Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Unit Briefing: Federal Political System

Your first task as politicians in training will be to
demonstrate an understanding of the system you will be
working in. To show that you have met the objectives you
will create an infographic that gives a detailed explanation
of how all the concepts covered in this unit are related.
This assignment will be summative (graded).
To make sure that you understand all of the concepts that
must be included in your unit project, and to help you build
it, you will complete five component projects. These will be
formative (ungraded), but you will have the option of using
some of them as part of your opinion pieces blog posts.
Objectives:
9.1.4 Examine the structure of Canadas federal political system
by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and
issues:
How are laws passed in the federal political system?
What is the relationship between the executive, legislative
and judicial branches of Canadas federal political system?
What processes are used to determine Members of Parliament
(MPs) and Senators?
To whom are Members of Parliament and Senators accountable?
What is the role of political parties within Canadas
federal political system?
What is the role of the media in relation to political
issues?
How do lobby groups impact government decision making?
To what extent do political and legislative processes meet
the needs of all Canadians?

Vocabulary Terms:

Issue, Quality of Life, Governance, Government, Constitution,

Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Federal, Prime Minister,
Monarch/Crown, Cabinet (Minister), Constituents, Popular Vote,
Minorities, House of Commons, Parliament, Senate, Bill, Law,
Political Party, Assimilation, Media, Lobby (Group),

Learning Projects:
MPs
MPs and
and
Senators Venn
Senators
Venn
Diagram
Diagram
Legislation
Legislation Flow
Flow
Chart
Chart

Majority/Minorit
Majority/Minorit
y
y Debate
Debate

Infographi
Infographi
c:
c:
Canadian
Canadian
Federal
Federal
Governme
Governme
nt
nt

Unit Project: Federal Political System

Infographic (Summative)
Government
Government
Structure
Structure
Diagram
Diagram

Press
Press Gallery
Gallery
Speech
Speech

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual

representations of information, data or knowledge intended to
present complex information quickly and clearly. (Wikipedia)
With a partner create a detailed infographic, in order to answer
the following questions:
What is the structure of Canadas Federal Political System? And
to what extent do its processes help meet the needs of all
Canadians?
Your infographic will be marked based on the intellectual
standards of critical thinking as well as showing how all of the
following structures and concepts are related:
The Constitution
Executive Branch
Prime Minister
Cabinet
Portfolios
Legislative Branch
Monarch
Governor General
House of Commons
Responsibilities of MPs
Selection of MPs
Accountability of MPs
Senate
Responsibilities of Senators
Selection of Senators
Accountability of Senators
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Judges
Selection and Responsibilities
The Legislative Process
How does a bill become a law
Role and affects of Political Parties
Role and impact of the Media
Role and impact of Lobby Groups

Total

/35

= 1 each for check boxes (23), and 2 marks for each intellectual
standard (12)

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Component Project: Structure of Federal Political System

(Formative) 9.1.4.2
Create a diagram that gives details on all of the major parts of
the Canadian federal political system, and how they are related
to each other.
Your diagram should include: The Monarch, executive, prime
minister, cabinet, legislative, house of commons, MPs, the
senate, senators, the judicial, supreme court justices

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Component Project: Legislative Process Flow Chart (Formative)

9.1.4.1
Develop a flow chart, which shows the processes by which a bill
is either rejected or finally accepted into law in the Canadian
Federal Political System.

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Component Activity: Majority/Minority Legislative Debate

(Formative) 9.1.4.5
Participate in a mock legislative debate, simulating both
minority and majority government settings.
Then reflect on the following questions
What is a majority government? How did you feel during the
majority government debate? What are some advantages and
disadvantages of majority governments?

What is a minority government? How did you feel during the

minority government debate? What are some advantages and
disadvantages of minority governments?

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Component Project: MPs and Senators Selection and Accountability

Venn Diagram (Formative) 9.1.4.3-4
Compare and contrast the selection and accountability of Members
of Parliament and Senators in Canada, using a split Venn diagram.

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers

Component Project: Press Gallery Response Re: Lobby Groups

(EDITORIAL PIECE) 9.1.6-7
Prepare a speech that you might give as a cabinet minister, to
the press gallery, responding to accusations by animal rights
lobbyists that Alberta Cattle Farming is inhumane. You must also
take into consideration the viewpoints of Cattle Farming Lobby.

Social 9

Unit 1: Federal Political System

Desrochers