Glossary
Note: Definitions are adapted from The Canadian Encyclopedia and the Gage Canadian Dictionary, unless otherwise noted.
Aboriginal self-government: The ability of Aboriginal governments to pass laws and make decisions about matters that affect their communities and lands, including the establishment of new governing structures and institutions, in partnership with all orders of government in Canada.
Censure: An official expression of disapproval, especially criticism or condemnation.
Confederation: Confederation refers to the birth of Canada on July 1, 1867. The word is also used to describe the events that led to Confederation. The four original provinces were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Constitution: A set of laws and customs by which a group of people control themselves. Most countries have written constitutions that set out the basic law of their state. The Canadian constitution is written, combining parts of Great Britain's laws such as the Magna Carta (1215), the Bill of Rights (1689), Petition of Right (1629) and Act of Settlement (1701). Added to this are documents specifically setting out how Canada is to be run, beginning with the Royal Proclamation of 1763. The most important parts of Canada's written Constitution include the Quebec Act of 1774, which guaranteed the use of the French language and civil law in Quebec; the Constitutional Act of 1791, which created elected assemblies in Quebec and Ontario; the British North America Act of 1867, which created the basis of the federal system and laid down the division of powers between federal and provincial governments. This Act was renamed the Constitution Act, 1867 in 1982. Other important parts of our Constitution are decisions of the Supreme Court; the Statute of Westminster of 1931; the Acts that created new provinces and territories after Confederation, for example, the Manitoba Act (1870) and the Alberta and Saskatchewan Acts (1905); the Canada Act, 1982, which was the last Act passed by Great Britain that affected Canada; and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Constitutional monarchy: A monarchy whose ruler is only entitled to the powers given to him or her by a nation through their constitution and laws. Often, the monarch fulfills more traditional and ceremonial duties.
Crown: The Crown is the term used to represent the sum total of executive powers exercised by or in the name of the Monarch, the current Queen or King of Canada.
Democracy: Describes a state in which power is held by elected representatives of the people.
Executive: Describes the “decision-making” part of government; in Canada, the executive is made up of the Governor General, the Cabinet (including the Prime Minister), and the administration, which includes all government departments, the armed forces, Crown corporations and other autonomous bodies.
Fathers of Confederation: The Fathers of Confederation were the delegates from British North America who planned Confederation and brought it about. From Canada (now Ontario and Quebec): Sir John A. Macdonald; Sir George-Étienne Cartier; Alexander T. Galt; William McDougall; Sir Hector Langevin; George Brown; Thomas D'Arcy McGee; Alexander Campbell; Sir Étienne P. Taché; Sir Oliver Mowat; J.C. Chapais; James Cockburn; W.P. Howland; Hewitt Bernard (secretary). From Nova Scotia: Sir Charles Tupper; William A. Henry; Jonathan McCully; Adams G. Archibald; Robert B. Dickey; J.W. Ritchie. From New Brunswick: Samuel L.Tilley; J.M. Johnson; William H. Steeves; E.B. Chandler; John Hamilton Gray; Peter Mitchell; Charles Fisher; R.D.Wilmot. From Prince Edward Island: John Hamilton Gray; Edward Palmer; William H. Pope; A.A. Macdonald; George Coles; T.H. Haviland; Edward Whelan. From Newfoundland: F.B.T. Carter; Ambrose Shea.
Federalism: Describes the political system where there is more than one order of government. The responsibilities of the different order of government in Canada are outlined in the Constitution. In Canada, the federal government is responsible for policies that affect the country as a whole, such as defence, foreign relations, and currency, among others.
Federation: The creation of a country (federation) by the union of a group of provinces or states. Canada and the United States of America, for example, are both federations.
Foreign Policy: The policy of an independent state in its interaction with other sovereign states. (Adapted from: http://www.m-w.com/).
Judiciary: The branch of government that administers justice through its courts and judges. Even though the Canadian judiciary is appointed, removed and paid by the executive branch of government, it carefully protects its status as equal and independent of that branch.
Legislative branch: The branch of government that has the power and responsibility to create laws. In Canada, it is comprised of the House of Commons and the Senate.
Legislature: The group of elected representatives of a province or territory. Its federal counterpart is the House of Commons.
Parliamentary: A system of government where the three branches of Parliament—Governor General, House of Commons and the Senate—debate laws before they vote on them. These branches are composed of both elected (House of Commons) and appointed (Governor General, Senate) members.
Peacekeeping: Invented and developed by the United Nations, this technique doesn't have a simple definition. It is in between traditional methods of resolving disputes peacefully, such as mediation and fact-finding and more forceful action, such as military intervention. Traditionally, peacekeepers have been placed between states to supervise cease-fires and, on occasion, the withdrawal of military forces. In most cases prior to the 1990s, peacekeeping operations were purely military. In recent years, peacekeeping has evolved to reflect new realities. (Adapted from: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/peacekeeping/conflict-en.asp)
Prerogative (powers): The rights and privileges only held by one individual or body. Within Canada, the prerogative of the sovereign is delegated to the Governor General on advice from the federal Cabinet, and to the Lieutenant Governors through the Governor-in-Council.
Representative government: A governing body of persons chosen by its citizens, often through election.
Responsible government: A government where an executive Cabinet, selected from the elected members of a legislature, are a decision-making body that is responsible and accountable to their legislature. This form of government has existed in Canada since 1848.
Self-government: The ability of a specific group of people to pass laws and make decisions about matters that affect their communities and lands, including the establishment of new governing structures and institutions, in partnership with all orders of government in Canada.
United Nations: An international organization committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership now totals 189 countries. The UN has four purposes: to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights, and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. (Adapted from: http://www.un.org/Overview/brief.html).