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Note:
Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who
represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved
with the day-to-day activities of the government.
Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader
who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government.
For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister
is the head of government.
In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
Sample Question for CG2a (OAS Database)
Cuba has a type of government in which the ruler has
absolute power and is not restricted by a constitution, laws,
or the citizens. Name the type of government.
A. Federal-Republican
B. Dictatorship*
C. Parliamentary democracy
D. Presidential democracy
Sample Question for CG2a (OAS Database)
Cuba is an example of a type of government in which a ruler or
small group has absolute power and is not restricted by a
constitution or laws?
A. republic.
B. democracy.
C. parliament.
D. dictatorship.*
Sample Question for CG2a (OAS Database)
Mexico has a president who is elected by the people. The powers of the central government are restricted and regional
authorities retain a degree of self-government. Ultimate power rests with the voters who chose their governmental
representatives. Which of the following terms BEST describes Mexico's form of government today?
A. Military Dictatorship B. Federal Republic* C. Constitutional Monarchy D. Parliamentary Democracy
SS6CG3 The student will explain the structure of the national government of Canada.
Students should use the information from SS6CG1 to describe the form of government and formulate
appropriate research questions to understand the government of the countries listed in the element. {The
type of government for each country listed in the elements is found in the State Department’s Background
Notes {http://www.state.gov/countries/} and the CIA World Fact Book
{https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html}, as are definitions of each type
of government.
a. Describe the structure of
the Canadian government as
a constitutional monarchy, a
parliamentary democracy,
and a federation,
distinguishing the role of the
citizen in terms of voting and
In comparing the listed governments, only the type of leadership and the
roles of the citizen are assessable. In identifying the type of leadership,
students should know the type of leader (monarch, president, prime
minister, etc.) and how this person becomes the country’s leader. To
identify the role of the citizen, students should look at SS6CG1b and
determine what role the citizen actually plays in the government. For
personal freedoms, students should understand those freedoms in terms
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personal freedoms.
of such things as freedom of speech and freedom of the press as
understood in the United States.
EU- Governance
Assessment questions should not focus on discrete fact-related questions,
such as which country has a monarch; rather, they should focus on how a
leader of a specific country becomes its leader and what impact that has
on the role of the citizen. The following descriptions come from the CIA
World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/index.html) and/or the State Department’s Background Notes
(http://www.state.gov/countries/).
Canada is a constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary
democracy and a federation.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is
guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and
responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature
(parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or
chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as
expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual
responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.
Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is
formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central
authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or
provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal
affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts
influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.
CanadaChief of state:
Since 1952 is Queen Elizabeth II of the U.K. who is represented by
Governor General..
Head of government:
Prime Minister
Elections:
The monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch
on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
Georgia Department of Education
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majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated
prime minister by the governor general.
Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Commons.
Senate members are appointed and serve until age 75.
House of Commons members are elected by direct, popular vote.
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Sample Question for CG3a (OAS Database)
Most democracies have a government with three branches:
executive, legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the executive
branch is the
A. Parliament.
B. Supreme Court.
C. Prime Minister.*
D. Senate.
Sample Question for CG3a (OAS Database)
In most democratic countries, the government is divided into
three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. In Canada, the
legislative branch is the
A. Parliament.*
B. prime minister.
C. Supreme Court.
D. governor general.
Sample Question for CG3a (OAS Database)
In most democratic countries, the government is divided into three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the
judicial. In Canada, the legislative branch is made up of the Senate and the
A. Prime Minister. B. Supreme Court. C. House of Commons.* D. Governor General.
Georgia Department of Education
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
SOCIAL STUDIES  GRADE SIX TEACHER NOTES
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