Civics 10

Leadership styles

STYLE CHARACTERISTICS EFFECTIVE WHEN… INEFFECTIVE WHEN…

- Tells others what to - Time is limited - Developing a strong

AUTOCRATI do - Individuals/Group sense of team is goal
C - Limits discussion on lack skill and - Some degree of
ideas and new ways of knowledge skill/knowledge is in
doing things - Group does not members
- Group does not know each other - Group wants an
experience feeling of element of spontaneity
teamwork in their work
- Involves group -Time is available - Group is unmotivated
DEMOCRATI members in planning - Group is - No skill/knowledge is
C and carrying out motivated and/or a in members
activities sense of team - High degree of conflict
- Asks before tells exists present
Promotes the sense of - Some degree of
teamwork skill or knowledge
among members of
group
- Gives little or no - High degree of - Low sense of
LAISSEZ- direction to skill and motivation team/interdependence
FAIRE group/individuals - Sense of team - Low degree of
- Opinion is offered exists skill/knowledge is in
only when requested - Routine is familiar members
- A person does not to participants - Group expects to be
seem to be in charge told what to do

"Democracy refers to a society in which the authority of the government comes from and depends upon
the consent of the people, and in which citizens have the opportunity to make informed decisions with
regards to leadership selection, the creation of government policies and the passage of laws." This
standard definition highlights the importance of the "consent of the people" and need for "informed and
effective" citizen participation in leadership selection, the development of policies and the creation of
laws. There are several other fundamental beliefs and values associated with democratic citizenship (e.g.,
rule of law, human dignity, freedom of worship, respect for rights of others, work for common good,
sense of responsibility for others, freedom of expression). It is evident that democracy is a complex form
of self-government that is multi-faceted in meaning and precious to citizens in a variety of different
ways. By making reference to the 5 quotations below consider some of the opinions about democracy
expressed by great thinkers of modern history.
 Evolution of Democracy Declaration Of The
Rights Of Man ________
Approved by the National Assembly of France
3. The principle of all sovereignty resides
essentially in the nation. No body nor individual
may exercise any authority which does not
proceed directly from the nation.
4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do
everything which injures no one else; hence the
exercise of the natural rights of each man has
no limits except those which assure to the other
members of the society the enjoyment of the
same rights. These limits can only be
determined by law.
King John I: Magna Carta ________
No bailiff (policy officer) for the future shall,
upon his own unsupported complaint, put
anyone to his “law,” without credible witnesses
brought for this purpose. No freemen shall be
taken or imprisoned or disseised (injured) or
exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we go
upon him nor send upon him, except by the
lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the
land. To no one will we sell, to no one will we
refuse or delay, right or justice.
New Zealand: Election Act ________
An Electoral Bill containing provisions on
women’s suffrage (the right of women to vote in
an election) was introduced by Richard Seddon
in June. During debate, there was a majority
support for the enfranchisement of Maori, as
well as Pakeha, women. The Electoral Act gave
all women in New Zealand the right to vote.
European Member States ________
The Union (of European nations) shall set itself
the following objectives: Resolved to mark a
new state in the process of European
Communities. Recalling the historic importance
of the ending of the division of the European
continent and the need to create firm bases for
The Code of King Hammurabi ________
The king who rules among the kings of the
cities am I. My words are well considered;
there is no wisdom like mine.
195. If a son strike his father, his hands
shall be hewn off. 196. If a man put out the
eye of another man, his eye shall be put
out. 197 If he break another man's bone,
his bone shall be broken.
Laws of justice which Hammurabi, the wise
king, established … Hammurabi, the
protecting king am I.
John Locke: Concerning Civil
Government ______
The natural liberty of man is to be free
from any superior power on earth, and not
to be under the will or legislative authority
of man, but to have only the law of nature
for his rule. The liberty of man in society is
to be under no other legislative power but
that established by consent in the
commonwealth; nor under the dominion of
any will or restraint of any law, but what
that legislative shall enact according to the
trust put in it…
Amendment XV to Constitution of the
U.S. ________
Amendment XV. Section 1. The right of
citizens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged by the United
States or by any State on account of race,
colour, or previous condition of servitude
U.N. Universal Declaration of Human
Rights ______
The General Assembly Proclaims this
Universal Declaration of Human Rights as
a common standard of achievement for all
peoples and all nations, to the end that
every individual and every organ of
the construction of the future Europe.
Confirming their attachment to the principles of
liberty, democracy, and respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule
of law. Desiring to enhance further the
democratic and efficient functioning of the
institutions so as to enable them better to carry
out, within a single institutional framework, the
tasks entrusted to them.
society, keeping this Declaration
constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching
and education to promote respect for
these rights and freedoms and by
progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and
effective recognition and observance, both
among the peoples of Member States
themselves and among the peoples of
territories under their jurisdiction

Introducing Canada's Political Structure: Historical Overview

Canadian Nation Building

Pre-Confederation
As the decade of the 1860's began the colonies within British North America were beginning to consider
the idea of political union. In the Atlantic colonies there was discussion about a Maritime federation,
while further west there was talk of a much wider union, one that would bring all of British North
America together.

Why Unite?
The British Colonies of North America were facing many different kinds of problems during the era that
made them increasingly consider the idea of forming a union:
• Following the completion of the American Civil War in 1865 fear of American territorial
expansion led the British colonies to conclude the issue of defense could better be addressed if
they were united.
• The colonies needed to expand their trading markets for their goods and this could be more easily
accomplished under one union.
• While fiercely independent, French-speaking citizens in Canada East believed their culture would
survive better in Canada than it would if union with the United States were pursued.
• The opportunity of western expansion could best be accomplished by a strong Canadian
government than it could by smaller and fractured territorial states.

Charlottetown Conference
On September 1, 1864 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, three Maritime colonies of Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island met to discuss the possibility of union. When politicians from
Canada West (Ontario) and Canada East (Quebec) heard of the Charlottetown Conference they asked to
attend to present their proposal for a wider union. A convincing argument was presented.
The Maritime colonies' fears of having their voice lost in such a merger were addressed in two ways. it
was suggested that "representation by population" could be combined and balanced in a two-house
legislature (Parliament). Also power could be divided between the federal and provincial governments.
The latter governments would protect regional autonomy by dealing with matters of "a merely local or
private nature".

Quebec Conference
Later that same year (October, 1864) at the Quebec Conference the delegates hammered out a blueprint
for Confederation. As the delegates developed a Constitution, several issues unique to Canada emerged
that would not only would shape the nation's character in this period, but also well into the future:
1. Quebec's position as a French speaking region with separate identity
2. Division of powers between the federal and provincial governments
3. Equality amongst the provinces
4. The role of the first nations and other 'non-government' groups in Canada
5. The threat of American expansionism

British North America Act (BNA Act)

The result of the Quebec Conference was the British North America Act of July 1, 1867. This Act, after
being signed by Queen Victoria and endorsed by the British Parliament, created the new nation of
Canada. It consisted of the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia (Prince
Edward Island had decided not to join Confederation at this time).
Shape and Character of the New Government
The British North America Act outlined the shape and character of government in Canada. It continues to
define the structure and functions of Canadian politics today. It also determines the ways in which
decisions are made, issues addressed, and conflicts resolved.
1. A Constitutional Monarchy
While attempting to create a uniquely Canadian system, the newly formed government also attempted to
preserve its traditional links with Great Britain. So, under the terms of the BNA Act Canada became a
constitutional or limited monarchy, which meant that the head of the government was theoretically the
British monarch. Canadians of the era were comfortable with assigning executive power to the monarch
as a safeguard against too much democratic power awarded to the people, an issue Canadians perceived
to be a key drawback of the American system. To assist the British Crown in governing a land so far
removed from Britain the British monarch has official representatives at the federal and provincial levels
carry out his/her duties of governing Canada. The official title of the monarch's federal representative for
Canada is the Governor General. The official title of the monarch's provincial representative for each
province is the Lieutenant Governor.

2. The House of Commons

Parliament in Canada was to be divided into two houses. The lower branch, the House of Commons, was
to be elected on the basis of representation by population. Therefore, the more populated a province was,
the more seats it would have in the House of Commons. Of the 181 Members of Parliament (MPs) 45%
came from Ontario and 35% came from Quebec (65 in total). The BNA Act also specified the seats in the
House of Commons were to be reassigned once per decade in order to reflect territorial expansion and
changes to the Canadian population. This is an example of how the new Constitution had to be both
specific enough to address the needs of the time, as well as flexible enough to adapt to changes that
would occur in the century to follow. The political party that holds the largest number of seats in the
House of Commons forms the government of Canada.

3. The Senate
The upper branch of Parliament is the Senate, a body that was composed of regional representatives
appointed for life. This regional body had an equal number of appointed members from the three main
areas of Canada: 24 members from each of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. When the Western
provinces joined Confederation later an additional 24 seats were set aside for them. By providing equal
regional representation in the Senate, an attempt was made to meet the needs of Canada's various regions
and to allow for the expression of minority voices in the nation's less populated regions. The Senate was
also supposed to provide a "somber second thought" prior to bills being passed into law.

4. The Judicial System

Under the terms of the BNA Act criminal law was a federal matter and civil law rested with the
provinces. Thus, the BNA Act attempted to meet the needs of various cultures and regions as this judicial
division would allow for the continuation of French Civil Law in Quebec.

5. Provincial vs. Federal Powers

In an attempt to avoid the types of problems (such as the American Civil War) they had recently
witnessed among their neighbors to the south, the Fathers Of Confederation sought to clearly spell out
the kinds of powers that would rest in the hands of the federal government and those that would rest with
the provincial governments. The BNA Act gave the central government more powers, and the areas that
it was given – such as criminal law, defence, trade, and foreign affairs – were considered to be more
important than the powers awarded to the provinces (education, civil law, and health). The roles and
responsibilities of the various levels of government will be explored further in an upcoming lesson. The
central government was the only branch that was given residual powers (unspecified or left over); only it
could enact laws for the "Peace, Order, and Good Government" of Canada. In addition, only the central
government could levy direct and indirect taxes, and only the central government had the power of
disallowance (power to cancel) over any provincial law that it felt violated a federal statute.

6. Differences Between Canadian and American Systems

The Fathers of Confederation were anxious to maintain their traditional ties to Britain, hence the creation
of a constitutional monarchy. They also wanted to improve on the American system of government
which they felt gave too much power to the individual states. So the Canadian system has a Parliament
that combines both regional (Senate) and proportional (House of Commons) representation. As well the
BNA Act clarifies how power is to be distributed between federal and provincial governments, with the
federal government being awarded the balance of power.

Growing Independence In the Years to Follow

Although the Canada Act of 1867 formed the Dominion of Canada, Canada remained part of Britain. As
Canada's federal government matured, it took increasing responsibility for its own affairs. For example,
in recognition of Canada's contribution to WWI, Canada was able to sign the Treaty of Versailles
independently from Britain.
In 1931, the Statute of Westminster transformed the British Empire into the British Commonwealth. In
doing so, it allowed all nations of the Commonwealth, including Canada, the power to change, amend, or
repeal and British laws within their boundaries. Canada now was its own, autonomous, self-governing
nation. The only power it did not have was the right to amend its own constitution.
 Different levels of Government
Canada is the second largest country in geographic area in the world today, literally spreading across
thousands and thousands of kilometers. And with a population of approximately 31 million people spread
across thousands of kilometres, it is very difficult for a single government to take care of all the
responsibilities that exist throughout the nation. In 1867, because Canada was physically such a large
country with so many different needs, we adopted a federal system of government that had three levels:
federal, provincial and municipal. This style of government involves dividing the powers into national
and various regional levels. This allows the country to address the needs of various areas that may have
specific expectations from their government. Canada, possibly more than any other country, benefits
from a federal style of government. There are certain aspects of Canadian society that simply could not
be addressed by one level of government. For instance, the political interests of Nunavut (Canada's
newest territorial government) are completely different than the political interests of Metropolitan
Toronto.
Each level of government deals with different areas. The federal government for example is responsible
for services that affect the entire country, such as currency or the armed forces. The provincial
government deals with services that affect their particular area, such as licensing drivers and hospitals.
Finally, municipal governments deal with services that are needed by each individual community, such
as police, fire, and waste disposal services.

The Voting Process

The "Franchise" or Right to Vote:
The term franchise simply refers to the act of gaining the right to vote. This right has not been achieved
without sacrifice. Throughout history, Canada has denied certain groups the right to vote. Today, we see
our democratic beliefs expressed in the universal franchise (the right to vote for all citizens over the age
of 18). In Canada, people have been discriminated against based on race, sex, wealth, religion, age
employment, disability, and imprisonment. Even fifty years after Confederation, women were completely
disenfranchised. It took the involvement of women in the suffrage movement to educate and influence
the public about women's status as equal members of society.
One Vote Matters:
The right to vote is one of the cornerstones of a democratic government. The reason for the importance
of the vote is to provide citizens the opportunity to choose their own government.
Occasionally citizens can develop an apathetic sense that in a society of millions of people a single vote
has little or no meaning. Consider this however: in the United States (a nation of over 300 million
people) during the 2000 federal election the Presidency was decided by a mere 537 votes in the state of
Florida, resulting in the election of George W Bush.
Canadian Elections and Three Levels of Government:
In Canada, because we have three levels of government, we have three sets of elections which must take
place at certain times.
At the provincial and federal levels, an election must take place within five years. The decision to call an
election is up to the Prime Minister for a federal election and the Premier for a provincial election.
Elections at the municipal level must take place every three years
Elections Canada:
Elections Canada is the organization responsible for conducting elections at the federal level in Canada.
It is the best source for everything and anything you may wish to know about the electoral process. To
successfully undertake the assigned activity, you will need to visit the Elections Canada website and
spend some time viewing its content.

Levels of Government and their Assigned Responsibilities

Federal Provincial Municipal

Financial Welfare Parks and Recreation

Canada Post Natural Resources Fire Service

Supervision of
Foreign Affairs Local Police Service
Municipalities

Citizenship Provincial Taxation Water Services

Economic policy Provincial Prisons Snow Clearance

Taxation Health Care Local Schools

Worker's Compensation
Penitentiaries Road Maintenance
Plan

Sea Coast / Inland Fishing Education Funding Libraries

Aboriginal Affairs O.P.P. Recycling

Marriage and Divorce Drivers Licencing Sewage

Employment Insurance Highways Garbage Collection

 Government Spending Public Transit

Shipping and Navigation

National Defence

Criminal Laws

Residual Powers: The

Federal Government is
responsible for all areas
that are not directly
referred to in the
Constitution.

Branches of Government

How the Types of Power are Exercised by Government

Legislative: the power to make laws. This power is held in Canada by Parliament. Parliament is
comprised of the House of Commons whose members are elected by the voters, and the Senate, whose
members are appointed by the prime minister.
Executive: the power to carry out laws. At the federal level, this power is theoretically held by the
Queen and Governor General as figureheads, but in practice these powers are carried out by the Prime
Minister and the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in the House of
Commons. The Cabinet is formed by MPs selected by the PM, and usually these selected MPs come
from the PM's own political party. Cabinet Ministers have a responsibility for running certain
departments. At the federal level these include Indian Affairs, Trade and Commerce, and Defence. They
are helped in the day to day work by the Civil Service, employees of the government who do not change
when the government changes.
At the provincial level, the Executive consists of the queen and lieutenant governor, the premier, cabinet
members, and civil servants.
Judicial: the power to interpret the laws and settle conflicts between people, and between
individuals and government. In Canada this power is invested in the court system. The Supreme Court
of Canada is the highest court in Canada. Moreover there are other federal and provincial courts. Our
courts are presided over by judges and supported by many people who work to help the judicial system
run smoothly and fairly. You will study the Judiciary in Canada in greater detail within unit 2.