SOCIAL STUDIES 30-1/2 Democracies: Canada/USA/Sweden

1. SOCIAL STUDIES 30-1/2 Democracies: Canada/USA/Sweden

2. Types of Democracies  Direct Democracy  Indirect Democracy  Parliamentary Democracy  Presidential Democracy  Representative Democracy  Unitary Democracy  City-State Democracy  Nation-State Democracy  One Party Democracy  Multiparty Democracy

3. 8 Techniques of Democracies  Representation by Population  Periodic Elections  Secret Ballot  Independent Courts  Power of the Purse  Political Parties  Interest Groups  Free Press

4. Characteristics of Democracy  Majority Rule  Citizen Participation  Minority Rights  Opposition  Limits on Dissent  Accountability of Government to the People  Political Parties  Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms  Provisions for changes in Political Systems  Positively Influences People

5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Democracy Advantages:  a. Rights and Freedoms  b. Provision for change  c. Active Citizen Participation  d. Informed/ Educated Public  e. Protects Minorities Disadvantages: a. Inefficient b. Bureaucratic c. Elite Groups d. Voter Apathy e. Majority Tyranny f. Pluralism: Pressure Groups /Interest Groups / Lobbyist  f. Competition Increases Accountability  g. Flexible

6. Pre-Requisites of Democracy People should be able to remove their leaders and replace them with more suitable representatives. This requires: 1.Elections is held on regular basis. 2. Choice among candidates. 3. Secret Ballot 4. Universal Suffrage. 5.Allow for changes in leadership. 6.Freedom of Association  Formal Equality before law.  Ensure legal equality, thus independent Courts  All Fundamental Freedoms and Rights.

7. Historical Origins to Democracy  Hobbes - Believed that the Monarch was the absolute power and people should surrender their freedom to the sovereign.  Locke – Believed government should rest in the hands of the people. The purpose of government should be to protect and foster individual rights.  Rosseau – Believed that government cannot wield its authority by force alone but must have the written consent, such as a constitution of the governed. Thus following the general will of society.  J.S. Mills – Government should protect citizens from being harmed by others and individuals should be able to make decisions for themselves. The government should only help those that need the help.  Classical Liberalism – early 19thcentury version of liberalism, which opposed almost all government intervention of any kind, including social welfare measures.

8. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT  RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT  MAJORITY GOVERNMENT  MINORITY GOVERNMENT  COALITION GOVERNMENT  HOUSE OF COMMONS  SENATE  EXECUTIVE  LEGISLATIVE  JUDICIAL

9. Canadian Branches of Government Branches Of Government Executive Legislative Judicial Sovereign Governor General Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers House of Commons Senate Supreme Court

10. So why does our government look the way that it does? Regional issues: ◦ Canada is a huge nation, arguably a nation of regions History: ◦ Confederation was a joining of four already almost sovereign provinces who did not want to lose their authority to make decisions. This was balanced with the realities of the time (American/British interests in North America) ◦ Confederation was a compromise so too was the structure of government Federalism ◦ This clearly outlines the roles for the provinces and limits the power of the federal government without making it impotent ◦ This also establishes each of the Branches of the Government Responsible Government: ◦ Government is responsible to the people through both the legislative branch and the executive branch of the Government ◦ Confidence Votes  Have to have the majority of the House of Commons or government is dissolved and an election is called  Party Discipline ◦ Ministerial Responsibility ◦ Supremacy of parliament    

11. How a Bill becomes Law:

12. Federal Responsibilities? Executive: Made up of? Responsibilities? Structures? How does someone get Elected? Legislative: Made up of? Responsibilities? Judicial: Made up of? Responsibilities? Canadian Government Levels and Branches Provincial: Responsibilities? Executive: Made up of? Responsibilities? Municipal Responsibilities? Executive: Made up of? Responsibilities? Structures? Structures? How does someone get Elected? How does someone get Elected? Legislative: Made up of? Responsibilities? Legislative: Made up of? Responsibilities? Judicial: Made up of? Responsibilities? Judicial: Made up of? Responsibilities?

14. Voting/Electoral Process: Federal Election 2006 ◦ Areas of Concern?? Canada uses the system of Single member constituency for electing members into the House of Commons ◦ Or First Past-the-Post ◦ This system has led to some very interesting results The PM is the Leader of the party with the most votes is a sitting member of the H of C ◦ Appoints Cabinet, Senators and Judges  Cabinet decisions must be unanimous  Cabinet Solidarity ◦ Appoints ministers ◦ May or may not be in the Cabinet Key Questions: ◦ Does Canada need a Governor General? ◦ Is the Canadian Electoral system Fair? ◦ Does the Canadian Electoral System represent all Canadians?    

15. Canadian Politics: “So you like Democracy Eh?!”

16. CANADIAN POLITICAL HISTORY  PARTY DEFEATS ◦ 1873: ALEXANDER MACKENZIE DEFEATED JOHN MACDONALD – PACIFIC RAILWAY SCANDAL ◦ 1926: W.L. MACKENZIE KING DEFEATED ARTHUR MEIGHEN (MINORITY) ◦ 1979: JOE CLARK DEFEATED B/C OF BUDGET PROPOSAL (MINORITY)

17. SENATE REFORM  SENATE REFORM  REFORM LEADER PRESTON MANNING – TRIPLE E SENATE ◦ ELECTED ◦ EFFECTIVE ◦ EQUAL

18. GOVERNOR GENERAL  DAVID JOHNSTON  HEAD OF STATE  SYMBOLIC ROLE  APPOINTED BY GOVT IN POWER ON ADVICE FROM CABINET  CEREMONIAL DUTIES / GREET FOREIGN DIGNITARIES / SOLD DEADLOCK OR HELP IN EMERGENCIES

19. EXECUTIVE BRANCH - CANADA  24 SUSSEX DRIVE  HEAD OF GOVERNMENT  GOVERNOR GENERAL – HEAD OF STATE (MICHELLE JEAN)  P.M. IS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT  LEADER OF PARTY WITH MOST SEATS  RESPONSIBLE GOVT – RESIGN IF LOSE SUPPORT IN H OF C  ELECTION UPTO 4 YEARS  CAN BE RE-ELECTED AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE  CABINET ARE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT – KEY POSITIONS: JUSTICE / FINANCE/ DEFENCE  CABINET SOLIDARITY- NO CRITICIZE IN PUBLIC

20. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH - CANADA  BICAMERAL  PARLIAMENT ◦ HOUSE OF COMMONS (LOWER) ◦ SENATE (UPPER) –APPOINTED BY EXECUTIVE & APPROVED BY HOUSE  SENATE ‘RUBBER STAMP’  SENATORS APPOINTED !  HOUSE OF COMMONS CAN REVERSE ANY EXECUTIVE DECISION WITH A MAJORITY VOTE = PARLIAMENT CLOSED AND RE- ELECTION CALLED  ‘TOW PARTY LINE’  310 CONSTITUENTS / MPs  REPRESENTATION BY POPULATION

21. JUDICIAL BRANCH - CANADA  INTERPRET & APPLY LAW  UNITARY SYSTEM OF SHARED COURTS BY FEDERAL & PROVINCIAL LAW  DIFFERENT LEVELS (SUPREME, PROV, LOCAL) – CREATED & MAINTAINED BY PROVINCE, JUDGES APPOINTED BY THE FEDS  CIVIL LAW MOSTLY PROVINCES AND CRIMINAL LAW IS FEDERAL  PROVINCIAL COURTS – DEAL WITH LESSER CRIMINAL MATTERS – HEAR 90% OF CRIMINAL CASES

22. CAUCUS & TOW PARTY LINE  CAUCUS: THE FULL MEETING OF THE ELECTED REPS OF A POLITICAL PARTY IN WHICH PARTY POLICIES ARE DISCUSSED AND APPROVED, OFTEN BY CONSENSUS.  PARTY WHIP ENFORCES THE PARTY POLICY

23. 1988 – 1993 Federal election results  Liberals – Jean Chretian 83 – 177 (41% of popular vote)  Progressive Conservative 169 – 2 (16% of popular vote)  New Democrats –Audrey McLaughlin 43 – 9 (7% of popular vote)  Bloc Quebecois – Lucien Bouchard 0 – 54 (13% of popular vote)  Reform – Preston Manning 0 – 52 (19% of popular vote)

24. Canada:First past the post Canada’s electoral system is referred to as a first past the post system. The candidate with the most votes wins; an absolute majority is not needed. They receive a seat in the House of Commons and represent their riding as its Member of Parliament. Any number of candidates may run for election in an electoral district, but each candidate may only run in one district, either independently or under the banner of a political party. Each party may endorse only one candidate per riding. Candidates who run for election without party affiliation may be designated as independent or as having no affiliation. A political party is a group of people who together: Establish a constitution and by-laws Elect a leader and other officers Endorse candidates for election to the House of Commons. To obtain the right to put the party name on the ballot, under the names of the candidates it endorses, a political party must register with the Chief Electoral Officer. At the 2000 election, there were 11 registered political parties operating at the federal level in Canada. After an election, the party with the most elected representatives usually becomes the governing party. The leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister of Canada and chooses people (usually MPs of his or her party) to head the various government departments. The party with the second largest number of MPs is called the Official Opposition. All the elected candidates have a seat in the House of Commons, where they vote on draft legislation (called Bills) and thus have an influence on government policy.        

25. Canada’s Political Parties Political parties with representation in the Canadian Parliament  Bloc Québécois (founded in 1991) - social democratc, Quebec separatist  Conservative Party of Canada (founded by merger of Progressive Conservative and Reform parties in 2003) - conservative-leaning, centre-right, centrist  Liberal Party of Canada (founded in 1867) - liberal, left-of-centre, centrist  New Democratic Party (founded in 1961) - social democratic, left-wing Other registered parties  Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada (founded in 2005) - environmentalist, animal liberationist  Canadian Action Party (founded in 1997) - Progressive, Canadian Nationalist  Christian Heritage Party of Canada (founded in 1987) - Social conservative  Communist Party of Canada (founded in 1921) - Communist  Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) (founded in 1970) - Communist/Marxist-Leninist influenced by Maoism and the ideas of Enver Hoxha  First Peoples National Party of Canada (founded in 2005) -Aboriginal rights advocacy  Green Party of Canada (founded in 1983) - Green  Libertarian Party of Canada (founded in 1975) - Libertarian  Marijuana Party of Canada (founded in 2000) - pro-marijuana legalization  Neorhino.ca (founded in 2007) - Joke party.  Newfoundland and Labrador First Party (founded in 2007) - Newfoundland and Labrador advocation  People's Political Power of Canada (founded in 2006)- Social Conservative, Populis  Progressive Canadian Party (founded in 2004) - progressive conservative, Red Tory  Western Block Parky (founded 2005) - western separatist and ultraconservative  Work Less Party (founded in 2007) - Labour rights

26. Periodic Elections Separation of powers among branches of government Multiple Parties Accountability of Elected Representatives Independent Media Independent Judiciary Rule of Law

27. 2006 FEDERAL ELECTION Keep in mind the shortcomings of how a first past the post system fails meet the needs and wants of the people of Canada. Read page 332-341  Conservatives (124)  Liberals (103)  Bloc Québécois (51)  New Democrats (29)  Independent (1)

28. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ‘CHECK AND BALANCE’

29. ELECTORAL COLLEGE  POLITICAL PARTIES CHOOSE LEADERS AT CONVENTIONS  IN U.S. VOTING FOR PRESIDENT IS BASED ON POPULATION AND EACH STATE GIVEN SO MANY ELECTORAL VOTES IF WIN THE STATE.  EX. IF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WINS TOTAL VOTES = PERSON WINS 30 ELECTORAL VOTES. See page 342

30. EXECUTIVE BRANCHES –UNITED STATES  WHITE HOUSE  PRESIDENT- HEAD OF STATE & GOVERNMENT  COMMANDER IN CHIEF – GO TO WAR FOR 90 DAYS WITH OUT CONGRESS  VETO POWER  NOT MEMBER OF CONGRESS – MUST BE INVITED TO ENTER  RE-ELECTED ONCE  SELECTS CABINET (NOT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS)  RETAINS CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT EVEN AFTER A DEFEAT  ELECTION EVERY 4 YEARS

31. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH –UNITED STATES  BICAMERAL  CONGRESS ◦ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (LOWER) ◦ SENATE (UPPER)  HOUSE OF REPS – ELECTED EVERY 2 YRS  SENATORS – ELECTED EVERY 6 YEARS (2 PER STATE X 50 = 100)  BILLS PASSED BY CONGRESS & APPROVED & SIGNED BY PRESIDENT  POWERFUL SENATE – 2/3 MAJORITY FOR PRES & TREATIES  HOUSE OF REPS & SENATE CAN OVERIDE VETO WITH 2/3 VOTE IN BOTH HOUSES  NO PARTY SOLIDARITY –VOTE TO CONSCIENCE OR WISHES OF CONSTITUENTS  CONGRESS DECLARES WAR –‘FDR –A DAY OF INFAMY’ TO CONGRESS

32. JUDICIAL BRANCHES – UNITED STATES  INTERPRET & APPLY THE LAW  DUAL COURT – FEDERAL FOR FED LAWS & STATE FOR STATE LAWS  EX. CAPITAL PUNISHEMENT – EACH STATE DIFFERENT  FED LAW –TAX EVASION  SUPREME COURT AT TOP – JUDGES APPOINTED FOR LIFE BY PRESIDENT WITH SENATE APPROVAL

33. 2004 Presidential election  Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Bush/Cheney (31), Blue denotes those won by Kerry/Edwards (19+DC). Numbers indicate the number of electoral votes allotted to each state.

34. PROS & CONS OF THE TWO SYSTEMS  CANADA -AMENDMENTS TO BILLS ONLY IF DIRECTLY RELATED TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION  U.S.–ALL KINDS OF AMENDMENTS ADDED  CANADA – COOPERATION BETWEEN EXEC & JUDICIAL = INSTABILITY WHEN MINORITY GOVT  CANADA = ESSENTIAL TO HAVE PARTY DISCIPLINE  U.S.- 6 YEARS TO DO A COMPLETE OVERHAUL –ARGUMENT: STABILITY VS. UNRESPONSIVE GOVT?  U.S. CHECKS & BALANCES = DEADLOCK – TAKES TIME FOR COMPROMISE  CANADA – MORE DEMOCRATIC (EXPRESS WILL OF MAJORITY)  U.S. – MORE LIBERAL (DIFFICULT FOR ONE GROUP TO CONTROL GOVT

35. System of Checks and Balances 

36. Government of Sweden Parliament * known as Riksdag • 349 members • 4 year terms of office (fixed term) • elections held in September (third Sunday) • unicameral (one legislative assembly) Type of government *proportional representative * parliamentary democracy

37. Government of Sweden Branches Of Government Executive Legislative Judicial Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers Riksdag Supreme Court Of Sweden

38. What Is Proportional Representation?  Proportional representation (PR) voting systems are used by most of the world’s major democracies. Under PR, representatives are elected from multi-seat districts in proportion to the number of votes received. PR assures that political parties or candidates will have the percent of legislative seats that reflects their public support. A party or candidate need not come in first to win seats.  In contrast, in the United States they use “winner-take-all” single seat districts, where votes going to a losing candidate are wasted, even if that candidate garners 49.9% of the vote. This leaves significant blocs of voters unrepresented. Voters sense this, and so often we do not vote for a candidate we like, but rather the one who realistically stands the best chance of winning—the “lesser of two evils.” Or, all too often, we don’t bother to vote at all.  No wonder that, among the 21 democracies in Western Europe and North America, the United States is next to last in voter turn- out, with only 36% participating in the 1994 Congressional elections.

39. Example of P.R. C h

40. What are the Advantage to P.R.  Greater voter turn-out (typically 70-90%) because there are more choices for voters—third, fourth, fifth parties and more from diverse perspectives including more women and minorities elected:  41% women in Sweden  39% in Finland  36% in Norway  only 11% in the U.S.  This leads to:  more diverse representation  cleaner campaigns run on the issues, not mud-slinging  reduced effects of big money

41. Where in the World is P.R. used?  Where In The World Is PR Used?  Some form of PR is used by most of the world’s major democracies, including: Germany Sweden Belgium Denmark Greece Spain Australia Mexico Japan Russia Ireland Israel Hungary New Zealand Brazil Nicaragua Finland Venezuela and more… Switzerland Holland Austria Portugal Italy Poland Iceland Norway

42. So How Does PR Work?  There are many different types of PR, because it is a flexible system that may be adapted to the situation of any city, state or nation. Here are a few of the most common:  List System—by far the most widely used form of PR. The voter selects one party and its slate of candidates to represent them. Party slates can be either “closed” or “open,” allowing voters to indicate a preference for individual candidates. If a party receives 30% of the vote, they receive 30% of the seats in the legislature, 10% of the vote receives 10% of the seats, and so on. A minimum share of the votes can be required to earn representation; typically a 5% threshold is used. This type of PR is ideal for large legislatures on state and national levels.  Mixed Member System (MM)—This PR hybrid elects half the legislature from single-seat, “winner-take-all” districts and the other half by the List System. Mixed-member smoothly combines geographic, ideological and proportional representation.  Preference Voting (PV)—the voter simply ranks candidates in an order of preference (1,2,3,4, etc…). Once a voter’s first choice is elected or eliminated, excess votes are “transferred” to subsequent preferences until all positions are filled. Voters can vote for their favorite candidate(s), knowing that if that candidate doesn’t receive enough votes their vote will “transfer” to their next preference. With preference voting, every vote counts and very few votes are wasted. Preference voting is ideal for non-partisan elections like city councils. This method is also called “Single Transferrable Vote” or “STV”.

43. Could PR Help Break The Political Impasse In The U.S. Over Important Issues Like Health Care?  Yes, it could. PR allows small parties to be a credible alternative to voters, giving them a national audience for their views to advance new ideas. PR had no ideological bias, but simply facilitates a fuller and more informed discussion of policy options; this more grounded discussion in turn provides greater opportunities to move to majority consensus on difficult issues.  An example of this is the German Greens. Without ever winning a single district election or receiving more than 10% of the national vote, the German Greens were able to see several of their environmental positions become part of a national consensus. PR allows majorities to make policy while also bringing minority perspectives to the table for consideration  Check out Mandatory Voting page 348 is that too much?

44. What’s Wrong With Only Two Parties?  Two parties limit the voters’ choices. U.S. citizens would never accept an economic system that allowed us to buy cars from only two companies, or to choose from only two airlines. Why then, should we have to settle for just two options in politics? It’s no wonder such a large portion of the U.S. electorate decides not to participate. They’re not buying what the two parties are selling!  The logjam and partisan bickering of U.S. politics is partly the result of the winner-take-all two-party system, where each party says everything they do is right and the other party does is wrong. The optimum campaign strategy is to sling mud at your opponent, driving their voters to your party. New ideas and solutions have a hard time percolating to the surface in such an environment. But this dynamic is not so advantageous when there are three or more parties.  Winner-take-all elections are also more susceptible to the corruption of big money. A majority of votes is a lot of votes to win, and a candidate has to plaster her or his name and face over every billboard, bumper sticker and TV ad. Since so much is at stake—you either win the seat or you lose—there is an urgency to spend lavishly.  But with PR you don’t have to come in first to win seats. Whatever proportion of votes your party wins, you get that many seats in the legislature. PR actually reduces the number of votes it takes for a party or candidate to win a seat. Candidates tend to run cleaner, more positive, issue-oriented campaigns, targeted at a particular constituency. Such campaigns require less money to win seats.

45. Does P.R. Affect the Election of Women?  Yes, very much so. Research has shown that systems of proportional representation result in greater numbers of elected women, and that greater numbers of women are elected in multi-seat rather than single- seat districts. Women currently make up only 11% of the U.S. House of Representatives and 8% of the U.S. Senate. In state and local legislatures, women average only one out of five legislators. According to United Nation reports, the United States ranks 24th of 54 western democracies in terms of women’s representation in national legislatures. In fact, scholars have demonstrated that the underrepresentation of blacks is largely an underrepresentation of black women. African American women have only about one fourth the representation of black men.

47. Pressure/Lobby/Special interest groups Pressure groups are voluntary organizations whose members collaborate to influence the government to adopt policies which will benefit the group, examples: Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Save the Whales, Save the Earth, Pro-Labour, Pro-Business, Pro- Free Trade, Anti-Free Trade. To achieve their goals, pressure groups, persuade members to write to local Members of Parliament, submit briefs to government committees, influence election results by making their views known to the public. Pressure groups specialize in lobbying behind closed doors believing that by talking to the right people at the right time they can make things happen their way. Most attention is paid to civil servants and Cabinet Ministers because most policies begin in the civil service and ministers make final policy decisions. Some believe pressure groups are an essential part of democracy (pluralism) because they make preferences known, act as a check on executive authority (accountability) and as a communication link between government and governed, and provide decision-makers with information on the "real world" i.e. governments use these groups as a means of testing their proposals before taking them to Parliament or explaining policies to the public (trial balloons). Others feel that some groups are better organized and more wealthy than others so they have greater influence over weaker groups or groups with no pressure groups operating on their behalf. More pressure groups exist on behalf of producers (business) than consumers, therefore, business has the advantage. As well, lobbying behind closed doors is undemocratic because decisions made there are not open to public scrutiny. The wealthiest groups have the greatest opportunity to influence the government.     

48. Power of Pluralism  Read pages 350-355  Do activity on top of page 356 and answer questions 1-4 with activity at the top of page 356.