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Spiderman!. “With great power comes great responsibility”. YouTube Video. Chapter 4: Official and Countervailing Powers. Context Mr.Wilson – History 404. Power is .... "The ability to [intentionally] make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done.".
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Spiderman! “With great power comes great responsibility” YouTube Video
Chapter 4: Official and Countervailing Powers Context Mr.Wilson – History 404
Power is .... "The ability to [intentionally] make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done." http://www.answers.com/topic/power-sociology
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Constitutional Monarchy • Canada is a constitutional monarchy • What does this mean? “monarchy” • #1: We have a head of state, Governor General, who represents the British monarchy • In provinces, the Lieutenant Governor does the same thing • However, they have NO REAL POWER - Only symbolic
Constitutional Monarchy • What does this mean? “constitution” • #2: The Canadian Constitution places political power in the hands of voters who elect representatives
Levels of Government No level of government has absolute or total power. They each have their own responsibilities.
Levels of Government • What are the 3 levels of government in Canada? • Federal • Provincial • Municipal • Federal and Provincial governments have defined responsibilities outlined in the British North America (BNA) Act • Municipal responsibilities differ from province to province
Federal Responsible for Canada as a whole Money, trade, shipping, defence and military, criminal law, relations with First Nations, immigration*, agriculture*
Provincial Responsible for the provinces Natural resources, health and social services, education, highway transportation, civil law, public security, labour relations, immigration*, agriculture*
Municipal Responsible for cities and towns Manage road work, recreation infrastructures, cultural activities, sewers, garbage & recycling, firefighters, public transportation
Tensions Tensions canoccurbetweendifferentlevels of government The federalgovernmentcansometimesintervene in areas related to provincial responsibilities Results in tension! Usuallylawsfrom the superiorleveloverrulethose of the lowerlevel
Tensions Ex: Provincial law conflicting with federal charter Bill 101 vs. Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Division of Power What are the 3 different types of power in Canada? Executive Legislative Judicial
Division of Power • Executive: • Propose the laws (bills) • Made up of elected leader and members of the political party with a majority • Legislative: • Vote on the laws • Made of up elected members of all political parties who represent the population • Judicial: • Uphold the laws • Made up of courts and judges
Division of Power in the Federal Government • Who holds Executive power? • Prime Minister and his Cabinet • Legislative? • House of Commons - represent the population • Judicial? • Courts (ex. Superior Court & Court of Appeals)
Division of Power in the Federal Government • The Federal Government also has a Senate • Recommended by the PM and appointed by the Governor General • There are an equal number of Senators from each major region. • Work up to age 75 • They adopt or insist on changes to Bills before being sanctioned (made official)
Division of Power in the Provincial Government • Who holds Executive power? • Premier and his Cabinet • Legislative? • National Assembly - represent the population • Judicial? • Courts (ex. Administrative court, Quebec court)
Division of Power in the Provincial Government Lieutenant Governor (British Monarchy) p. 151 National Assembly (Legislative Power) Elected Representatives Government (Executive Power) Premier and Cabinet Ministries and Departments Courts (Judicial Power) Administrative Court Quebec Court Voters
Division of Power in the Municipal Government • WhoholdExecutive power? • Mayor and his city councillors • Legislative? • City council – represents the population • Judicial? • Courts (ex. Municipal courts)
So where is the opposition in all of this??? What groups have power and try to influence governments in power?
The Power of Interest Groups (p. 152)
What are Interest Groups? Interest Groups develop relationships with Members of the National Assembly [MNA] and pressure them. This is often done using Lobbyists.
What are Lobbyist Groups? Lobbyists are those who represent an interest group that wants to influence the legislature. All of this is to obtain laws that support their cause. Media…
1) Business Groups • Private Enterprise = Conseil du Patronat • This group represents the private business owners in Quebec: • Favour innovation • Investment in private business. • Stable job opportunities. • Labour code • Parental Leave program
2) Unions More then 40% of all workers in Quebec are Unionized. Their main function is to defend the rights of their workers and to negotiate with their employers. Non-Unionized workers are protected under the Loisur les normes du travail.
The Four BIGGIES Fédérations des travailleurs du Quebec (FTQ) Confédérations des syndicatsnationaux(CSN) Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ) Centrale des syndicatsdémocratiques (CSD) These four big Unions influence a lot of voters as well as public opinion. Tactics = protests & strikes
Other Activist Groups Professional Orders: Doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Linguistic Groups: Société St-Jean Baptiste, Alliance Quebec Environmental: Équiterre, Greenpeace Feminist Religious Others?
One last Question? What is the point of all of these different groups? (From the Government all the way down to these tiny little interest groups…)
Which Level of Government is this person associated with? • The Federal Government • Prime Minister of Canada: • Stephen Harper
Which Level of Government is this person associated with? • The Provincial Government • Premier of Quebec: • Jean Charest
Which Level of Government is this person associated with? • The Municipal Government • The Mayor of Montreal: • Gerald Tremblay
What group of people does this picture represent??? • Interest groups • Unions on strike