CHARTER BASICS
This section of the Charter guarantees the right to vote in federal and provincial elections
What is Section 3?
This is the minimum age required to vote in Canadian federal elections.
What is 18 years old?
Section 3 guarantees citizens the right to do this besides voting.
What is run for public office?
Section 4 of the Charter limits this body’s term to five years.
What is Parliament?
The foundational constitutional document that protects democratic rights in Canada.
What is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Section 3 protects citizens’ right to vote in these two levels of elections.
What are federal and provincial elections?
This word refers to the legal requirements someone must meet to run for office.
What are qualifications?
Section 4 also applies to these bodies in each province.
What are provincial legislatures?
The three sections of the Charter that deal specifically with democratic rights.
What are sections 3, 4, and 5?
This Supreme Court case ruled that prisoners have the right to vote.
What is Sauvé v Canada (Chief Electoral Officer)? pg 235
Restrictions on candidacy must be justified under this section of the Charter.
What is Section 1?
This is the maximum length of a legislative term under the Charter.
What is five years?
This right includes both the right to vote and the right to run for public office.
What are democratic rights?
This concept refers to the idea that each vote should have roughly equal weight.
What is effective representation?
This concept ensures that elections allow voters to meaningfully participate in democracy.
What is meaningful participation?
Legislative terms may be extended only in this situation.
What is a national emergency (such as war or crisis)?
This group of people is guaranteed the right to vote under Section 3.
Who are Canadian Citizens?
This Supreme Court case established that perfect voter equality is not required but representation must be fair.
What is Reference re Provincial Electoral Boundaries (Saskatchewan)?
The courts often examine this when determining if election laws violate democratic rights.
What is fairness in the electoral process?
This section requires Parliament and legislatures to meet at least once every year.