Political Definitions

¨Seat : a reserved position

¨Riding/Constituency: A riding is an administrative jurisdiction or electoral district

¨Constituent: an individual voter within a riding

¨Member of Parliament: a representative of the voters to a parliament.

¨MLA: Member of the Legislative Assembly; a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly.

¨Cabinet:A body of persons appointed by a head of state or a prime minister to head the executive departments of the government and to act as official advisers.

 

¨The Official Opposition: is usually the largest parliamentary opposition party in the House of Commons or a provincial legislative assembly that is not in government, either on its own or as part of a governing coalition.

¨Senate: consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister.

¨Parliament: A democratic government’s legislature with three functions: representation, legislation and parliamentary control

 

¨Cabinet Shuffle:In the parliamentary system a cabinet reshuffle or shuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet.

¨Referendum: (also known as a plebiscite or a vote on a ballot question) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.

¨Governor General: Representative to the Queen (sovereign); powers/authority have been delegated to the Governor General. (Current: David Johnson)

¨Prime Minister:  the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system

¨House of Commons:a democratically elected body, whose members are known as Members of Parliament (MPs)

 

¨Political Party: a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating candidates with aligned political views and trying to seat them in political office

¨Speaker: official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the house.

¨Legislature:deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws

Upcoming Duedates

Monday, Jan. 21: Quiz on Power and Gov't unit (objective, no short answer)
Monday, Jan. 21: You must have all mini-projects completed and ready to present in class
Thursday, Jan. 24th: Major interview research project is due. If you decided to do the paper, it MUST be passed in on www.turnitin.com  All presenters must be ready to go first thing on Thursday. Please see me if you have any special requirements for technology etc.

Tuesday, Jan.15

Block B: finished notes on Mi'kmaq and French Government (please complete questions as a folder assignment)
Went over British Gov't notes -- passed out hand-out with all notes
Copied questions for "The Belfast Riot" article (folder assignment)

Block A: Same as above (minus the Mi'kmaq and French Gov't notes)

In Class Assignment Questions -- Friday, Jan. 11th

"The Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly" by Wayne MacKinnon.

Please go to the website: http://www.revparl.ca/english/issue.asp?param=204&art=1429

Please complete the following questions in ink or pencil; I will not accept typed answers.

1.            What significance does Province House have in Canadian history? Island history?

2.            Explain the "unusual" land arrangement that led to the establishment of the British colonial                government.

3.            Who was the first governor of St. John's Island? Why was the council different than  originally     proposed?

4.            Describe the composition of the new assembly. Where did they first meet?

5.            List three problems encountered by Patterson and his administration in the first 15 years.

6.            Use examples to explain the quotation “found itself tolerated when needed and its power         confined by the other branches.”

7.            What was the goal of the Escheat party? What type of movement was it?  

8.            Explain the meaning and significance of "backstairs influence" to the Escheat movement.

9.            Define "responsible government" (use a search engine)

10.          Who was George Coles and how is he significant to Island history?

If you finish early you can:

• Use the internet to complete your political definitions (scroll to older post for list of words)
• Work on the questions from the slideshow "Mi'kmaq and French Government"
• Work on a mini-project
• Work on your interview research project

Homework

 

¨Please use the internet or a dictionary to find the definitions for the following terms:

Seat

¨Riding/Constituency

¨Constituent

¨Member of Parliament

¨MLA

¨Cabinet

¨Cabinet Shuffle

¨Referendum

 

¨Governor General

¨Prime Minister

¨House of Commons

¨The Official Opposition

¨Senate

¨Parliament

¨Political Party

¨Speaker

¨Legislature

Wed. Jan. 9

A & B:

Notes on Party Politics (discussed FPTP vs. PR model as electoral systems on PEI)
Block A: Held a plebiscite to vote on the possibility of electoral reform.

PR: won 13 to 7
3 spoiled ballots

Jan. 7 & 8

Monday and Tuesday:
Introductory notes to  Power and Government Unit 3 (2 slideshows)
Please remember that tomorrow (at midnight) is your last day to submit your Historical Significance Proposals