CONTENTS

GETTING STARTED 2

Chapter 1: Shaping Society Together 10Skill Power: Telling Fact From Opinion 16Viewpoints: Should Cellphones Be Allowed in Class? 20

Chapter 2: Democracy in Action 28Viewpoints: Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 42Skill Power: Detecting Bias 50

Chapter 3: Democracy in Ancient Athens 54Skill Power: Using Primary Sources 62Viewpoints: Is Ancient Athens a Good Example of Democracy? 70

Chapter 4: The Iroquois Confederacy 76Skill Power: Interpreting Maps 84Viewpoints: What Is the Best Way to Make a Decision? 94

Chapter 5: How Does Local Government Work? 100Viewpoints: Are Curfew Bylaws a Good Idea? 108Skill Power: Making a Presentation 116

Chapter 6: How Provincial Government Works 128Viewpoints: Should Voting Be Compulsory? 140Skill Power: Identifying Perspective 150

Chapter 7: Making a Just and Fair Canada 154Viewpoints: Does Freedom of Expression Apply on the Internet? 162Skill Power: Using a Comparison Organizer 180

Chapter 8: Voices for Change 186Skill Power: Conflict Resolution 192Viewpoints: An Ongoing Concern 194

Wrapping Up 216

Canada’s Provinces and Territories 218The World 220Glossary 222Index 226Credits 231

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Getting Started

Introduction to Democracyand Participation

Imagine you had the chance to pick the kind of society youwanted to live in. Which one of the following would youchoose? Give reasons for your choice.

Society One

One leader has all the power and authority in the society. Heor she chooses people to help govern. The main goal of theleader and the government is to hold onto power. Noopposition is allowed. Citizens have few rights and freedoms.

Society Two

Citizens have the right to choose the people who run thegoverment. Citizens are able to participate in the decisionsmade by the government. The rights and freedoms of citizensare protected by law.

Society Three

A small group of people controls the government. Theseleaders have power because of their wealth, family, or militarystrength. Certain other groups in society have special rights.The citizens have no part in making decisions.

You have probably already guessed that society two is adescription of the kind of society you live in. It is a descriptionof a democracy, which is the form of government we have inCanada.

What do you think of when you hear the worddemocracy? Many Canadians would answer “elections,”“rights and freedoms,” or “majority rule.” This year, you willhave the chance to explore Canadian democracy and howpeople participate in it.

Majority rule means thatdecisions are determined by51 percent or more of thevotes recorded.

words matter !

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Inquiring Minds?

3

Here are some questions to guide your inquiry throughout this book:

1. How does our government reflect democratic principles?2. In what ways does democracy encourage people to participate in

bringing about change?

decisions made by elected representatives

voting in elections protection of rights and freedoms

citizen participation

freedom to disagree

majority rule

equality

Democracymeans...

✓ ✓ ✓

✓

✓

✓ ✓

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What Are DemocraticValues?Imagine that your class is figuring out how to raise money fora local charity. Class members have suggested three ideas: abake sale, a car wash, or a pizza day. How would you decide?

You might begin by having a class discussion about thethree choices. Then take a vote. Class members put up theirhands to indicate their choice or write it on a piece of paper.Finally you count the number of votes for each choice.

Every time you make a decision in this way, you arepractising democracy. How does this kind of decision makingshow that members of your class share the following ideas? • People are free to express their opinions.• Everyone has the right to vote.• Everyone’s vote is equal.• Everyone agrees to go along with the choice of 51 percent of

the members.

These ideas are at the heart of democratic values. Valuesare principles about how people should act. People who live ina democracy share certain values. These values affect howthey think society should be run and how they behave towardothers.

Canadians describe themselves as having the followingvalues: • the fair and equal treatment of all• a respectful or sensitive attitude toward others who have

different opinions from their own• a belief in solving differences in a peaceful way• discussion and compromise as ways to reach decisions• support for diversity

Our values are part of our identity. Describe situations inwhich you have seen people acting on these values.

Values are principles abouthow people should act.Values are also standards forwhat we consider importantand just.

To compromise is to decideon a settlement that satisfiesall parties.

Diversity means respectingpeople from varied culturesand backgrounds.

words matter !

What does this image suggestabout compromise andcooperation?

Results of Money-raising Vote

Bake Sale Car Wash Pizza Day

4 10 11

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What Principles SupportDemocracy?Democracy cannot exist unless people in a society sharesimilar values. Democratic values and democratic principlesgo hand in hand. In the course of this year, you will belooking at how democracy in Canada is supported by fourprinciples—justice, equity, freedoms, and representation.

We are supporting democracy in our society when we followthese principles in the laws we make and in the ways webehave toward one another.

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How Do Citizens Participatein Democracy?A democratic society depends on the participation of itscitizens. During your studies this year, you will find out thatdemocracy is an old idea. You will see that the democraticdecision making we practise in Canada comes from Greekideas about government some 2500 years ago. In fact, theword “democracy” comes from two Greek words: demosmeaning “the people” and cratos meaning “power” or“government.” You will also have a chance to look at howdemocratic principles were practised in the IroquoisConfederacy beginning about 700 years ago.

The first Europeans in what is now Canadacame from France and England, countries ruled bymonarchs—kings and queens. Early settlements were run by governors sent by their monarchs. Itwasn’t until the late 1700s that democraticallyelected governments emerged in Canada. TheLegislative Assemblies of Upper and Lower Canadawere democratic institutions in early Canadianhistory.

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ThinkingIt Through

What do you get whenyou put the meanings ofdemos and cratostogether? Consider howthis is reflected in theideas about democracyyou looked at on page 3.

The Hiawatha Wampum tellsabout the Great Law of theIroquois Confederacy. The GreatLaw set out how people canparticipage in decision making.

Greek citizens take turns expressing their opinions beforetaking a vote.

Here is an artist’s idea of what the LegislativeAssembly in Upper Canada might havelooked like. Only land-owning men wereallowed to vote. How is this different fromvoting in Canada today?

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These girls are taking a stand about asituation they feel strongly about.

Canadian democracy today isbuilt on the foundations of thepast. Over time, ideas aboutdemocracy in Canada have grownand changed. We now have threedemocratically elected levels ofgovernment.

Democracy means much morethan voting in elections or running

for an elected position in government. In a democracy,everyone has the responsibility to participate and contribute tosociety. People your age have an important part to play in ourdemocratic society. You can join with others to make adifference in your community, your province, your country,and even the world by taking action. • You can help care for other people and the environment.• You can speak out about situations that you think are

unfair.

Democracy is a two-way street. We receive precious rightsand freedoms and in exchange we take on the responsibilty toparticipate and contribute.

Federal Government

The federal level of government isresponsible for mattersthat concern the wholecountry. It is located in

Ottawa

Provincial Government

Provincial government is located

in the capital of theprovince. It is elected by the people of the

province.

Local Government

These governments are

elected in cities, towns,villages, reserves and

settlements, and otherlocal areas across

Canada.

Having three levels ofgovernment helps to balance theneeds of people living in differentareas of the country.

Federal Government

Prov

incial Government

Loca

l Governm

ent

You

Helping seniors is one way to make a difference in yourcommunity. What other things could you do?

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Reading This Book

This feature appears on the opening pages of each chapter. Keep thequestions in mind as you work through the chapter. They will help you tofocus on how the content relates to democracy and participation.

Inquiring Minds?

Inquiry

Taking Action

Content

The seven steps in this diagram showyou the steps you can follow to takeaction on an issue that concerns you.The accompanying student handbook,Take Action—Make a Difference, providesyou with more information on each stepand gives you ideas for actions that youmight take.

This feature gives you more informationabout topics that are mentioned in themain text.

More About. . .

Definitions for many of the words that are inboldface in the text are provided in this feature.It will help you to understand the meaning ofthe word as it is used in context. Some words in boldface are only defined in the Glossary atthe end of the book because their meaning isdescribed in the text around them.

words matter !

Speaking Out

This feature lets you hear otherpoints of view on topics you explorein the text.

People who have contributed todemocracy or change in Canada areintroduced to you in this feature.

MAKING A

DIFFERENCE

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ViewpointsViewpoints

Everyone has a viewpoint about topics theycare about. You do, too. In this feature, youwill read different points of view about animportant subject.

You will find these features at the end of each chapter.The activities and questions give you a chance to pulltogether the key ideas, apply the skills you havelearned, and explore ideas further.

In this feature, students like you will be takingaction in their community or exploring anissue related to democracy.

Find out how laws made by Canadiangovernment connect to democracy inthis feature.

The levels of governmentdiagram shows you whichlevel of government is incharge of the things you arereading about.

SKILLPOWER

This feature occurs in every chapter. It willhelp you develop skills you have been learningin social studies. Skill Powers are listed in theTable of Contents, so you can easily find a skillto help you with a particular activity.

Thinking Skills

Skill Smart

Contributing to

Community Federal Government

Prov

incial Government

Loca

l Governm

ent

Each time you see this feature, you will beasked to do a short, skill-based task. Doingthese tasks sharpens your skills.

The questions in this feature focus yourattention on the main topic in the chapter.They also give you a chance to reflect andthink critically about ideas.

ThinkingIt Through

9

DECISIONS IN

DEMOCRACY

You

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