2. Political Spectrum
• p. 255
• Left-Wing Beliefs
– Welfare of all citizens
– Big Government
– Rights of all citizens to be protected fairly and equally
• Centrist Beliefs
– Tradition is important, but don’t fear change
– Medium Government
– Protect rights of individuals
• Right-Wing Beliefs
– Tradition is important, and change can be dangerous
– Small Government (rely on business)
– Protect society and its traditions
4. Specific Ideologies
• Communism
– Government should own property
and control business
– People work together for common
good
• Socialism
– Public should own and control
business, for the benefit of all
citizens
5. Specific Ideologies
• Liberalism
– Government should provide services for
citizens to improve minimum standard of
living
– Balances between social freedoms and
protecting civil liberties
• Conservatism
– Government should have little influence
on business
– Business should provide services for
citizens
6. Specific Ideologies
• Fascism
– National pride and loyalty more important
than the individual
– Strong military
– Government controls of all aspects of life
– Enforces traditions
– Demands loyalty to a single leader and
single culture
9. Influencing Government
• Contact your MP, MLA, or
municipal politician
• Letter to the Editor
• Petition
• Present a Brief
• Protest
• Court
• Pressure/Lobby Group
10. Influencing Government
• Pressure/Lobby Groups
– Groups who seek to influence
government policies
• Institutionalized
• Issue-Oriented
– Lobbyist
• Mass Media
– Spreads information and opinions
11. Civil Disobedience
• Intentionally breaking laws
considered unjust
• Three Principles
– Non-violence
– Target laws that are seriously harmful
– Take responsibility and face
punishment
12. Legal System
• Judicial Branch
– Interprets and administers the law
– Courts and judges
• Rule of Law
– fixed set of laws that applies to all
people equally
• Legal Tradition
– Based on British law, except Quebec
civil law (French Code Napoléon)
13. Categories of Law
• Civil Law
– Deals with relations between private
parties, such as individuals and
companies (contracts, property, etc.)
• Criminal Law
– Deals with matters that affect society
(assault, theft, vandalism, etc.)
– Crimes are considered to be
committed against the state, not
individual victims
14. Provincial Courts
• Provinces are
responsible for the
administration of justice
• BC Court System
– p. 275
– Appeal Court of BC
– Supreme Court of BC
• Indictable offences
– Provincial Court
• Summary offences
15. Supreme Court of Canada
• Highest court in Canada
• Rules on constitutional issues and is the final
court of appeal for select criminal cases
16. Canadian Constitution
• Written Constitution
• Canadian Constitution Act (1982)
– Pushed by PM Pierre Trudeau
– Description of powers (rules for
government and law-making)
– Charter of Rights and Freedoms
– Amending Formula
• Unwritten Constitution
17. Charter of Rights and
Freedoms
• Freedoms
– Freedom of conscience and religion
– Freedom of thought and expression
– Freedom of peaceful assembly
– Freedom of association
18. Charter of Rights and
Freedoms
• Rights
– Democratic
– Mobility
– Legal
– Equality
– Language
• Enforcement
– If rights denied, take to SC of Canada
19. Rights in Conflict
• Limiting Clause
– rights and freedoms are not absolute
– may be limited if considered
“justifiable in a free and democratic
society” by the SC of Canada
• Notwithstanding Clause
– Loophole that allows provincial
governments to pass laws that
violate the Charter
Notes de l'éditeur
Ideology = belief about how a government should operate