ELECTIONS When Canadian Federal elections are held (5 yrs) each party is allowed to run one...
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Transcript of ELECTIONS When Canadian Federal elections are held (5 yrs) each party is allowed to run one...
ELECTIONS
• When Canadian Federal elections are held (5 yrs) each party is allowed to run one candidate in each constituency.– Elections Canada (Chief Electoral Officer)– 308 constituencies (based on population)
• Only one person from the riding will become M.P. (member of Parliament)– This is called single member plurality. (single member
constituency)
Liberals
158 seats Conservative
100 seats
Bloc
40 seats
NDP
10 seats
Government
158 seats
Opposition
150 seats
308 seats in Total
A majority government is one in which the party in power has more than half the seats in the House of
Commons
Liberals
135 seats Conservative
94 seats
Bloc
55 seats
NDP
23 seats
Government
135 seats
Opposition
173 seats
308 seats in Total
A minority government is one in which the party in power holds the most seats, but less than all other
parties combined.
Other
1 seat
Liberals
135 seats Conservative
92 seats
Bloc
55 seats
NDP
26 seats
Government
161 seats
Opposition
147 seats
308 seats in Total
A coalition government is one in which a minority government convinces one of the opposition parties to
join them in power.
ADVANTAGESEase of debate and amendment of bills– Amendments are only made to bills if they are
directly related to the subject of the proposed bill.
ADVANTAGESQuick passage of bills– Through the cabinet the government can
determine how much time should be allotted for each bill.
ADVANTAGESPublic Accountability– Through daily “Question Period” members of
the opposition parties can question the policies of the government.
ADVANTAGESIndependent Judiciary– The judicial process helps refine and clarify
laws passed by Parliament.
DISADVANTAGES
The Canadian principle of responsible government involves cooperation between the legislative and executive branches
• leads to successive changes in government and instability.
DISADVANTAGESClosure– When the government ends debate on a bill
by imposing limits on opposition party members’ time to speak. (i.e. G.S.T./Free Trade)
DISADVANTAGESPatronage– To ensure quick passage of its proposals and
to promote party discipline, the government has engaged in patronage.
DISADVANTAGESLack of Accountability– Party discipline does not allow elected
members of the House to vote according to their constituents.
– Lobbying puts great power in the hands of unelected and well-financed organizations.
ADVANTAGESEase of debate and amendment of bills
– At each stage of the legislative process in the American Congress, a bill undergoes considerable debate and modification.
ADVANTAGESFreedom of Action
– A vote of non-confidence cannot occur so there is no need for party solidarity.
– Individual members of Congress are free to act for their own reasons.
– President does not have to rely on the support of a particular political party to pass presidential bills.
ADVANTAGESPresidential Check
– The president can veto the passing of poor legislation by Congress and send it back for further review.
DISADVANTAGESStaggered terms of office can reduce popular control of elected officials.– Takes 6 years to completely change
government. (unresponsive)
DISADVANTAGESCumbersome and Slow– If the Democratic and Republican parties are
divided along ideological lines, possibility exists for political instability. (i.e. filibuster)
DISADVANTAGES“Logrolling” and “pork barreling.”
– “Logrolling” occurs when politicians agree to support each other’s bill. Amendments are often added to the bill to attract support.
– “Pork barreling” is the appropriation of money or the passage of bills that benefit a politicians electoral district.
DISADVANTAGESMisuse of Presidential Vote
– Because the president is not responsible to Congress, the president can reject any legislation that is passed.
METHOD OF ELECTING MP’s
• Single-member constituencies– One person is elected (first past the post)
• Even if they did not get the majority of votes.– Largest number of votes– Example is Canada
SINGLE MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES
ADVANTAGES• Usually produces
stable government with only a few political parties– Usually guarantees
that one party wins majority.
DISADVANTAGES• Can create parliament
that do not accurately reflect nation-wide strength of each party.(example page 76)
Run-Off System
• France & Russia• If no person receives a majority of the
votes then top 2 vote getters are placed on another ballot and another election is held to gain a majority. (usually happens within a week or two.)
Multi-Member Constituencies
• More than one person elected from each constituency.
• Voters rank order candidates in order of preference.
• Ireland
Proportional Representation
• Citizens vote for political parties rather than individuals.
• Seats given in proportion to their share of popular vote.– i.e. party gets 40% of votes wins 40% of the
seats.– If party wins 20 seats the parties top ranked
20 candidates are elected.
PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
ADVANTAGES• More accurately reflects
nation wide support• Minority parties get
representation.• Balances regional
strength• Weeds out extreme
groups who have very little support
DISADVANTAGES• Party can exert more
control over chosen candidates.– (chosen by party officials)
• Unstable govt./elections too often.– (minority and coalition
governments)• Creates minor parties that
represent narrow interests and undermine broad based national parties.
DEMOCRACY IN SWEDEN
A Description of Sweden’s System of Government
• Constitutional monarchy• Unicameral• Fusion of power• Representative & parliamentary
The Prime Minister
• Leader of the political party that has the support of the majority of elected officials in the Riksdag.
• P.M. and cabinet can be voted out of office by parliament.
• Party solidarity usually prevents this.• Vote of Non-Confidence can occur.
Cabinet Ministers
• Each in charge of separate department.• Responsible for preparing legislation for
approval by Riksdag.
Elections
• Fixed term– Held every fourth year on the third Sunday in
September.• Each party provides lists of candidates for
office.• Voters select the lists of their choice and
place in ballot box. (select party and favorite candidates)
Political Parties• 8 major political parties
– Social Democratic Labour Party has been in power since 1932 alone or in coalition govt. for all but 9 years.
– Other parties include• Centre Party (appeals to farmers)• Conservative Party (appeals to big business)• Liberal Party (middle class)• Communist Party (6% of popular vote in 1994)• Green Party (environmental concerns)• New Democratic Party• Christian Democratic Party
Power in the Swedish System
• Power lies with Swedish parliament (Riksdag)– P.M. with Council of State (cabinet)
• Uses proportional representation (349 seats)– 29 constituencies (310 members are elected)– 39 seats are distributed based on each party’s
share of total votes cast nationally. (Parties must win 4% of nation wide vote to participate)
Proportional Representation in Sweden
• Each constituency is allotted several seats. (29 constituencies in Sweden)
• Cast ballot for the party.• Each party can nominate as many candidates as number
of seats in riding.• Party ranks candidates in order of preference.• If party wins 3 seats the party member #1, 2, 3 are elected.• Seats won are based % of vote received by parties per
riding/constituency. • 310 representatives are elected• Additional 39 seats distributed on % of party’s vote
nationally.– Each party must obtain at least 12% of total vote in a
single riding or 4% of nation-wide vote.
Should the House of Commons have a rule requiring ½ of all members of Parliament to be
male and ½ be female?
Should Canada’s system of government adapt with the times and make fundamental changes rather than stick with out-dated
traditions such as having a Governor-General?
“Public opinion polls should not be released publicly during the
last several weeks of an election campaign?”
Agree or Disagree?
“Dictatorial forms of government do have some distinct
advantages over democratic governments?”
Agree or Disagree?
Political Participation in Democracies
Political Parties• Political parties play an important role in
democracies.– Join a party– Run for office– Help shape Party PlatformParty Platform– Means of communication between people & the
government– Provide alternative choices for people– Parties can act as a check on power of government.
(watchdog)
Political Parties
Weaknesses• In Canada party loyalty (party solidarity) &
party discipline make the reps. more loyal to party than to people.
Party Systems
One Party System (Mexico)• A system in which one political party wields all
the constitutional power.How is this considered democratic?– If no one is excluded from membership and if
everyone can express opinion without persecution.
Disadvantage• No real choice
Party SystemsTwo Party Systems (USA)• A system in which two political parties dominate
the politics and legislation of a country.Why is this system considered to be superior?– Voters have a definite clear-cut alternative.– Easier to evaluate government
Disadvantages• Reduces choice• Parties can adopt similar policies
Party SystemsMulti-Party Systems (Italy & Sweden)• More than two parties dominate politics and
legislation.Why do parties in this system remain so different from each other?– Fear of losing support forces them to be distinct.
Disadvantages• Coalition governments lead to unstable
governments.
Party SystemsHybrid Type (Canada?)• Third party introduced to a two party system.
What would be an advantage of this system?– Keeps other two parties on their toes (fresh ideas or
lose support).– Allow neglected groups of people who are unhappy
with current system to brings their views to government.
Disadvantages• Third party rarely wins much support!
Canadians often grumble about the political system. They often say that they have no influence over government and that it is a waste of time to get involved in politics as nothing changes anyway. However, if people do not become actively involved it is almost certain that the political system will not change.• Government by people only works if people become involved.
• Government can’t reflect the will of the people if people don’t get involved to tell government what they want.
• With no public inquiry, governments become corrupt.
•If people aren’t vigilant, a small group could take over government.
WHO CARES?
Political systems differ from country to country. Not all nations allow citizen participation in government decision making. Some countries strive to ensure that citizens are given their rights and responsibilities by law. Canada is a democracy that attempts to allow for as much participation as possible. Yet election results reveal that in some cases a surprisingly small percentage of the electorate actually vote. This has led some people to consider the concept of compulsory voting.
Canadian Federal Election 2004
60%
Edmonton Municipal Election 2004
40%
Calgary Municipal Election
18%
Alberta Provincial Election 2004
46%
TWO SIDES TO THE ISSUEYes
• Would achieve a true majority decision.
• It would deal with the problem of apathy.
• Importance of citizenship would be realized
No• Make decisions even
less valid as many would simply vote to avoid a penalty
• This would make people ignorant of the issues at hand
• Freedom means people shouldn’t be required to vote
Individual Freedom VS. Group Welfare
How much power should the state have over the individual?
How do you achieve the proper balance between public order
and individual freedom?
Are there circumstances under which citizens are justified in
disobeying the law, or in using violence to achieve their goals?
3628 1414
106 75
10 11
7
4
111
308 constituencies
2004 Federal Election Results
Father Damien Thich Quang-Duc