefits:

7.1.1. Combined, other parties have more seats than the governing party

7.1.2. Individually, minority governments cannot oppose government, but together, in a coalition, they merge while keeping political identity and they can oppose the government. Or they could just merge parties to make a new one, which has happened before. In 2003 the Canadian Alliance merged with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and formed the Conservative Party of Canada, lead by Stephen Harper.

7.2. Challenges:

7.2.1. Cannot fully implement policies and cannot make important changes

7.2.2. Minority governments usually maintain the order of things even if change would be better for the country, because they cannot do much

8. How do lobbyists and pressure groups influence government decisions?

8.1. Lobbyists, people hired to represent the ideas of pressure groups, can influence government by influencing the decision makers like politicians and bureaucrats. These lobbies can influence the government decisions mostly in way that correspond with the public interest, but this is not always the case. For example, in 1977 a tobacco company lobby fought the government on their efforts to limit advertising.

9. What does active citizenship look like in Canadian politics?

9.1. Active citizenship in Canada can be achieved by participating in democracy, which the majority of Canadians do in the form of voting in federal and provincial elections. Other ways you can be an active citizen in Canadian government is by contacting people in the government such as MPs and MLAs to voice your concerns, and special interest groups, or pressure groups, are also a good way to achieve goals and change within your government system.

10. How do B.C.’s political parties differ and where do they fit on the political spectrum?

10.1. Two parties alternate power: B.C. Liberals and the NDP. Green Party has increased its presence.

10.2. Liberals are supportive of big business and focuses on the rich, and the NDP are supportive of big labour and focuses on regular people

10.3. Political spectrum similar to federal; blurred lines, Liberal Party not that liberal

11. What are the steps of the electoral process in Canada?

11.1. 1. Dissolution: governor general dissolves Parliament, and election is called

11.2. 2. Enumeration: national list of voters is made

11.3. 3. Nomination: political parties choose candidates to run in each constituency or riding

11.4. 4. Campaigning: parties attempt to increase public support and to raise money

11.5. 5. Voting: votes visit polling stations to register and vote

11.6. 6. Tabulating: votes are counted and a winner is declared for each constituency or riding