Understanding Nationalism and Citizenship

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Understanding Nationalism and Citizenship

• Exploring complex and abstract social constructs

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Working definitions

• Nationalism a way of thinking or style of
  thought through which individuals identity
  themselves as members of a nation
• Citizenship condition of being vested with the
  rights, duties and responsibilities as a member
  of a state or union.

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I am Canadian!

• How do you conceptualize your own identity as a
  Canadian citizen?

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Tell me about Canada

• Population 32 800 000
• Total Area 9 984 670 sq km
• Location Northern North America, bordering the
  North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific
  Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the
  north, north of the United States

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Oh theres more.

• National capital Ottawa
• System of government confederation with
  parliamentary democracy
• Confederation July 1, 1867

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And more

• Constitution
• - The Constitution Act of March 29, 1867
  created a federation of four provinces
• - The Constitution Act of April 17 1982
  transferred formal control over the constitution
  from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian
  Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as
  procedures for constitutional amendments

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And more

• Legal System Based on English common law, except
  in Quebec where a civil law system based on
  French traditions prevails

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It continues

• System of Government
• - Age of suffrage 18 (universal)
• - Executive Branch
• - Chief of state Queen Elizabeth II
  represented by Governor General Michaelle Jean
• - Head of government Prime Minister Stephen
  Harper

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More on Canadian government

• Legislative Branch
• - Bicameral parliament consisting of the
  Senate and the House of Commons
• - Senators are appointed by the prime
  minister and serve until reaching 75 years of
  age. (Normal limit is 105 senators)
• - There are 308 seats in the House of Commons
  and members are elected by popular vote to serve
  for up to 5 year terms

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Yet more on the Canadian government

• - Judicial Branch
• - Supreme Court of Canada (judges are
  appointed by the prime minister through the
  governor general) Federal Court of Canada
  Federal Court of Appeal Provincial Courts (Court
  of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court,
  Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

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So whats my role?

• Clearly Canada is a rich and vibrant nation
• We conceptualize ourselves as Canadian citizens
  through a sense of nationalism
• What responsibilities and obligations do we hold
  as citizens of this country?