Canadian Government and Democracy Flashcards
7 cards from real CANADIAN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Canadian Government and Democracy flashcards as text
What is the primary function of Canada's Senate?
Answer: To provide regional representation and review legislation passed by the House of Commons
The Senate provides a second look at legislation passed by the House of Commons and historically represented regional interests.
Which principle ensures that the Canadian government must operate within the bounds of the law?
Answer: The rule of law
The rule of law means that everyone, including the government, must follow and be accountable to the law.
How many electoral districts (ridings) are there in Canada's House of Commons as of recent elections?
Answer: 338
Canada's House of Commons has 338 electoral districts following the 2015 redistribution.
What happens if a federal government loses a vote of non-confidence in the House of Commons?
Answer: The government must either call an election or resign
Losing a confidence vote means the government no longer has the support of Parliament and must either call an election or resign.
What is the term for the practice where Canadian Cabinet ministers must publicly support government decisions even if they personally disagree?
Answer: Collective Cabinet responsibility
Collective Cabinet responsibility requires that all ministers support government decisions publicly or resign from Cabinet.
Which court has the final authority on interpreting the Canadian Constitution?
Answer: The Supreme Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court and has final authority on constitutional matters.
What does the term 'Hansard' refer to in Canadian parliamentary tradition?
Answer: The official written record of parliamentary debates
Hansard is the official verbatim transcript of all debates and proceedings in Canada's Parliament.