Students are expected to know the following:
- structure and function of Canadian and
First Peoples political institutions - major ideologies and political systems
- election processes and electoral systems
- methods used by media, governments, or political groups to influence public opinion
- political power in democratic and
non-democratic societies - current and future public policy
- scope and characteristics of the international system
- issues in local, regional, national,
and international politics
- structure and function of Canadian and First Peoples political institutions:
Sample topics:
- federal, provincial, and territorial legislatures
- First Peoples governance
- roles of executive, legislative, and judicial branches
- major ideologies and political systems:
Sample topics:
- ideologies:
- liberalism
- conservatism
- democratic socialism
- Libertarianism
- political systems:
- democracy
- theocracy
- dictatorship
- totalitarian state
- left-to-right political spectrum and two-dimensional representation, such as the political compass
Sample activities:
- Take online tests designed to represent your views on a linear or two-dimensional spectrum. Compare the questions asked and the methodology of two such tests.
- Compare the way terms such as “liberal” and “conservative” are used in Canada, the United States, and other countries.
- election processes and electoral systems:
Sample topics:
- electoral systems:
- single-member plurality (first past the post)
- proportional representation systems
- single transferable vote
- majoritarian
- consensus-model elections in Nunavut and Northwest Territories
- processes for local, provincial, and federal elections
- outside factors in elections, such as opinion polls, campaign financing, third-party involvement, election advertising, and social media
- history of voting rights in Canada
Sample activities:
- Analyze the media coverage of one day in an election campaign or a significant day in politics. Review a variety of print, web, and broadcast sources. Consider placement and size of stories, images chosen, accuracy, and reporting bias.
- Compare electoral systems in Canada and another jurisdiction.
- methods used by media, governments, or political groups to influence public opinion:
Sample topics:
- lobbying
- media campaigns
- propaganda
- awareness or information campaigns
- public consultation
Sample activity:
- Prepare a case study of the influence of media, government, or political groups in shaping public perception of an issue.
- political power in democratic and non-democratic societies:
Sample topic:
- theories of power:
- power over (power to compel, direct, or dictate) versus power to (power to influence, enable, or empower)
Sample activities:
- Identify and assess the leading factors empowering certain groups in society while disempowering others.
- Analyze the circumstances in which political power shifts from one group (or amalgam of groups) to another.
- current and future public policy:
Key question:
- When are governments proactive in the creation of policy and when are they reactive to the needs and demands of the population?
Sample Activity:
- Simulate the policy-making process on a current issue that involves the articulation of stakeholder perspectives (e.g., parliamentary committee stage, local community engagement process).
- scope and characteristics of the international system:
Sample topics:
- sovereign states
- intergovernmental organizations:
- United Nations
- NATO
- EU
- non-governmental organizations
- social movements
- multinational corporations
- international law
- terrorism
Sample activities:
- Hold a model United Nations meeting.
- Simulate the meeting of another global organization.
- issues in local, regional, national, and international politics:
Sample topics:
- economic development
- sustainability
conflict resolution