Social 30 Chapter 11

Authoritarian Political Systems

• in Canada, a government formed by the party (or coalition of parties) holding more than half of the seats in the House of Commons or in a provincial legislature.
• the idea that all members of a political party should be loyal to and support the official decisions of their party, and vote according to their party's position on an issue.
• a form of democratic government in which citizens elect candidates to represent them in government and to make decisions on their behalf; often contrasted with direct democracy.
• political systems in which all decisions related to governing the state are made by a small group of people or by one person (for example, military rulers, a leader, or a dictator).

Consensus Decision Making

• a form of decision making whereby individuals in a group share ideas, solutions, and concerns to find a resolution that all members of the group can accept.
• also known as rep-by-pop; a form of political representation in which a country is divided into voting districts, or electoral ridings (or constituencies), with most containing approximately the same number of voters.
• a form of democratic government in which citizens elect candidates to represent them in government and to make decisions on their behalf; often contrasted with direct democracy.
• an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in an electoral district (such as a riding or constituency) wins the election. This system is often contrasted with proportional representation, an alternative electoral method used in many liberal democracies.

Direct Democracy

• an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in an electoral district (such as a riding or constituency) wins the election. This system is often contrasted with proportional representation, an alternative electoral method used in many liberal democracies.
• a government formed when the governing political party (or coalition of parties) holds fewer than half of the total seats in the House of Commons or a provincial legislature, but holds more seats than any other party.
• a form of democratic government in which citizens elect candidates to represent them in government and to make decisions on their behalf; often contrasted with direct democracy.
• a form of democratic government in which people participate directly in political decision making. A direct democracy operates on the belief that every citizen's voice is important and necessary for an orderly and efficient society.

First Past the Post

• the idea that all members of a political party should be loyal to and support the official decisions of their party, and vote according to their party's position on an issue.
• an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in an electoral district (such as a riding or constituency) wins the election. This system is often contrasted with proportional representation, an alternative electoral method used in many liberal democracies.
• a direct vote by citizens on a specific question submitted to them by their government to determine their wishes.
• a form of democratic government in which people participate directly in political decision making. A direct democracy operates on the belief that every citizen's voice is important and necessary for an orderly and efficient society.

Interest Groups

• organizations that seek to influence elected officials. Their goal is to encourage legislation that reflects their specific beliefs or values, or to prevent the passage of legislation that does not reflect their values.
• a form of decision making whereby individuals in a group share ideas, solutions, and concerns to find a resolution that all members of the group can accept.
• a form of democratic government in which citizens elect candidates to represent them in government and to make decisions on their behalf; often contrasted with direct democracy.
• the idea that all members of a political party should be loyal to and support the official decisions of their party, and vote according to their party's position on an issue.

Majority Government

• also known as rep-by-pop; a form of political representation in which a country is divided into voting districts, or electoral ridings (or constituencies), with most containing approximately the same number of voters.
• the idea that all members of a political party should be loyal to and support the official decisions of their party, and vote according to their party's position on an issue.
• an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in an electoral district (such as a riding or constituency) wins the election. This system is often contrasted with proportional representation, an alternative electoral method used in many liberal democracies.
• in Canada, a government formed by the party (or coalition of parties) holding more than half of the seats in the House of Commons or in a provincial legislature.

Minority Government

• a form of democratic government in which people participate directly in political decision making. A direct democracy operates on the belief that every citizen's voice is important and necessary for an orderly and efficient society.
• a system of voting where citizens vote directly for a party, and then representatives of each party are assigned to the legislature based on that party's share of popular support. This results in a fairly accurate representation within the legislature of the will of the people.
• organizations that seek to influence elected officials. Their goal is to encourage legislation that reflects their specific beliefs or values, or to prevent the passage of legislation that does not reflect their values.
• a government formed when the governing political party (or coalition of parties) holds fewer than half of the total seats in the House of Commons or a provincial legislature, but holds more seats than any other party.

Party Solidarity

• in Canada, a government formed by the party (or coalition of parties) holding more than half of the seats in the House of Commons or in a provincial legislature.
• the idea that all members of a political party should be loyal to and support the official decisions of their party, and vote according to their party's position on an issue.
• a form of democratic government in which people participate directly in political decision making. A direct democracy operates on the belief that every citizen's voice is important and necessary for an orderly and efficient society.
• the collective wishes of the people of a state. A democratically elected government will usually attempt to determine these wishes and make decisions based on them.

Plebiscite

• a form of democratic government in which citizens elect candidates to represent them in government and to make decisions on their behalf; often contrasted with direct democracy.
• a form of democratic government in which people participate directly in political decision making. A direct democracy operates on the belief that every citizen's voice is important and necessary for an orderly and efficient society.
• a direct vote by citizens on a specific question submitted to them by their government to determine their wishes.
• a special vote in which all eligible citizens may vote on an important issue put to them by a government. This is a form of direct democracy.

Proportional Representation

• a system of voting where citizens vote directly for a party, and then representatives of each party are assigned to the legislature based on that party's share of popular support. This results in a fairly accurate representation within the legislature of the will of the people.
• an electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in an electoral district (such as a riding or constituency) wins the election. This system is often contrasted with proportional representation, an alternative electoral method used in many liberal democracies.
• a direct vote by citizens on a specific question submitted to them by their government to determine their wishes.
• a government formed when the governing political party (or coalition of parties) holds fewer than half of the total seats in the House of Commons or a provincial legislature, but holds more seats than any other party.