4.5 How Were Decisions Made in the Confederacy?

How do people participate in the decision making process in Canada?

How did the people of Ancient Athens participate in the decision making process?

Decision Making

Under the Great Law, democratic principles were built into the decision making process:

• equality among all chiefs, in the Grand Council with the same level of authority

• both men and women shared authority

  • men were nominated as chiefs (male authority) by women (female authority)

  • both men and women belonged to the mother's clan (giving women authority)

• the clan system ensured no one nation could over take the confederacy.  Loyalties were split between the clan and the nation, which helped maintain democracy and unity in the Confederacy

Decisions by Consensus

The Great Law allows everyone to voice opinions and agree upon decisions through consensus

Consensus - all people affected by a decision have an equal voice

In order for consensus to work, people must be open-minded and willing to think deeply about issues and what other peoples ideas and suggestions are.  Although the decision may not be their first choice, for what is best to all in the group, they must be willing to support it.

How does the social structure of the Confederacy encourage consensus decision making?

Why do you think people must be open-minded in order for consensus decision making to work?

Many times, people disagree with issues, in Canada.  How do these people show they disagree with government decisions?

Decision Making in the Grand Council

The chiefs were divided by nations in order to fulfill rolls for the Grand Council.  

The chiefs were divided by nations in order to fulfill roles for the Grand Council.  

Consulting the Clans

There were times when the Grand Council were required to return to each chiefs clan and heard what the clan thought about a certain topic.  When this took place, their was a certain steps taken to ensure the voice of the people was heard:

Step1:  Clan meeting was held; men, women, children and elders were given a chance to speak

Step 2:  Clan mothers informed their chief what decision was made through consensus

Step 3:  Clan chief carried the decision to the Council of the Chiefs of the nation

Step 4:  The Council of the Chiefs of the nation brought the decision to the Grand Council