Levels of Government
Which level of government is responsible for garbage collection and snow removal on local residential streets?
Municipal government.
Who is the head of Canada's federal government?
The Prime Minister.
What is a riding?
A geographic electoral district represented by an elected official.
What does the Rule of Law mean?
Everyone, including government officials, must follow and is accountable under the law.
What is a referendum?
A direct vote by eligible voters on an important political question.
Ontario introduces a new requirement for Grade 10 students. Which level of government is responsible?
Provincial government
What does MP stand for, and whom does an MP represent?
Member of Parliament. An MP represents the people of a federal riding.
Under the First Past the Post voting system, how does a candidate win a riding?
By receiving the most votes in that riding.
Two neighbours disagree over property damage. Is this an example of civil or criminal law?
Civil law
Which side of the political spectrum generally supports increasing taxes to expand government-funded social programs?
Which level of government is responsible for national defence, immigration, and criminal law?
Federal government
Who represents the monarch at the federal level in Canada?
The Governor General.
What is the difference between a spoiled ballot and a rejected ballot?
A spoiled ballot is returned and exchanged before entering the ballot box.
A rejected ballot cannot be counted because the voter's choice is unclear or the ballot is otherwise invalid.
A person is charged with robbery. Is this an example of civil or criminal law?
Criminal Law
In what two years did Quebec hold major sovereignty referendums, and what was the main political issue?
1980 and 1995. The main issue was Quebec sovereignty and its political relationship with Canada.
A court determines whether someone's legal rights were violated. Which branch of government is responsible?
Judicial branch
Explain the difference between the House of Commons and the Senate.
The House of Commons is made up of elected MPs who debate and vote on legislation. The Senate consists of appointed senators who review legislation.
Study the following election results.
Party A: 165 Seats
Party B: 110 Seats
Party C: 38 Seats
Party D: 30 Seats
Which party would form the government, and would it have a majority or minority?
Party A would normally form a minority government because it has the most seats but fewer than the 172 required for a majority.
What is the main purpose of the judicial branch? Identify TWO responsibilities.
The judicial branch interprets and applies laws, resolves legal disputes, and considers constitutional challenges. Students must identify two responsibilities.
What was the Oka Crisis, and in what year did it occur?
The Oka Crisis occurred in 1990. It was a major confrontation involving Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) communities, police, and later the military, connected to a land dispute and Indigenous rights.
Identify the correct level of government for each situation:
A. Bradford changes its garbage collection schedule.
B. Ontario changes labour standards.
C. Canada negotiates a trade agreement with another country.
D. A court settles a property dispute.
A. Municipal, B. Provincial, C. Federal, D. Judicial.
Put the following steps of passing a bill into the correct simplified order:
A. The Senate reviews the bill and it receives Royal Assent.
B. An MP introduces a bill.
C. MPs study the bill and may suggest changes.
D. The House of Commons debates and votes on the bill.
B, C, D, A.
Explain TWO differences between a majority and minority government and how those differences can affect passing laws.
A majority government holds more than half the seats and can generally pass legislation with the support of its own MPs. A minority government holds fewer than half the seats and may need support from other parties to pass laws and survive confidence votes.
The government passes a new law that is popular with many Canadians. However, some citizens believe it violates their Charter rights.
Explain why the judicial branch is important in this situation.
The judicial branch can review whether the law complies with the Constitution, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Courts help protect individual rights and may declare an unconstitutional law invalid.
Explain why Indigenous self-government can be viewed as more than simply another level of Canadian government.
Indigenous self-government involves Indigenous peoples' rights to govern their own affairs. It is connected to distinct rights, identities, citizenship, histories, laws, and governance.