Democracy and Participation


Target


For a democracy to function well, citizens have to participate in shaping their society. This lesson is about how people participate to encourage the common good.

Introduction


The common good is an idea that comes from the Greeks who you will learn more about in Chapter 3. To be considered a citizen in Ancient Greece, you had to meet several qualifications. You had to serve the community and think about what was good for all. You were not a part of the city-state if you did not participate. You could participate by defending the city, fighting for justice, or making decisions at government meetings. If you did not attend government meetings or vote, you were fined. Also, you could be lassoed with red rope by slaves and forced to go to the political meeting. You would be embarrassed to show up in a public place with red paint on your clothes.

Today, citizens work for the common good when they govern themselves by being role models, becoming aware of the issues, and voting to select capable representatives.

Who really makes the decisions? The answer is everyone. Canada is a representative democracy, which means that every citizen has the power to express their opinions.  But, they do not make decisions about how to run the country directly. These decisions are made by a group of people who are elected by citizens to represent them.

What are your rights in Canada? Who gets to vote? Why is voting important? Two teenagers from Edmonton went to court to challenge the voting laws.  Click here for more information about why they did so. 

How does a representative democracy work? Watch a Rick Mercer humorous explanation of Canadian Representative Democracy below.