Canada’s Political System

Multiple Choice

1. Who is Canada’s current prime minister?

A) Stephen Harper

B) Justin Trudeau

C) Pierre Poilievre

D) Jagmeet Singh

2. What is the name of Canada’s national anthem?

A) God Save the Queen

B) The Maple Leaf Forever

C) O Canada

D) The Star-Spangled Banner

3. Who is Canada’s head of state?

A) The prime minister

B) The Governor General

C) The Speaker of the House of Commons

D) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

4. How many seats are there in the House of Commons?

A) 100

B) 308

C) 338

D) 435

5. What is the role of the Senate in Canada’s political system?

A) To propose and pass bills

B) To review and revise bills

C) To approve or reject bills

D) To enforce laws

6. What is the term length for a member of the House of Commons?

A) 2 years

B) 3 years

C) 4 years

D) 5 years

7. Who is responsible for appointing senators in Canada?

A) The prime minister

B) The Governor General

C) The Speaker of the House of Commons

D) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

8. What is the name of Canada’s highest court?

A) The Provincial Court

B) The Federal Court

C) The Supreme Court

D) The Court of Appeals

9. What is the role of the opposition in Canada’s political system?

A) To propose and pass bills

B) To review and revise bills

C) To approve or reject bills

D) To hold the government accountable and propose alternative policies

10. What is the name of the party that currently holds the most seats in the House of Commons?

A) Conservative Party

B) Liberal Party

C) New Democratic Party

D) Bloc Québécois

11. What is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

A. A document outlining the responsibilities of Canadian citizens.

B. A document outlining the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

C. A document outlining the structure of the Canadian government.

D. A document outlining the Canadian economic system.

12. What is the significance of the Canadian Pacific Railway?

A. It was a major factor in the development of Canada’s western provinces.

B. It was the first transcontinental railroad in North America.

C. It played a key role in Canada’s participation in World War II.

D. It was the site of the signing of the Canadian Confederation.

13. What is the significance of the Indian Act?

A. It was a law that gave Indigenous peoples the right to vote in federal and provincial elections.

B. It was a law that recognized the sovereignty of Indigenous nations.

C. It was a law that sought to assimilate Indigenous peoples into Canadian society.

D. It was a law that granted Indigenous peoples the right to self-government.

14. What is the significance of the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982?

A. It established Canada as an independent country.

B. It created the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

C. It established the Canadian parliamentary system of government.

D. It abolished the monarchy in Canada.

15. What is the significance of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in relation to the rights of Indigenous peoples?

A. It guarantees the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-government.

B. It guarantees the rights of Indigenous peoples to equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination.

C. It guarantees the rights of Indigenous peoples to vote in federal and provincial elections.

D. It does not address the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Fill in the Blank

1. The Prime Minister is the head of the ___________ in Canada.
2. The two official languages of Canada are ___________ and ___________.
3. The highest court in Canada is the ___________.
4. Members of Parliament are elected to represent ___________ in the House of Commons.
5. The Governor General represents the ___________ in Canada.
6. The Canadian flag features a ___________ leaf.
7. Canada has ___________ provinces and ___________ territories.
8. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of the ___________.
9. The ___________ is responsible for enforcing federal laws in Canada.
10. The ___________ is responsible for managing Canada’s economy.
11. The ___________ are a group of Indigenous peoples who live in the Arctic regions of Canada.
12. The ___________ Accord was an agreement signed in 1987 between the federal government and 10 provincial governments to address constitutional issues.
13. The ___________ is the head of state in Canada and serves as a symbolic representative of the country.

Short Answer

1. What is the role of the Governor General in Canada’s political system?
2. How is the Prime Minister of Canada selected?
3. Describe the structure of Canada’s federal government, including the three branches and their roles.
4. What is the difference between a majority government and a minority government in Canada? How does this affect the ability of the government to pass legislation?
5. Describe the process of passing a bill into law in Canada, including the role of both the House of Commons and the Senate.
6. What is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms? How does it impact Canadian politics and government?
7. Explain the concept of “responsible government” in Canada. What does it mean and how does it impact Canadian politics?
8. What are the responsibilities of the federal government in Canada, as outlined in the Constitution Act?
9. What is the difference between federal and provincial powers in Canada? Give an example of an issue that falls under each level of government’s jurisdiction.

Answers

Multiple Choice

1. B
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. D
7. B
8. C
9. D
10. B
11. B
12. A
13. C
14. B
15. B

Fill in the Blank

1. Government
2. English, French
3. Supreme Court
4. Constituencies/Ridings
5. Monarch/Queen
6. Maple
7. 10 provinces, 3 territories
8. Constitution
9. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
10. Bank of Canada
11. Inuit
12. Meech Lake
13. Governor General

Short Answer

1. The Governor General is the representative of the Queen in Canada and performs ceremonial duties, such as opening and closing Parliament, and approving the appointment of government officials.
2. The leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons is usually asked by the Governor General to form a government and becomes the Prime Minister.
3. Executive Branch: The executive branch is headed by the monarch (represented by the Governor General) and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is the head of government and exercises significant powers. Legislative Branch: The legislative branch consists of two houses: the House of Commons and the Senate. Judicial Branch: The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court of Canada, which is the highest court in the country.
4. Majority Government: A majority government is formed when a political party holds more than half of the seats in the House of Commons. In this scenario, the governing party has more control and can pass legislation more easily. Minority Government: A minority government is formed when no party holds a majority of seats in the House of Commons. In this case, the governing party must work with other parties to pass legislation, as they require the support of opposition members to secure a majority vote.
5. The process begins with a bill introduced in either the House of Commons or the Senate. The bill goes through several readings, debates, and committee stages in the house where it was introduced. If the bill is approved in one house, it is sent to the other house, where a similar process occurs. Once both houses pass the bill, it is sent to the Governor General for royal assent, after which it becomes law.
6. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a constitutional document that forms part of Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982. It guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms to all Canadians, including freedom of expression, equality rights, democratic rights, and legal rights. The Charter impacts Canadian politics and government by providing a framework for the protection of individual rights and by allowing courts to strike down laws that are found to be inconsistent with the Charter.
7. Responsible government refers to the principle that the executive branch of government (led by the Prime Minister and Cabinet) is accountable and responsible to the elected representatives in Parliament. Under responsible government, the executive branch must maintain the confidence of the majority of members in the House of Commons. If the government loses the confidence of the House, it may be required to resign or call for new elections. This principle impacts Canadian politics by ensuring that the government remains accountable to Parliament and allows for the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.
8. The responsibilities of the federal government in Canada are outlined in the Constitution Act, 1867. They include areas such as:
   • National defense and military affairs.
   • International relations, including trade and treaties.
   • Criminal law and the administration of justice.
   • Currency and banking.
   • Immigration and citizenship.
   • Communications and telecommunications.
   • Fisheries.
   • Postal services.
9. Federal Powers: The federal government has authority over matters of national importance or those that affect the entire country. This includes areas such as national defense, international relations, criminal law, and trade. Provincial Powers: Provincial governments have jurisdiction over areas that primarily affect their respective provinces. This includes matters such as education, healthcare, natural resources, transportation within the province, and property rights. Example: An issue falling under federal jurisdiction could be the negotiation of international trade agreements on behalf of Canada. An example of a provincial jurisdiction issue could be the regulation of healthcare services within a particular province.