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Political Parties

Political Parties. Civics ESL. What is a political party?. An organized group of people who share similar ideas about the way in which government should operate What government should focus on What government should do How government should do it. Political Party. Like a team

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Political Parties

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  1. Political Parties Civics ESL

  2. What is a political party? • An organized group of people who share similar ideas about the way in which government should operate • What government should focus on • What government should do • How government should do it

  3. Political Party • Like a team • Provides a way for citizens to participate in government • The people that make up a political party are politically aligned at similar points on the political spectrum Liberal Party link Conservative Party link NDP link

  4. Political Parties in Canada • Political parties are active at the: • Federal level • Provincial level • Municipal government does NOT have political parties.

  5. Political Spectrum • A tool used to help identify your political position (how you believe government ought to behave) Blend of State and individual control State control Individual control

  6. Political Spectrum continued Pannell FEDERAL * Left Right • Generalist Beliefs, Values, Policies • Universal Social Programs • Rehabilitation of Criminals • Government involved in economy • Many civil and moral liberties (freedoms) • Reason and science • Pacifism • High taxes to pay for social programs • Generalist Beliefs, Values, Policies • Self-reliance (look after yourself) • Retribution (eye for an eye) • Free market economy • To keep and maintain traditional moral liberties (freedoms) • Tradition / religion • nationalism • Low taxes

  7. Federal Parties in Canada • We have 3 main federal political parties: • Conservative - blue (Stephen Harper) • Liberals –red (Michael Ignatief) • New Democratic Party (NDP)-Orange (Jack Layton) Also have: • Block Quebecois (Quebec only)*** • Green Party (Yet to win a seat in the house of Commons)

  8. Party Platforms • Each party has a party platform - package of ideas and policies that they believe are best for Canadians • The party platform states the party’s position on various issues as: health care, foreign policy, unemployment, the environment. • What the party will focus on (if elected government) • What the party will do (if elected government) • How the party will do it (if elected government) • This position is consistent with the party’s position on the political spectrum.

  9. The Election Process • Canada is divided up into 308 areas called ridings • Each riding has to elects one person to represent it in the House of Commons – becoming the MP • Within each riding there is a race between those candidates hoping to win the most votes • The Candidate with the most votes wins the seat for their riding • They become the MP for that riding

  10. All Canadian Citizens 18 years and older can vote At a poling station near your home or work School Community centre Voting for your MP. The person who will represent you in parliament. The Vote

  11. When an election is called each party selects a member from their party to run in each riding The winner of the most votes in a riding gets the seat in the house of commons and becomes the MP for that riding The party with the most seats becomes the government The party with the second most seats becomes the opposition The Election Process

  12. Canada’s Election Process • The idea that the person who wins the most votes in a riding takes the seat is called “First-Past-The-Post” • That seat will usually belong to 1 or the 3 main political parties • Election day is like 308 separate races in Canada. 1 race per riding / region. The winner of each race becomes an MP, totally 308 MPs • This occurs at both the provincial and federal level

  13. Forming the Government • The party with the most seats becomes the government • That party’s leader becomes the Prime Minister. • The Prime Minister then selects his Cabinet Ministers – those members of the government responsible for important files (Health, Environment, Finance, Defense…) • Executive branch of government • The Party that comes in second forms the opposition

  14. Majority Government • The party that wins more than 50% (155) of the 308 seats. – Becomes the Government (majority) • The Government makes decisions by having a vote in the House of Commons. • When we have a Majority Government, because they have more than 50% of the 308 seats in the House of Commons they will always win any vote that goes through the House of Commons

  15. Minority Government • The party with the most seats, but less than 50% (155) of the (308) seats in the House of Commons – Becomes the Government (minority) • Minority Governments have less power since those MPs who are part of the ‘Opposition’ can vote together and: • Have their idea put to a vote and pass or, • Defeat a vote put forward by the Government • Vote of Non-Confidence • When the opposition parties vote against the Government

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