Civics Flashcards
What does the constitution do?
Sets up a government
What is an amendment?
A change or an addition to the Constitution
Name two key documents that contain our rights and freedoms.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Constitution
Identify four (4) rights that Canadians enjoy.
Habeus Corpis
freedom of speech
freedom of religion
Freedom of assembly
Freedom of Association
Name four (4) fundamental freedoms that Canadians enjoy.
Multiculturalism Freedom of movement Official language rights Aboriginal Rights
What is meant by the equality of women and men?
equality of employment, legal representation, voting, ownership
What is freedom of religion?
You can practice any religion, or not Practice a religion.
What is the “rule of law”?
Everyone must follow the law
Leaders must obey the law
Government must obey the law
No one is above the law
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
The Sovereign (Head of State) and Prime Minister (Head of Government)
Name the three branches or parts of the government.
Executive (Prime Minister, Sovereign, Cabinet)
Legislative (House of Commons, Senate)
Judicial (Courts)
What stops one branch of Government from becoming too powerful?
Checks & balances
Separation of powers
Who makes federal laws?
Parliament (PM, Cabinet, Senate, House of Commons)
What are the parts of Parliament?
Head of State (Sovereign/Governor General)
Head of Government (Prime Minister)
The Senate
House of Commons
How many Members of Parliament are there in the House of Commons?
338, one Member of Parliament for each electoral district
We elect a Member of Parliament for how many years?
4, unless an early election is called
Who is the present Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau
What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family?
maintaining a budget Taking responsibility for partner and children Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Who were the founding peoples of Canada?
First Nations Vikings French British Hudson Bay Company
Who are the Métis?
First Nations/French ethnicity
Who is the current Ontario Premier?
Douglas Ford
What does the word “Inuit” mean?
The People
In what month do we vote for president?
October (unless we vote earlier, by call of vote from Governor General (as requested by the Prime Minister)
What is the name of the Sovereign now?
Queen Elizabeth
If the Prime Minister can no longer serve, who becomes Prime Minister?
The party picks an interim leader until an election is held.
What is meant by the term “responsible government”?
The government is responsible to the people and can be Dissolved by a vote of no confidence made by the people’s elected members, the MPs
Who is the commander-in-chief of the military?
The Sovereign (Queen Elizabeth)
Who signs bills to become laws?
The Governor General
What does the Prime Minister’s cabinet do?
Advises the Prime Minister
What does the judicial branch do?
Reviews laws
Explains laws
Resolve disputes (disagreements)
Decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What is the highest court in Canada?
Supreme Court
What two decisions belong to the both the federal government and to the Provinces?
Immigration and Agriculture
What did the Canadian Pacific Railway symbolize?
A mare unique Ad Mare: the connection of the whole continent of Canada, and allowed the incorporation of British Columbia into Canada
Who was Sir Louis-Hippolyte La Fontaine?
First Head of Responsible government
French language advocate
What does Confederation mean?
The uniting of NB, NS, and Upper and Lower Canada into the Dominion of Canada in 1867.
Name your Member of Parliament.
Dave MacKenzie
What is the capital of your Province?
Toronto
What are some major political parties in Canada?
New Democratic Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party
What is the political party of the Prime Minister now?
Liberal
What is the significance of the discovery of insulin by Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best?
survival for insulin dependent diabetics
How old do citizens have to be to vote in Canada?
18
What are two ways that Canadians can participate in democracy?
Vote
Run for office
When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?
April 1
What does it mean to say that Canada is a constitutional monarchy?
Head of State and Head of Government. Responsible both to the people and to the monarchy
What is one reason people came to North America?
Discover new territories for England and France, economic opportunities
Who lived in Canada before the Europeans arrived?
First Nations
When was slavery abolished in Canada?
1833
What is the difference between the role of the Queen and that of the Prime Minister?
Head of State vs Head of Government (represent Constitution vs. Run the government)
What is the highest honour that Canadians can receive?
Victoria Cross
When is Canada Day?
July 1
Name the Atlantic Provinces.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Name the Central Provinces
Ontario
Quebec
When was the constitution written?
1867
Name the Prairie Provinces.
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
Who is Terry Fox?
Cancer survivor who raised money for cancer research by running across Canada.
Name the Northern Region.
Yukon
Nunavut
Northwest Territories
Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?
Sir John Alexander MacDonald
After an election, which party forms the government?
The one with the most MPs voted in
Name the war between the US and Canada.
War of 1812
Name one First Nation tribe in Canada.
Métis
Inuit
Micmac
Iroquois
What ocean is on the west coast of Canada?
Pacific ocean
What Ocean is on the east coast of Canada?
Atlantic ocean
What is the capital of Canada?
Ottawa
Who determined the colours of the modern Canadian flag?
King George in 1921
What is the name of the national anthem?
O Canada
When do we celebrate Canada Day?
July 1
Name the national holidays
New Years Day Family Day Good Friday Easter Monday Victoria Day Canada Day Civic Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Remembrance Day Christmas Boxing Day
What is the supreme law of the land?
The Constitution
What are some of the Provincial government domains?
Education • Health Care • Natural Resources • Highways • Policing (Ontario, Quebec) • Property and Civil Rights • Immigration (shared) • Agriculture (shared) • Environment (shared)
Name some things in the Municipal government’s domain.
- Social and Community Health
- Recycling Programs
- Transportation and Utilities
- Snow Removal
- Policing
- Firefighting
- Emergency Service
What are some of the domains of the federal government?
• National Defence
Foreign Policy
• Citizenship
• Policing
• Criminal Justice
• International Trade
• Aboriginal Affairs
• Immigration (shared)
• Agriculture (shared)
• Environment (shared)What is Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition?
The second largest elected party in the House of Commons
What is a Minority government?
The largest party in the House of Commons, high holds less than half of seats.
What is Majority government in the House of Commons?
Largest elected party in House of Parliament, with more than half of the seats.
What are the responsibilities of all Canadian citizens?
Obey the laws Sit on a Jury Vote Care for ourselves and our families Support each other Protect our country and our environment
How does the Prime Minister gain power?
The People elect the MPs. The political group with the most seats is then invited by the Governor General to make it’s leader the Prime Minister.
Who appoints the cabinet of Ministers?
The Prime Minister
Who appoints the senate?
The Governor General, with the input of the PM.
Who appoints the House of Commons?
They are elected by popular vote.
To whom is the Cabinet responsible?
To the MPs. If MP vote no confidence, the Prime Minister will request a vote.
What is the title of the Provincial counterpart to the Governor General?
Lieutenant Governor
What is the title of the Provincial counterpart of the Prime Minister?
The Premier
Who is the present Governor General?
Julie Payette
Who is the present Opposition leader?
Erin O’Toole, Conservative Party
Who was John Cabot?
Mapped Canada’s Atlantic Shores
Who was Jacques Cartier?
Explored the St. Laurence River
Who was Count Frontenac?
Defended Quebec against English invasion
What was the Hudson Bay Company
Granted by King Charles II granted the Hudson Bay Company exclusive trading rights to the watershed draining the Hudson Bay.
What was the Constitutional Act of 1791?
Created Upper (later Ontario) and Lower (later Québec) Canada
What provinces formed the Dominion of Canada in 1867?
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick
Who was Sir George Étienne Cartier?
Railroad Lawyer, help bring Manitoba, British Columbia, and the Northwest Territories into Canada.
When did Canadian women get the vote?
Manitoba 1916
First nurses in military service, then the wives of servicemen, then most women by 1918.
Who is Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae?
Author of “In Flanders Fields, “ a poem about the poppies growing where soldiers died in WWI
Who was Joseph-Armand Bombardier?
Inventor of the snowmobile
What ocean is on the north coast of Canada?
Arctic Ocean
