Grade 6 Social Studies

Democracy originated in ancient Athens in response to authoritarian rule, built on fundamental principles: equality under law, justice, freedom, representation. In DIRECT democracy, all male citizens were required to participate in government themselves.

The Magna Carta (1215) limited the monarchy's absolute authority, founded legal protection and individual rights, and required the monarch to consult a council — the seed of accountability.

Its features: a lottery, majority rule through voting, debate of proposed laws, secret ballots, and separate government bodies (Boule, Ecclesia, Dikasteria) — but Athens had three social classes (citizens, metics, slaves), and equal political rights belonged to male citizens only.

The Habeas Corpus Act (1679) established individual legal rights; the Bill of Rights (1689) granted parliament decision-making authority and formalized free elections, meetings of parliament, and free speech in parliament — legacies alive in every parliamentary democracy.

In representative democracy, elected citizens make decisions FOR society: male patricians and plebeians voted for representatives (magistrates) to the senate and assemblies.

Canada's democracy is based on the British parliamentary system and reflects the principles of earlier governments; the British monarch is represented by the Governor General federally and lieutenant-governors provincially, while citizens elect municipal, provincial, territorial, and federal governments.

The prime minister is the leader of the party with the most elected MPs; a premier is the leader of the party with the most MLAs; MPs and MLAs serve citizens by passing legislation — and the Official Opposition holds the government accountable.

The Constitution Act divides decision-making authority between provincial governments and the federal government — two levels, each supreme in its own areas.

The judicial system interprets and upholds the law INDEPENDENTLY of elected governments; Canada's democratic practices — free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, checks and balances, transparency, rights-protecting legislation — connect straight back to the earlier systems studied.

The Charter (1982) was entrenched in the Constitution to reflect democracy's values and recognize Canada's diverse heritage; its fundamental freedoms are guaranteed to EVERYONE in Canada, citizens or not, and individual rights — equality rights, legal rights, religious rights — apply to all individuals under equal treatment (rule of law).

In a democracy, citizenship carries the responsibility of civic participation — individuals and groups take actions, formal or informal, that influence change and sustain communities.

Rights are not limitless: there are reasonable limits to protect others — your freedom ends where it harms someone else's.

Project planning turns caring into action: identify the issue and purpose → research → set goals → consider costs and resources → decide steps → complete the plan → reflect on the outcome.

Some rights belong to communities, not just individuals: Section 25 affirms and recognizes the Aboriginal and treaty rights of Indigenous peoples — connecting straight back to the treaties and the Royal Proclamation.