How Canadians Govern Themselves flashcards

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Canada is best described as what type of state?

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A federal state — Canada is a federal state, meaning powers are divided between a national (federal) government and provincial/territorial governments.

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Which level of government is responsible for national defence in Canada?

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Federal government — National defence is a federal responsibility, along with areas such as criminal law, trade, and foreign affairs.

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Which level of government is primarily responsible for education in Canada?

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Provincial and territorial governments — Education is a provincial and territorial responsibility under Canada's federal system.

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Which of the following is typically a municipal government responsibility?

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Garbage collection and local roads — Municipal governments handle local services such as garbage collection, local road maintenance, and zoning.

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Canada's system of government is a parliamentary democracy. What does this mean?

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An elected parliament makes laws on behalf of the people — In a parliamentary democracy, elected representatives in Parliament pass laws and govern on behalf of citizens.

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Which chamber of Canada's Parliament is elected by citizens?

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The House of Commons — The House of Commons is the elected chamber of Parliament, and members are chosen directly by Canadian voters.

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How are Canadian senators chosen?

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They are appointed — Senators are appointed rather than elected; they represent regional interests and review legislation passed by the House of Commons.

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Canada is a constitutional monarchy, meaning the Sovereign is head of state.

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True — Canada is indeed a constitutional monarchy. The King (Sovereign) is the head of state, while the Prime Minister is the head of government.

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Who represents the Sovereign at the federal level in Canada?

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The Governor General — The Governor General is the representative of the Sovereign in Canada at the federal level and carries out many of the head-of-state duties.

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Who represents the Sovereign in each Canadian province?

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The Lieutenant Governor — Each province has a Lieutenant Governor who is the representative of the Sovereign at the provincial level.

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What are the three parts of Canada's Parliament?

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The Sovereign, the Senate, and the House of Commons — Parliament consists of the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Senate, and the House of Commons.

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What are the three branches of government in Canada?

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Legislative, executive, and judicial — Canada's government is divided into three branches: the legislative branch (Parliament), the executive branch (Cabinet/PM), and the judicial branch (the courts).

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Which branch of government is responsible for making laws?

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Legislative branch — The legislative branch — Parliament — is responsible for debating and passing laws.

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Which branch of government interprets laws and settles legal disputes?

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Judicial branch — The judicial branch — composed of the courts — interprets and applies the law and resolves disputes.

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Which branch of government carries out the laws and runs the day-to-day affairs of the country?

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Executive branch — The executive branch — led by the Prime Minister and Cabinet — is responsible for implementing laws and governing the country.

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What is a 'bill' in Canada's legislative process?

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A proposed law introduced in Parliament — A bill is a proposed law that must pass through several readings and votes in both the House of Commons and the Senate before becoming law.

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What must happen to a bill before it becomes law in Canada?

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It must pass both chambers of Parliament and receive Royal Assent — A bill must pass readings in both the House of Commons and the Senate, then receive Royal Assent (the Governor General's approval on behalf of the Sovereign) to become law.

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Royal Assent is the final step that officially makes a bill into law in Canada.

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True — Once a bill passes both chambers, the Governor General grants Royal Assent on behalf of the Sovereign, and the bill becomes law.

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Who becomes Prime Minister of Canada after a federal election?

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The leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons — The leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons is asked by the Governor General to form the government and becomes Prime Minister.

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What is the role of Cabinet ministers in Canada's government?

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They are appointed by the Prime Minister to head government departments — Cabinet ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister and are responsible for specific government departments such as health, finance, or defence.

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What is 'the Opposition' in Canada's Parliament?

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The party or parties that did not form the government and hold the government accountable — The Opposition is made up of elected members from parties that did not form the government; their role is to scrutinize and challenge government decisions.

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What is the title given to the leader of the largest party not in government?

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Leader of the Official Opposition — The leader of the largest party not forming the government holds the formal title of Leader of the Official Opposition.

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What is the minimum age to vote in a Canadian federal election?

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18 — Canadian citizens who are 18 years of age or older on election day are eligible to vote in federal elections.

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Who is entitled to vote in a Canadian federal election?

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Canadian citizens aged 18 or older — Only Canadian citizens who are at least 18 years old on election day have the right to vote in federal elections.

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Voting in a Canadian federal election is conducted by secret ballot.

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True — The secret ballot is a cornerstone of Canadian democracy, ensuring that no one can be pressured or penalised for how they vote.

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What document is sent to eligible voters before a federal election to confirm their registration and polling location?

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A voter information card — Eligible voters receive a voter information card that shows their name, address, and polling station details.

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What is a federal electoral district (riding)?

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A geographic area that elects one Member of Parliament — Canada is divided into electoral districts, also called ridings or constituencies, each of which elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons.

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What does the abbreviation 'MP' stand for in the Canadian context?

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Member of Parliament — MP stands for Member of Parliament — an elected representative in the House of Commons who represents a specific riding.

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What is a majority government in Canada?

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A government whose party holds more than half of the seats in the House of Commons — A majority government is one in which the governing party holds more than half of all seats in the House of Commons, giving it the ability to pass legislation without relying on other parties.

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What is a minority government in Canada?

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A government whose party holds the most seats but fewer than half of all seats in the House of Commons — A minority government occurs when the governing party wins the most seats but not a majority; it must seek support from other parties to pass legislation.

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In Canada, voting is considered both a right and a responsibility of citizenship.

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True — Voting is protected as a right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and is also viewed as a civic responsibility of all eligible citizens.

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Which of the following is a provincial government responsibility?

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Health care delivery — Health care delivery is primarily a provincial responsibility under Canada's federal system, though the federal government sets national standards and provides funding.