Grade 9 Social Studies

1. Grade 9 Social Studies What are the big ideas and topics in this book and course? (pg 2) Where can we find key terms and important information quickly in this book? How do I know what's important?

2. Key Terms (you need to know these) Issue Perspective Point of view Quality of life**** Rights Society Governance*** Political System*** Economic System***

3. Key Questions How does governance connect to citizenship and Identity? How does economics connect to citizenship and identity? What is Quality of life and what factors effect it?

4. Quality of Life Quality of life is a measure of person and their collective well being What are the most important factors that affect your quality of life? Make a list of things that reflect who you are and what important to you. Then rate them, with 1 being the most important

5. Why are some factors more important? How might the list be different if this discussion was taking place in another country? How might the list of these children be different then your own?

6. Case StudyEmma vs. Jose Who has the better quality of life? Why do you say that? What evidence do you have to support this?

7. Issues • How do issues affect quality of life? • Issues exist because people have different opinions • A persons opinion will affect how they respond to issues • What Issues are currently making headlines? what issues are your families talking about? • Example: Gun Control, pgs 10-11 • Gun Control in the USA

8. Group Work • Flip through the Newspapers and find an issue that is being discussed in society • What is the issue? • Why is this an issue? What led to the controversy? • Does this issue effect you? Who does it effect?

9. Chapter 1How Effectively does Canada's federal political system govern Canada for all Canadians?

10. Key Terms and Focus Questions Govern Governance Government What is the structure of Canada’s federal political system? How do laws become laws? How do the media connect Canadians to their federal government? What do lobbyists do?

11. Read the captions for all the pictures on pg 16 and 17 • What is the first thing you notice when comparing the pictures? • How is Canada governed differently today then in 1867?

12. The Structure of Canada’s Federal Political System Monarch of Britain The Executive Branch The legislative Branch The Judicial Branch

13. The Executive Branch Proposes most laws Puts laws into action Runs day to day business of the government Includes the Prime minister and the cabinet

14. The Prime Minister is the head of Canada's government and is the elected leader of a political party • The prime minister is also an elected MP • Stephen Harper- Calgary Southwest • The Cabinet are members of the elected political part that are given specific jobs ex. Minister of the environment

15. Legislative Branch • Includes the House of commons, the senate and the governor general • The major law making body in the federal system • the house is composed of MP’s (members of parliament) who are voted in by the public. 1 MP represents one riding or district (based on population) • Spruce Grove MP- Rona Ambrose • The MP’s debate study and vote on laws • Ex. GST vote and debate

16. Majority vs. Minority Government Pg 28 Class election Who’s in charge depends on who has the most seats in the house To have a majority, 1 party needs to have more then 50% of the total number of seats. Minority governments typically have trouble, as they do not have the power to invoke laws easily.

17. Members of Parliment • MP’s have two roles • Represent the constituents • Create legislation for peace, order and good government • MP’s are voted in, but they don’t necessarily have to have 50% of the vote in their riding

18. The Senate Members of Canada’s Senate are called Senators Senators are not elected, the are appointed by the Prime Minister Senators represent the rights and interests of Canada’s regions and minorities The Senate can propose laws, but they usually only consider bills, giving them a second look before passing them A law cannot be passed without the approval of the house of commons and the senate

19. Why is the senate important? Who’s voice and opinions might get drowned out if the senate was not in place? • Hint 1- think of ethnic groups • Hint 2- think of regions of Canada and their population

20. Representation in the House vs. Representation in the Senate • Pg 33

21. The Judicial Branch • Includes Canada's courts of law. All members of the Judicial branch come from the legal profession • The Judicial Branch interprets and applies the laws • Acts as a check on the powers of the other branches

22. Review of what we have learned Quick review of the Federal Political System Complete Federal Political Structure Handout

23. How do laws become laws? • Making a law is easy right? • PM for a day comic

24. It all starts with an issue Laws are created or amended in response to issues relevant to Canadians. Any member of the House of Commons or Senate may introduce a bill; however, the majority of bills are introduced by the Cabinet.

25. The basic path of law making:

26. What Steps did the Federal Accountability Act go through to be come Law? The Federal Accountability Act- Pg 39 Pg 40-41

27. Royal Assent After a bill has been approved by both the House of Commons and the Senate, the Governor General gives Royal Assent and the bill officially becomes a law.

28. Now you’re in charge! Can you think of an issue that effects life for Canadians? Now is your change to show how you would put a law in place to address this issue. Complete Lawmakers activity

29. Who are the Media and what do they do? • Media - the means of communication that reach or influence people widely Ex) internet, newspapers, radio, TV, blogs, Twitter • Technology has increased the speed at which news travels, therefore, the media play an increasingly important role in shaping how Canadians view issues

30. Politics and the Media The freedom of the press is guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Over 350 news agencies report on the actions of the Canadian government as part of the Parliamentary Press Gallery It is important to remember that journalists make decisions about what stories to cover and whose perspectives to include.

31. Political parties employ public relations specialists to help them get their desired message across. They often try to control information available to the media through press conferences and formal press releases. Media savvy politicians will often use memorable quotes or “sound-bites” to get their point across.

32. Media Scrums A common technique by the Parliamentary Press Gallery is to surround politicians exiting sessions of parliament and bombard them with questions.

33. Whoops…. • Members of a political party are expected to “tow the party line” - to keep their comments in line with the platform of the party they represent. • Politicians who make comments that are out of line are often forced to apologize and can face punishment within the party, such as removal from a cabinet position or even being kicked out of the party. Ex) Carolyn Parrish • Summary of Offences • This Hour has 22 Minutes

34. Bias • Bias is an opinion bases on unchallenged assumptions • It is rooted in someone's point of view • Read the article on pg 49 • Can you detect the bias? • Answer the question as a class

35. What do Lobbyists do? A lobbyist is someone who is hired to influence MP’s and government officials Lobbyists must be registered with the Commissioner of Lobbyists and must document which MP’s and government officials they work with Can you think of a group that a lobbyist might work for?

36. Examples: • Smoking lobbyists • Oil companies • Gay rights • Aboriginal rights • Food safety • Complete Lobbyists Assignment