Canadian Studies Exam

What is government?

A ruling body that runs affairs of the country, province, and town or district. They have the ability to make the laws and carry it out.

What is a Constitution?

A set of rules for the various levels of government to follow in their decision making

What is legislative power?

The power to make laws

What is executive power?

The power to administer and enforce the laws

What is Judicial power?

The power to decide who has broken the law and what penalties they will be given.

What are the three branches of government?

Executive, Legislative, and Judicial

What is a representative democracy?

A democracy where citizens of the country give their individual power to elected representatives

What is a democracy?

A type of government in which the people govern the nation

What is a Monarch?

King or Queen of the country and the head of state

Who is our Monarch?

King Charles III

What does the Governor General do?

They represent the king or queen at the federal level

What does the Lieutenant Governor do?

They represent the king or queen at the provincial level

What is royal assent?

Approval given to the legislation by the monarch.

What is the federal system?

A way of organising a country so that power is shared between major and minor governments.

What is Residual power?

A power that has not been defined in the constitution, and remains with one level of government.

What is a municipality?

A city, borough or town with its own local government

What is a party system?

A set of rules for how political groups compete to run a country

What is a political party?

A group of people who have common beliefs, ideas, and plans about the best way to govern the country

What is a constitutional monarchy?

A type of monarchy in which the monarch is restricted by the constitution of the country

Some things the municipal government takes care of are…

Police, Parks, and Libraries

Some things the provincial government takes care of are…

Healthcare, Highways, and Schools

Some things the federal government takes care of are…

RCMP, Immigration, and Foreign Affairs

Who is the head of state and who represents them?

King Charles III who is represented by the governor general

Who is the governor general?

Mary Simon

What type of government does Canada have?

Constitutional Monarchy, Representative Democracy, and a Party System

What does the executive branch consist of?

The Monarch, Prime Minister, and the Cabinet

What is the role of the prime minister and how do they get elected?

They are the leader of the country. The party members choose a leader and if their party wins, that leader becomes Prime Minister

What is a Patronage?

A favour granted by the government in return for political support

What is a minority government?

A government in which the leading party doesn’t hold over 50% of the seats in the house

What is a caucus?

A private meeting of the members of the same political party

What is the legislative branch composed of?

The Monarch, Senate, and the House of Commons

What is an MP?

An elected official for a constituency at the federal level

What is an MLA?

An elected official for a constituency at the provincial level

What is a constituency?

Divided areas in the country that are close in population

In a bicameral system what is the Senate?

The upper house of Parliament

What is her majesty’s loyal opposition?

The party with the second most seats in the house

What does it mean to be Bicameral?

Having two houses

When can an election be called? Who calls it?

Every four years. Governor General

How many seats are in the house currently?

343 seats

How many seats are in the Senate?

105 seats

Who can become an MP or MLA?

Canadian citizen, over 18, mentally sound, no criminal record

Who opens every session of parliament?

Governor general

What is the role of the speaker?

They make sure all rules are being followed in the house and ensure that debates are carried out in an orderly fashion

What does it mean to be non-partisan?

Can’t favour one political party over another

When is the speaker allowed to vote?

When there’s a tie

What is the speech from the throne? Who writes it?

A speech that sets the agenda for parliament. Prime minister

What’s the goal of each party?

To win the most votes in the most ridings

Which party earns the right to form government?

The party that holds the majority of the seats in the house

What are MP’s who aren’t members of a cabinet called?

Private Members

What is the function of the shadow cabinet?

A group of people on the opposing team that shadow or mimic the roles of the cabinet on the governing party. They are vocal critics of their counterparts and would assume these roles if the current government fails.

What is the purpose of question period?

It offers the opposition a chance to critize and force members of the government to justify their policies before the members of the house and the public

What is a bill?

A proposed law

What is the purpose of the first reading of a bill?

To introduce the bill

What is the purpose of the second reading of a bill?

To debate on the bill

What happens to a bill after its second reading and its passing?

It goes to a committee for reviewing and edits

What does the term committee of the whole mean?

A committee where all the members of the house participate

What are some advantages of a private members bill?

• They are useful in calling to attention

• They are used to debate on issues in which the government and opposition parties refuse to declare important

What are the three parts of government?

Monarch, Senate, House of Commons

What are the three levels of goverment?

Federal, Provincial, Municipal

What are the three branches of government?

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Who is part of the Judicial branch?

The Supreme court of Canada, the federal courts and the provincial courts

Who will become the MP for a riding?

The candidate with the most votes

Who helps the prime minister run government?

Cabinet

How long is question period?

45 mins

Outline the job of an MP

• Parliamentary committee meetings

• Present petitions sent by constituence

• Takes part in debates

• Researches and solve problems

• Travels between Ottawa and their home riding

• Makes calls and speeches

What year was Magna Carta signed and who signed it?

1215 by King John

In what year was the constitution signed? When did the fathers of confederation?

1867, 1864

How is the governor general appointed and what do they do?

They are appointed upon recommendation of the Prime Minister. They serve as the head of state and represent the Monarch

What does it mean to give royal assent?

To approve a bill and make it law

What is the distribution of Senators in Canada?

24 in Quebec and Ontario, 6 in Manitoba, B.C, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta, 1 in all the territories, 4 in Prince Edward, and 10 in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

How long can a Senator serve?

Until their 75

How does a bill become law?

Cabinet or private member gets an idea for law, idea is presented in parliament through first reading and is debated in second reading. Bill then goes to a committee and is passed in third reading. Bill goes to the Senate and repeats the process of readings and finally reaches the governor general. Governor general gives the royal nod (royal assent) and bill is passed.

King’s full name

King Charles Mountbatten - Windsor III

Who is the queen consort

Queen Camilla Parker Bowles

Leader of Opposition? Federal and Provincial

Pierre Pollivere, Obi Kan

Who is my MP and what’s his party?

Colin Reynolds. Conservative

What’s my constituency?

Elmwood - Transcona

Who is the Lieutenant Governor?

Anita Neville

Who is my MLA and what party is she from?

Jelynn Dela Cruz. NDP

What is my riding?

Radisson

What’s a reeve?

The leader of a rural municipality

Who is my Councillor?

Russ Wyatt

What’s Russ Wyatt’s Ward?

Transcona

What is the main difference between the provincial legislature and the Federal house of commons?

The provincial legislature doesn’t have a senate

What are rights?

Privileges that are granted and guaranteed by the government.

What are freedoms?

Privileges that are so basic they can’t be restricted by laws of the government.

What are duties?

Obligations the government places on people in return for their rights

What are responsibilities?

Obligations that are extended beyond legal duties to include the type of behaviour that shows respect for the rights of others.

What are laws? What do they do?

Rules made to ensure peace and social order amongst citizens. They regulate the relation between people and the people and their government.

How are rights and responsibilities related?

My rights are ensured by people acting responsibly and others rights are ensured by my acting responsibly.

What are human rights?

Rights so basic they belong to all humans

What is common law?

Laws that is based on the rulings made by judges in court cases.

What is statue law?

Body of written law that has been passed as legislation by all levels of government.

What does it mean to be entrenched?

When a right is given special protection by being included in the Constitution

When was the Charter of rights and freedoms passed?

1982

When was the Canadian Bill of Rights passed?

1960

What is the difference between the Bill of Rights and the Charter?

The Bill of rights only applies to the federal law while the Charter is part of the Constitution and applies to all levels of government.

Who was the Prime Minister at he time the Bill of Rights was passed?

John Diefenbaker

Who was the Prime Minister at the time the Charter was passed?

Pierre Trudeau

What are the basic rights of the country? Which one isn’t guaranteed?

Life, liberty, security, property. Property