Social Studies 6

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Social Studies 6

• Democracy and Provincial Exam Study Guide

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Democracy and Dictatorship

• Democracy - Power is held by the people
  (citizens)
• Democracy - Voting, debates, freedoms, rights,
  constitution, charter of rights and freedoms.
• Dictatorship - Power is held by one of a few
  people. Not many rights and freedoms for the
  citizens.

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Two Kinds of Democracy

• Direct Democracy - Every decision is voted on by
  the citizens directly.
• Representative Democracy - Citizens vote for
  representatives to make the decisions for them.
• Canada is a representative democracy.

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Democractic Values, Rights, Freedoms and
Responsibilites

• Democratic Values include liberty (freedom),
  equality, and equity (fairness)
• Right - Something a citizen is guaranteed to have
  without having to earn it. (eg. Right to an
  education)
• Freedom - Something a person is allowed to do
  without being punished, discriminated against,
  etc. (as long as it doesnt hurt someone elses
  freedoms or rights) (eg. Freedom of expression)

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Responsibilities Contd

• A democracy is only as strong as its citizens,
  and these citizens have the following
  responsibilities
• Stay informed about whats going on and if you
  dont like whats going on, then its up to you
  to take action to change things (eg. Petitions,
  etc.)
• Vote in elections, after you do your necessary
  research.
• Defend your rights, freedoms, and country

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Provincial Government - Executive Branch

• 3 Branches Executive, legislative, and judicial.
• Executive Branch Symbolic Part King or Queen of
  England (Queen Elizabeth II) and her
  representative, the Lieutenant Governor (Hon.
  Norman Kwong) who is chosen by the premier and
  can serve for as long as they like.
• Real Part PremierCabinet who are part of the
  party to win the most seats in an election.

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Provincial Government - Legislative Branch

• Legislative Branch All the members elected to
  the Legislative Assembly, including opposition
  members and the speaker.
• Each member is called a MLA, they represent a
  riding (part of Alberta), and they have their own
  seat.

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Provincial Government - Judicial Branch

• Judicial Branch - Lawyers and judges of the
  courts of Alberta.
• Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Appeals is
  the most important judge in Canada
• Judges have two jobs Interpret and apply the
  law/constitution to criminal and civil cases.
• If a law passed by the government doesnt agree
  with the constitution, then the judges can tell
  the L.B. to scrap it or change it.

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Roles of Each Branch

• E.B Propose or change laws. In control of taxes,
  spending, and proposing new bills.
• L.B Debates and passes new laws. Also chosen in
  elections every five years. Each MLA can propose
  new laws.
• J.B Interpret new laws and court case according
  to Constitution and Charter of Rights. Chosen by
  E.B. They have jobs until 75 or retirement.