| A | B |
|---|
| Municipality | a city, town, or county having local self-gov't |
| Metropolitan gov't | a form of municipal gov't that provides services to citizens of several neighbouring municipalities |
| Amalgamation | the combination of cities, towns, or other areas under one gov't |
| Municipal Countcil | the group of people elected to govern local issues. the head of council is called a mayor or reeve. other members are called councillors or aldermen |
| School Board | group of people elected to make decisions about schools in a particular area |
| Civil Servants | Network of people hired to work for the local gov't. They run municipal departments and provide public services. |
| By Law | Regulation passed by municipal councils. Provincial gov'ts can review and overturn this legal decision. |
| Local Planning | Municipal responsibility for forming policies and procedures for the future. |
| Grassroots Organizing | When individuals collaborate and convince other local citizens to work with them |
| Executive Branch | Branch of gov't that has the power to carry out the plans and policies of gov't |
| Prime Ministers | Leader of the nation, head of the federal gov't, leader of the party with the greatest number of seats in parliament |
| Caucus | A group of representatives from the same political party in parliament |
| Cabinet | the group of ministers that provide sober second opinion to the prime minister |
| Minister | member of the cabinet |
| Cabinet Solidarity | The custom that cabinet members must appear united and in agreement with eachother |
| Public or Civil service | The people hired to work for the gov't |
| Legislative Branch | Branch of gov't that has power to make, change and appeal laws |
| Parliament | The legislative branch of gov't |
| Members of parliament | People chosen in elections to represent the citizens and debate and vote in public issues in parliament |
| Bill | A written proposal for a law |
| Act | A written law passed by parliament |
| Leader of Opposition | The leader of the second-largest party in the house of commons |
| Question period | The time put aside for opposition parties to raise issues and question the gov't |
| Judicial Branch | Branch of gov't with power to interpret laws, decide who has broken the law, and what penalties should be made |
| Election | The process of voting to choose gov't reps. |
| Responsible Government | A democratic system of gov't where the citizens vote on reps to make decisions on behalf of the people |
| Rep by Pop | When representation is based on size of population |
| Riding or Constituency | An area that has its own member of parliament |
| Political Party | A group of people who work to elect candidates with similar beliefs |
| Party Platform | The statement of where the party stands on major issues |
| Independant | A candidate who does not belong to a political party |
| Mass Media | Tv, radio, newspapers etc used to transmit information |
| Equality Rights | Rights guaranteed by the cnaadian charter of rights and freedoms, forbidding discrimination against others |
| FPTP | (first past the post, the system in which the candidate who wins the most votes is elected |
| byelection | An election held for a vacant seat, happens when an elected rep dies or retires |
| Pressure Group | A group of people working together to pressure decision makers to promote their common interest |
| Lobbying | A major pressure-group activity by direct persuasion ex. letters, phonecalls |
| Lobbyist | A person hired to represent the interest of a group by influencing decision makers in the group's favour |
| Protest Group | A group of people who demonstrate together to influence decision makers directly |
| Civil Disobedience | to refuse to obey laws one feels are unjust or unfair to get the attn of the gov't |
