Good links...
http://www.linktolearning.com/government/government.htm
http://www.linktolearning.com/grade5ss.htm#Aspects of Government in Canada
National Political Parties...
1. a) political party: a group of people who believe in the same policies towards running a country.
b) party platform: policies and issues the party wants to improve or introduce.
c) multi-party political system: several political parties represent the people in the House of Commons.
d) Prime Minister: leader of the party who won the election.
e) Official Opposition: party with the second largest number of seats (2nd in the election).
f) Leader of the Opposition: leader of the party with the 2nd number of seats.
g) Grits: nickname for the Liberals.
h) Tories: nickname for the Conservatives.
2. The main parties are: Conservative Party of Canada, Liberal, The New Democratic Party - NDP, The Bloc Quebecois
How Political Parties are Organized... p = paragraph
p.1- individual members; organizations; chieftains; local; provincial; national
p. 2- poll association; party members; "machine"; election; voters; knock; promote; campaign; talk; signs; polling
p. 3- conventions; party; members; officials; platform; policies
p. 4- campaign; donated; war chest; Members; industry; businesses; unions; wealthy
p. 5- doomed; party's; nerves; feel; flexible; calm
Who are the Back benchers?
1. The backbenchers are the members of the governing party who are not in the cabinet, they are not in charge of a ministry... Ie: Finance, Citizenship and Immigration...
2. Backbenchers sit directly behind the seats of the Cabinet Ministers.
3. The cabinet ministers need the back benchers' support because they need them to support and vote for policies that they have proposed.
4. A backbenchers job can be difficult because, they want to support the policies of the government, but must not adopt policies that will upset the voters from his/her constituency (people who elected the M.P.)
5. A backbencher makes his/her supporters' views known during caucus (meetings) held for party members in the House of Commons and in the Senate each week.
6. If a backbencher disagrees with the governments policy and votes against his/her own leader - they may be forced to resign.
Who is the Opposition Party?
1. The opposition party is important because it's the second largest number of seats in the House of Commons - and they help to add a voice to all voters... or question the elected government.
2. The opposition in the Government today is the NDP - leader, Jack Layton.
3. The main purpose of the leader of the opposition is ask questions and keep the government "in check".
4. The main purpose of the opposition party is to research or find out how all voters think and keep the gov in check.
5. The part of each daily session that the opposition party likes is Question Period - debate... During this time the Opposition can ask the Prime Minister and Cabinet (the M.P.'s who are Ministers) about bills and issues.
Civil Service
1. The civil service is so important because they do work for government and the citizens of Canada.
2. The types of jobs that may be civil servant jobs are: typists, doctors, nurses, teachers, secretaries, computer programmers, lawyers, painters... etc.
3. If there were no civil servants, the government would not run or function.
4. The Cabinet Ministers depend on civil servants to run the departments, therefore, the government would not function without civil servants.
5. Civil servants do routine, but specialized trained jobs and are experts in their field.
Speaker of the House
Speaker of the House
1. The Speaker of the House of Commons is elected by the members of Parliament by secret ballot.
2. The Speaker looks very dignified in his/her black robes and tricorn hat worn in processions.
3. The sitting in the House of Commons begins with the Speaker's Parade.
4. The Speaker of the Senate is appointed by the Governor General.
5. At the beginning of each day, the Speaker says a prayer before he/she is seated.
6. The Sergeant at Arms carries the Mace at the beginning of the Parade.
7. The Speaker sits in a very large ornately carved armchair in the House. (House of Commons or House of the Senate)
8. Members of Parliament show respect to the Speaker by bowing and speaking politely.
9. The Speaker must make sure there is order in the House and the members follow Parliamentary procedures.
10. The Speaker cannot show any favouritism toward any party.
The Opening of Parliament
4, 6, 18, 1, 7, 12, 17, 2, 13, 3, 8, 14, 9, 5, 15, 16, 11, 10
A Working Day in the House of Commons
1. Routine Proceedings
2. Question Period
3. Member's Statement
4. Private Members Business
5. Routine Proceedings
6. Government orders
7. Question Period
8. Member's Statements
9. Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers Period
10. Government Orders
11. Caucus
