how do governments make policy? chapter 4 continued
TRANSCRIPT
How Do Governments Make
Policy?Chapter 4 Continued
How to Become a Member of a Political Party
5 common conditions you MAY need to become a member: Support and agree with the aims of the party Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada Ordinarily reside in Canada Complete and submit the membership form Pay a (usually small) membership fee
Membership rules vary from party to party Some have an age limit (at least 14-16 years of age) Some have no membership fee
Conservative Party of Canada
Personal or family membership
Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
Actively support the founding principles of the Conservative Party of Canada
Be at least 14 years of age
Not hold membership in another federal political party
Green Party of Canada
Link wouldn’t work…
Liberal Party of Canada
$10/year
Must be at least 14 years old
New Democrat Party
Click on Join and must fill out an information form (as for other parties)
How Policy Becomes Law
The process of creating laws at all three levels of government is similar
Only the federal government has a senate
The major focus of Parliament is the development, passage and execution of pieces of legislation
Laws begin as policy debates and take official form as bills to be debated and voted on by the politicians
Governments execute laws through government depts, regulations, colleges, mandated services (police), etc.
Bills
Bill: formal written proposal for a law
Two types: Public bills - which deal with public policy Private bills - which convey special rights or powers on a
particular individual or a specific group
Can be introduced in Senate or House of Commons Ex: S-3 is a bill in the Senate and C-2 would be one from the
HoC
More Bills!
can be introduced by the government (i.e. a cabinet minister) private members (i.e. either a senator or a member of the House of
Commons)
All bills must be considered and passed by both the Senate and the House of Commons
Then they receive Royal Assent from the Governor General, the final step in a bill’s passage into law
amendments may be proposed until agreement is reached if changes need to be made
Stages of a Bill
Stages - Introduction
A written notice of introduction, by motion, puts a bill on the Parliamentary agenda
Stages – First Reading
Bill is read for the first time and printed
First reading of a bill introduces the content of a bill to the Members of Parliament
No debate, no discussion or vote
Stages - Second Reading
Most important stage in the passage of a bill (not for lobbyists)
Principle and the object of the bill are debated and either accepted or rejected
Clauses of the bill are not discussed in detail at this stage
Debates can last for hours, days or even weeks
At the end of this stage the Bill is voted on If passed, it then moves to the Committee Stage
Stages – Committee Stage
Text is studied clause by clause by a standing committee comprised of a group of MPs from all parties
Committee may receive testimony from outside witnesses on technical matters and, generally, may make amendments to any part of a bill before ordering that the bill be reported to the House of Commons
Stages – Report Stage
House of Commons reviews bills by considering amendments
primarily an opportunity for Members who did not sit on the committee to have their proposed amendments considered before approval by the House
Additional amendments to the bill may be moved, debated, and voted on
Stages – Third Reading
Bill’s last stage in the House of Commons
Bill is debated a final time and voted on
Only friendly amendments are considered
Bill may be referred back to committee for further amendment or reconsideration
Stages – The Senate
A message is sent to the Senate requesting that the bill be passed
Senate procedure is similar to that of the House of Commons but the Senate can only delay passage or suggest changes to the House often an opportunity for input at this stage
Amendments? Revised bill returns to the House of Commons for another vote
Stages – Royal Assent
Bill must be signed by the Governor General to become law and is now an Act
Other Levels of Government
Provincial Legislature
Provincial legislatures operate similarly
There are differences such as the absence of a Senate, the process is generally the same
Once the Bill is passed in provincial legislature, it is signed by the lieutenant governor
Municipal Bylaws Elected councilors sit on various
committees that oversee various areas, like park, finances, transportation
Committees study policy proposals
Similar to federal: first reading; second reading with debates and public input, committee; final reading; vote
no senate or royal assent. If a yes vote, the policy becomes a bylaw
Where Do I Come In?
Contact your Representative Email and faxes are easy to send Handwritten or typed letters to MP or MPP are more
personal and effective Briefly an clearly relate your experience and concern Identify the specific law, regulation, policy or
program and how you want it dealt with Copy your letter to the minister or councilor
responsible for the area that concerns you
Where Do I Come In?
Get Involved at the Grass Roots Level Join a youth wing of a party – most you can join at 14 years of
age! Brian Mulroney, Jean Chretien and Stephen Harper
The Role of Public Opinion Polls Compas, Ekos, Environics and Ipsos-Reid are among Canada's
best-known, polling companies Polls take a snapshot of how Canadians feel on an issue Polls are based on a random sampling of the population (not
skewed or biased) and have a margin of error Questions are carefully designed (not leading) Different than a referendum (a direct vote on an issue): no ballots Governments are not obliged to make laws based on poll results
Make It Law
In your group, draft a bill that you would like to see passed by the federal government using the same page provided Ex: eliminating commercials from television
Write your group’s law on a small piece of paper and I will collect it
One chosen, class will be divided in half (majority and opposition) and we’ll do a short form of the process
STRANGE LAWS
Strange Laws
In Kentucky, it's illegal for a woman to appear in a bathing suit on the highway unless she's escorted by two police officers or injured. There's been an amendment to this bizarre law. It no longer applies to women who weigh less than 60 lbs or more than 200 lbs. Well, that clears up everything!
Strange Laws
Are you hoping to go skydiving during your next trip to Florida? Are you a single woman? Will you want to jump on a Sunday? Sorry, but that's illegal! In this U.S. state, single women who go skydiving on a Sunday can be thrown in prison.
Strange Laws
In Switzerland, it's illegal for men to urinate standing up after 10 p.m. If you're living in an apartment, you also can't flush. How the police monitor this law? We're not sure.
Strange Laws
In New Orleans, La., and Memphis, Tenn., a woman is only allowed to drive if her husband walks or runs in front waving a red flag warning pedestrians and other vehicles. This law no longer exists, with good reason!
Strange Laws
In Moscow, it is forbidden to drive a dirty car. Deciding what qualifies as dirty, we're sure, would stir quite the debate.
Strange Laws
A 1760 law made in Philadelphia, Pa., ruled it illegal to put pretzels in a bag. There are no words to illustrate the craziness of this law.
Strange Laws
Are you a pregnant woman in need of a vacation? Consider Great Britain, where it is perfectly legal for pregnant women to relieve themselves anywhere, even in public. You can even borrow a police bobby hat to do your business. Yup, that's legal too! You have to admit - doing this would secretly give you pleasure.
Strange Laws
Chewing gum is illegal in Singapore. Imagine blowing bubbles - an activity more dangerous than you can imagine in this Southeast Asian country
Strange Laws
In Miami, Fla., it's illegal for someone to imitate an animal. No monkeying around, please
Strange Laws
You've just moved into an apartment in Victoria, Australia and you realize the light bulb in the bathroom has burnt out. Darn! You quickly grab a new one and change it? That's illegal! Only an electrician is allowed to change light bulbs in Victoria
Strange Laws
In Vermont, women must get written permission from their husband to wear false teeth. Now that's a law to chew on!
Strange Laws
In Thailand, movie-goers must stand and listen to the national anthem before the film starts. If you find yourself in a Thai movie theatre, don't forget to stand up.
Strange Laws
In Texas, it's illegal to walk around with a pair of pliers in your hands. Let's bet that this law doesn't exist anymore...or does it?
Strange Laws
In England it's illegal to die in parliament. So if you're touring parliment and you get chest pain, please turn around and leave the building. Thank you very much.
Strange Laws
In France, it's illegal to take a picture of policemen/women or even police cars.
Strange Laws
And you thought you'd get away with anything in Canada. Not a chance! Here, it's forbidden to remove your bandages in public.
Make It Law Once students have completed the Make it Law handout, ask them to
write down their idea for a law on a small piece of paper and put all the student ideas into a container. Draw out an idea and use it as a springboard to discuss the legislative process. Review with your students what steps their proposed bill would take before becoming law (e.g. "We now have an idea for a new law; what do we need to do first?"). http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/Education/MPU/Resources-e.asp
Ask questions such as, "What are the advantages or disadvantages to the system Canada uses for passing bills?" and "Why do you think bills have to be passed by both the House of Commons and Senate before they receive Royal Assent and become law?”
Take a day to turn your class into an emergency sitting of a Classroom Parliament. Tell your students that the parliament has been convened to introduce, debate and decide on the top ten rules (or laws) for Australian classrooms. At the end of the day publish the new Acts of (Classroom) Parliament.