YouTube Video YouTube Video. Context Mr.Wilson – History 404.

Chapter 4: Official and Countervailing Powers

Spiderman!With great power comes great responsibilityYouTube Video Chapter 4: Official and Countervailing PowersContext

Mr.Wilson History 404Power is .... "The ability to [intentionally] make people (or things) do what they would not otherwise have done." http://www.answers.com/topic/power-sociologyNearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)Constitutional MonarchyCanada is a constitutional monarchyWhat 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

What does this mean? constitution#2: The Canadian Constitution places political power in the hands of voters who elect representatives

Constitutional MonarchyLevels of GovernmentNo level of government has absolute or total power.They each have their own responsibilities.

Levels of GovernmentWhat are the 3 levels of government in Canada?FederalProvincialMunicipal

Federal and Provincial governments have defined responsibilities outlined in the British North America (BNA) Act

Municipal responsibilities differ from province to provinceFederal

Money, trade, shipping, defence and military, criminal law, relations with First Nations, immigration*, agriculture*Responsible for Canada as a wholeProvincial

Natural resources, health and social services, education, highway transportation, civil law, public security, labour relations, immigration*, agriculture*Responsible for the provincesMunicipal

Manage road work, recreation infrastructures, cultural activities, sewers, garbage & recycling, firefighters, public transportationResponsible for cities and townsTensionsTensions can occur between different levels of government

The federal government can sometimes intervene in areas related to provincial responsibilities

Results in tension!

Usually laws from the superior level overrule those of the lower levelTensionsEx: Provincial law conflicting with federal charter

Bill 101 vs. Charter of Rights and FreedomsDivision of PowerWhat are the 3 different types of power in Canada?ExecutiveLegislativeJudicialDivision of PowerExecutive: Propose the laws (bills)Made up of elected leader and members of the political party with a majority Legislative: Vote on the lawsMade of up elected members of all political parties who represent the populationJudicial:Uphold the lawsMade up of courts and judges

Division of Power in the Federal GovernmentWho holds Executive power? Prime Minister and his CabinetLegislative?House of Commons - represent the population

Judicial? Courts (ex. Superior Court & Court of Appeals)

Division of Power in the Federal GovernmentThe 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 Federal GovernmentDivision of Power in the Provincial GovernmentWho holds Executive power? Premier and his Cabinet

Legislative? National Assembly - represent the populationJudicial? Courts (ex. Administrative court, Quebec court)

VotersNational Assembly(Legislative Power)Elected RepresentativesGovernment(Executive Power)Premier and CabinetMinistries and DepartmentsCourts(Judicial Power)Administrative CourtQuebec CourtLieutenant Governor (British Monarchy)Division of Power in the Provincial Governmentp. 151Who hold Executive power?Mayor and his city councillorsLegislative?City council represents the populationJudicial?Courts (ex. Municipal courts)Division of Power in the Municipal Government

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

Examples of Interest Groups1) Business GroupsPrivate Enterprise = Conseil du Patronat

This group represents the private business owners in Quebec:Favour innovationInvestment in private business.Stable job opportunities.Labour codeParental Leave program

2) UnionsMore 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 Loi sur les normes du travail.

The Four BIGGIESFdrations des travailleurs du Quebec (FTQ)Confdrations des syndicats nationaux (CSN)Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ)Centrale des syndicats dmocratiques (CSD)

These four big Unions influence a lot of voters as well as public opinion.

Tactics = protests & strikesOther Activist GroupsProfessional Orders: Doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc.Linguistic Groups: Socit St-Jean Baptiste, Alliance QuebecEnvironmental: quiterre, GreenpeaceFeministReligiousOthers?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)Review.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