Government Systems
The term for the geographic areas represented by Members of Parliament?
What are ridings or constituencies?
In what year was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms added to the Constitution?
When is 1982?
Who are the Métis, and how do they differ from First Nations in terms of historic treaties?
Métis are people of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry; unlike many First Nations, they were not originally included in Numbered Treaties.
Under the YCJA, what ages qualify someone as a “youth”?
What are ages 12 to 17.
Define two “push” factors and two “pull” factors.
Push: War, poverty
Pull: Job opportunities, safety
The difference between a majority government and a minority government.
A majority government holds more than 50% of the seats in the House of Commons; a minority has fewer than 50% and must rely on support from other parties to pass legislation.
What is the difference between a “right” and a “freedom”?
Right: A legal entitlement (e.g., the right to vote).
Freedom: The ability to act without interference (e.g., freedom of expression).
What was “scrip,” and why did Canada use it instead of reserve lands?
Scrip was a certificate for land or money offered to Métis as compensation instead of placing them on reserves; it aimed to assimilate Métis rather than recognize their land rights collectively.
Name two of the five goals of the YCJA.
Prevent crime
Rehabilitate and reintegrate youth
Meaningful consequences
Accountability
Protect the public
What were the three main immigrant categories in 2006?
Economic immigrants
Family class
Refugees
What does “first-past-the-post” mean in Canadian federal elections?
What is when the candidate with the most votes in a riding wins, even if they don’t get more than 50% of the total vote.
Give one way the Charter has influenced workplace conditions in Canada.
What is protecting workers from discrimination based on gender, age, race, religion, and other grounds.
Why did many Métis families move westward after scrip?
Because the scrip system often resulted in loss of land to speculators and Métis displacement, pushing families west in search of better opportunities and community.
What are extrajudicial measures? Example?
Non-court options like warnings, community service, or restorative justice.
Example: A youth caught shoplifting might write an apology letter and complete community service instead of going to court.
Which class is assessed by the points system, and what are three factors evaluated?
Economic class; evaluated on education, work experience, language skills, age, job offers, adaptability.
Compare proportional representation to first-past-the-post: name one advantage and one disadvantage of each.
FPTP Advantage: Simple and quick results.
FPTP Disadvantage: Can result in unfair representation (e.g., a party wins many votes but few seats).
Proportional Advantage: Fairer representation of all votes.
Proportional Disadvantage: Can lead to unstable coalition governments.
Which section of the Charter guarantees “life, liberty and security of the person,” and how did the Singh decision extend this protection to refugees?
What is Section 7?
In Singh v. Canada (1985), the Supreme Court ruled that refugees must be given a fair hearing because their rights to life, liberty, and security were at stake.
What permanent land-base change did Alberta enact for the Métis in 1990?
Alberta passed the Métis Settlements Accord, granting the Métis control over 8 settlement areas—unique in Canada.
Difference between a summary offence and an indictable offence?
Summary: Less serious (e.g., vandalism), shorter sentences.
Indictable: More serious (e.g., assault), longer sentences and formal trials.
Name one social and one economic objective of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Social: Reunite families
Economic: Fill labour shortages and contribute to economic growth
The complete process by which a bill becomes law in the House of Commons.
First Reading (bill introduced, no debate)
Second Reading (debate and vote)
Committee Stage (study, possible changes)
Report Stage (further changes debated)
Third Reading (final debate and vote)
Senate repeats process
Royal Assent by Governor General
Explain how the rights guaranteed by the Charter carry corresponding responsibilities.
For example, freedom of expression comes with the responsibility to not spread hate speech or misinformation. Rights must be used in a way that respects others’ rights and the law.
Summarize the significance of the Supreme Court’s 2016 Daniels decision.
The court ruled that Métis and non-status Indians are "Indians" under the Constitution, affirming that the federal government has a duty to consult and negotiate with them.
List three factors a judge must consider when sentencing under the YCJA.
Severity of the offence
Circumstances of the youth
Whether they’ve taken responsibility or made amends
How does the Canada-Quebec Accord let Quebec protect French language?
Quebec can select immigrants based on language ability and prioritize those who speak French or will integrate into Francophone culture.