Shikha Sharma

Civics: Government Structures Help Us Live Together

1. What is the definition of Federalism?

Federalism is a governmental system where two tiers of authority jointly exercise governance
within a given territory.

1. Name the three levels of government in Canada. Choose the two most important
responsibilities each level of government has.

In Canada, the three levels of government are:

Federal Government:
National defense and security
Economic and trade policies Provincial/Territorial
Governments:
Healthcare and education
Natural resources and environmental regulations
Municipal Governments:
Local infrastructure and services
Urban planning and zoning

2. What type of government do First Nations people have in addition to the three
levels? Why do you think First Nations peoples have additional governments?

In addition to the federal, provincial, and municipal levels, First Nations communities have
branch councils, which are local elected governments. These branch councils exist to address
additional regional issues and topics that are specific to their communities.

3. What title does the leader of each level of government have in Canada?

Federal leader is Prime Minister

Provincial/Territorial leader is Premier
Municipal leader is Mayor

4. Why do we have so many levels of governments Do you think we need this many
levels of governments? Explain.

Having multiple levels of government ensures balanced oversight and effective communication.
Each level can concentrate on specific problems and meet the needs of local communities. Local
Shikha Sharma

governments are more connected to the public and understand their particular demands. This
ensures that local opinions are heard, and decisions consider the specific situations of different
regions.

6. Which level of government spends the most money? Does that surprise you? Explain.
The federal level of government in Canada typically spends the most money compared to
provincial, territorial, and municipal levels. This is not surprising as the federal government is
responsible for funding national programs, infrastructure projects, defense, and social services
that cover the entire country.

7. What government spending priority is the most money spent on? What does this
spending say about our priorities as a country? As a society?
The highest government spending in Canada is often directed towards social programs,
demonstrating a priority to support the well-being of citizens and promote social equity as a
country and society.

8. If you were running the government, what spending priority or priorities would you
spend more on and what spending priority or priorities would you spend less on? Explain
the reasoning for your choices.

If I were in charge of the government, I would focus on increasing spending for education and
healthcare. Education is important for a knowledgeable society, and investing more would
improve its quality and provide better resources. Similarly, allocating more funds to healthcare
would ensure accessible and high-quality services for everyone. To afford these priorities, I
would consider reducing defense spending and finding ways to streamline government
operations. These choices aim to invest in long-term benefits, empower future generations, and
promote a healthier and more prosperous society.

9. What government services do you and your family use/enjoy? Which level of
government provides them? What are they worth to you? What might you have to do if the
government did not provide these services?

My family uses healthcare and education services provided by the federal and provincial
governments. These services are valuable to us as they ensure our well-being, access to quality
care, and educational opportunities. Without government-provided services, we would face
higher costs for healthcare and education and might struggle to access the same level of care and
educational resources.

Focus: Why do we need separate branches of government?

Separate branches of government are needed to prevent the abuse of power and maintain
accountability in governance.
Shikha Sharma

What is the name of What is the purpose Who belongs to the What does the
the branch? of the branch? branch? branch do?

Legislative The purpose of the Members of the The legislative

legislative branch is legislative branch branch is responsible
to make laws. typically include for proposing,
elected debating, and passing
representatives such laws that govern the
as senators and country and its
members of citizens.
parliament.

The executive branch Members of the The executive branch

Administers laws administers and executive branch ensures that laws are
enforces laws. include the President, carried out effectively
Prime Minister, or and efficiently
other executive leaders throughout the
who are responsible for country.
implementing and
executing laws,
managing government
agencies, and making
decisions related to
governance and policy

Judicial branch Applies laws judges and courts Via court decisions
and interpretation,
invalidate legislation
that violate the
constitution.

11. What does ‘distribution of power’ mean? Why is it important in a democracy that power is
distributed among many government and political positions and institutions?

Power distribution means having different branches of government working together to address people's
interests. This division of authority allows for quicker response to people's needs and promotes
collaboration among the branches in fulfilling their duties.
Shikha Sharma

12. Does having separate branches of government make the government more stable or less so?
Explain your reasoning.
Having separate branches of government improves the stability of the government. When different
branches have distinct responsibilities, it becomes easier to address issues and meet the needs of the
public. This division of duties helps ensure that power is not concentrated in a single authority, promoting
a balanced system that can effectively respond to challenges and maintain stability.

13. Is any branch of the government more important than the others? Why or why not?
While the legislative branch, responsible for creating laws, holds importance due to its role, no single
branch of government is more significant than the others. The branches depend on each other, forming an
interdependent system where their functions complement and rely on one another, making their collective
contributions vital for effective governance.

13. Make a copy of the diagram in Source 5 in the box below.

· Then find the name of the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of Canada and add it to the diagram.
· Then find the name of a Senator who comes from Ontario, a Member of the House of
Commons from Brampton and a Member of Cabinet. Add those names to the diagram.

14. Read the diagram on page 85 about the different institutions of government and how they work.
Choose two institutions (doesn’t matter which ones) and answer the questions posed in the ‘for
consideration…’ section.

For consideration question 1 on how should the senate work?

Even though this approach may have some drawbacks, it is still considered fair. In a democracy, no one
can force their opinions on the majority, so the Senate is just one of many individuals involved in
decision-making.

How could executive branch work, for consideration question:

Some people believe that current prime ministers have too much power, like Justin Trudeau who is
accused of wasteful spending that doesn't benefit the public. Despite promising to stop, he continues to
spend heavily on the military and provide military supplies to other countries involved in conflicts. While
the parliament has enough power, it is argued that it is not being utilized effectively.