Federal Government

Question 1

How many seats are in the house of commons and who occupies them?

Answer 1

338 MP’s and the speaker of the house

Question 2

Definition of:
“electorate”

Answer 2

anyone who can vote in a particular district

Question 3

Requirements to vote in Canada

Answer 3

1. Be a Canadian citizen
2. be over the age of 18
3. Be registered to vote in a riding
4. Have resided in Canada for at least five years

Question 4

True or false:
You MUST be in Canada to vote

Answer 4

False:
As long as you fit all the other requirements and have resided in Canada for 5 years in the past, you may vote even if you’re in a different country

Question 5

Definition of:
“Riding”

Answer 5

geographical areas that each elect one Member of Parliament (MP)

Question 6

How many “Ridings” are in Canada?

Answer 6

338 (one for each Member of Parliament (MP))

Question 7

First-past-the-post system

Answer 7

A “winner takes all” voting system where members of certain ridings vote for representatives, and the representative who receives the highest percentage of votes is elected for that riding.

Question 8

Definition of:
“Political parties”

Answer 8

A group of Members of Parliament (MP) who form a group to gain more seats in the House of Commons

Question 9

What happens to the party with the most seats after an election?

Answer 9

1. They form the next executive branch
2. The leader of the party becomes the Prime Minister

Question 10

What does the Prime Minister do when first appointed?

Answer 10

1. They appoint Members of the Cabinet, Judges, Senators and the Governor General
2. They have the ability to determine when the next election is (within 5 years of the previous)

Question 11

What happens to the party with the second most seats in the House of Commons?

Answer 11

1. Becomes the “Official Opposition”
2. Leader of party becomes the “Leader of Official Opposition”
3. they appoint the shadow cabinet

Question 12

Minority Government

Answer 12

The Leading party has less that 50% of seats in parliament

Question 13

Majority government

Answer 13

The leading party has more than 50% of seats in parliament

Question 14

What is the Senate?

Answer 14

Made up of 105 Senators who are Appointed by the Governor General (but is recommended by the Prime minister), who all represent different provinces in Canada

Question 15

What does the Senate do?

Answer 15

They act as an opposition to the House of Commons during debates.

Question 16

Definition of:
Bill

Answer 16

A proposed new law

Question 17

Definition of:
Royal assent

Answer 17

Approval by the monarch or their representative

Question 18

Definition of:
Amendment

Answer 18

Changes made to a bill up for debate

Question 19

Definition of:
Filibuster/Filibusting

Answer 19

A group of people / political party that delays the vote when they can’t win

Question 20

What are the five stages that a bill goes through, both in the House of Commons and the Senate, to become a law?

Answer 20

1. First reading
2. Second reading
3. Committee report
4. Third reading

Question 21

First reading

Answer 21

Introduction of a bill and an explanation of its purpose, no voting happens in this stage

Question 22

Second reading

Answer 22

The bill is read through a second time and is met with a debate and a vote

Question 23

Committee Report

Answer 23

Research is done to further discuss the bill, such as history (has it been done before?), and benefits (how can it benefit Canada?)

Question 24

3rd reading

Answer 24

The bill is read over once more and is met with a final debate and vote

Question 25

Royal Assent

Answer 25

The monarch or their representative gives the final decision towards the bill becoming a law

Question 26

True or false: The Senate can either reject a bill or make an amendment and send it back to the House of Commons

Answer 26

True

Question 27

Definition of: Federalism

Answer 27

The power to govern is shared between three levels of government

Question 28

What are the three levels of government in Canada?

Answer 28

1. Federal Government 2. Provincial government 3. Municipal government

Question 29

What are the three branches of government in Canada?

Answer 29

1. Executive 2. Legislative 3. Judicial

Question 30

Who makes up the Executive branch?

Answer 30

1. The Prime Minister 2. The cabinet 3. The Monarch and government general 4. The bureaucracy (Civil Service)

Question 31

What are the roles of the Executive branch?

Answer 31

1. Proposing laws 2. Putting laws into action 3. Running the day-to-day government

Question 32

Who makes up the legislative branch?

Answer 32

1. The House of Commons 2. The Senate 3. The Governor General 4. The Prime Minister and Cabinet

Question 33

What is the role of the Legislative branch?

Answer 33

1. Debating and approving laws 2. Representing the interests of the people of Canada

Question 34

Who makes up the Judicial branch?

Answer 34

1. Canada's court of law 2. Supreme court judges

Question 35

What is the role of the judicial branch?

Answer 35

Apply and interpenetrate laws. (duh)

Question 36

Division of powers

Answer 36

Who is in charge of what? | Federal vs Province |

Question 37

Definition of: Lobbyists / Advocacy groups

Answer 37

Individuals who are financed by businesses or citizens who seek to influence government policy through direct interaction with the government and/or the public (basically, they are paid persuasion essays)

Question 38

Important questions for a lobby group to answer:

Answer 38

1. How will this benefit the government and citizens 2. what would be some potential conflict/opposition

Question 39

What are major concerns regarding lobby groups?

Answer 39

Money $

Question 40

Definition of: Watchdog

Answer 40

Someone who monitors the government to make sure they don't do illegal stuff

Question 41

Examples of watchdogs

Answer 41

1. Media 2. Supreme Court 3. Citizens 4. Bailey

Question 42

What treaties related to Aboriginal people are located in Alberta?

Answer 42

Treaties 6, 7, and 8

Question 43

Individual rights

Answer 43

Rights given to anyone in Canada

Question 44

Sovereignty

Answer 44

The ability to self govern

Question 45

Party whip

Answer 45

Party enforcers They ensure and enforce members of their party to vote when they need to

Question 46

Political spectrum

Answer 46

A from of measuring political party's position when it comes to how much they involve government in society

Question 47

Definition of: Suffrage

Answer 47

Right to vote

Question 48

Elizabeth Fry Society

Answer 48

A society in Calgary that assists Women who are currently going through the justice system

Question 49

John Howard Society

Answer 49

A society in Calgary that assists Anyone currently going throught the justice system, as well as helping those who struggle