PAT 2026

Social Studies – Important Test Review🇨🇦 Canadian Government3 Branches of Government

  • Legislative → Makes laws (Parliament, Senate, House of Commons)

  • Executive → Carries out laws (Prime Minister, Cabinet, Monarch)

  • Judicial → Interprets laws (Supreme Court)

Levels of Government

Federal

Provincial

Municipal

Defence, criminal law, citizenship

Health care, education

Water, garbage, transit

Senate

  • Appointed by the Prime Minister

  • Serve until age 75

  • Reviews bills ("sober second thought")

  • 105 seats

Elections

  • Candidate with the most votes wins (First-Past-the-Post)

Governments

  • Majority Government: More than half the seats (172+)

  • Minority Government: Most seats but less than half

⚖ Justice SystemEquality vs Equity

  • Equality: Everyone gets the same thing.

  • Equity: Everyone gets what they need.

Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA)

  • Passed in 2003

  • Applies to ages 12–17

  • Focuses on:

    • Preventing crime

    • Rehabilitation

    • Meaningful consequences

    • Separating youth from adults

4 Factors Used When Sentencing Youth

  1. Seriousness of crime

  2. Criminal history

  3. Attitude/remorse

  4. Personal circumstances

Rights When Arrested

  • Know your rights

  • Know the charges

  • See a judge quickly

  • Innocent until proven guilty

Important Terms

  • Defense = Evidence proving innocence

  • Prosecution = Evidence proving guilt

  • Recidivism = Reoffending

  • Sequester = Remove from outside contact

🪶 Indigenous RightsIndian Act (1876)

  • Passed without consulting First Nations

  • Banned ceremonies

  • Limited First Nations political rights

Royal Proclamation (1763)

  • Recognized First Nations land rights

  • Started treaty-making process

Why Treaties Were Signed

  • Build railways

  • Avoid wars

  • Stop U.S. expansion

  • Share land/resources

  • Provide healthcare and education

Collective Rights

Rights held by groups:

  • Indigenous peoples

  • Francophones

  • Anglophones

Individual Rights

  • Fundamental freedoms

  • Democratic rights

  • Mobility rights

  • Legal rights

  • Equality rights

📜 Charter of Rights and FreedomsCharter Rights

  • Fundamental freedoms

  • Democratic rights

  • Mobility rights

  • Legal rights

  • Equality rights

  • Language rights

  • Education rights

Minority Language Education Rights

Language minorities can have publicly funded schools when population numbers are large enough.

🌎 ImmigrationImmigration Factors

  • Economy (skilled workers)

  • Politics

  • Health & security

Point System

Based on:

  • Education

  • Language

  • Age

  • Family

  • Skills

Minimum score: 67 points

Immigration Categories

  • Economic: 55%

  • Family: 28%

  • Refugees: 13%

  • Other: 4%

Singh Decision

  • Refugees have the right to a fair hearing.

Historical Examples

Chinese Head Tax

  • Tax placed on Chinese immigrants after railway construction.

Japanese Canadians (WWII)

  • Forced relocation

  • Property taken and sold

Ukrainian Canadians (WWI)

  • Interned

  • Rights removed

  • Property seized

💰 EconomicsEconomic Systems

  • Market Economy → Businesses and consumers make decisions

  • Planned Economy → Government controls economy

  • Socialist Economy → Public ownership

  • Welfare Capitalism → Market economy with government regulations

Factors of Production

  1. Land

  2. Labour

  3. Capital

Important Terms

  • Monopoly = One company controls the market

  • Standard of Living = Money/resources you have

  • Quality of Life = How happy/satisfied you are

Economic Spectrum

Left → Socialism → Centre → Capitalism → Right

📰 Political Cartoons & MediaPolitical Cartoons

Drawings that communicate a political or social message.

Analyze Political Cartoons Using:

  • Labelling

  • Symbolism

  • Exaggeration

  • Analogy

  • Allusion

  • Irony

Advertising Techniques

  • Bandwagon

  • Testimonials

  • Emotional Appeal

  • Scientific Appeal

  • Plain Folks Appeal

  • Product Placement

⭐ MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO MEMORIZE

  1. 3 Branches of Government

  2. 3 Levels of Government

  3. Majority vs Minority Government

  4. YCJA (2003, ages 12–17)

  5. Equality vs Equity

  6. Indian Act & Royal Proclamation

  7. Collective Rights vs Individual Rights

  8. Charter Rights

  9. Immigration Point System (67 points)

  10. Market vs Planned vs Socialist Economies

  11. Political Cartoon Techniques

  12. Defense, Prosecution, Recidivism

If you're studying for a test, these 12 topics are the highest-priority concepts from your notes.