Unit 1: Canadian Government and the three Branches

Question 1

Define Govern

Answer 1

To make decisions as a government and put decisions into action

Question 2

Define Government

Answer 2

The body with power to make decisions for a society

Question 3

Define Governance

Answer 3

The process of governing

Question 4

What is the role of Canada’s constitution

Answer 4

• Describes governance in Canada
• Sets the role of the governor general and three branches of government
• State how three branches work together
• Sets out institutions such as Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Numbered treaties etc.
• All subsequent laws must follow the constitution - it is the highest law

Question 5

What are the three branches of Canadian Government

Answer 5

• Executive
• Legislative
• Judicial

Question 6

What is a Majority Government

Answer 6

When the party than won the most seats won over half the total amounts of seats

Question 7

What is a Minority Government

Answer 7

When the party that won the most seats did not win over half the total amount of seats

Question 8

What is the Popular vote

Answer 8

• The total support or votes a political party wins during an election. This is simply votes, it does not necessarily mean that the number of seats won
• To win a seat a candidate needs to win 50% + 1 votes

Question 9

What are Portfolios

Answer 9

roles assigned to cabinet ministers (minister of health)

Question 10

What are slogans

Answer 10

memorable quotes, phrases or key messages sent to the media by politicians

Question 11

What does accountable mean in the context of this chapter

Answer 11

Accountable, this was the slogan used by the Conservatives after the sponsorship scandal. John Baird and the conservatives created and passed the Federal Accountability Act (FAA)

Question 12

What is the Executive Branch

Answer 12

propose most laws, put laws into action, run day to day business of government

Question 13

What is a bill

Answer 13

A proposed law from the House of Commons or the Senate that has not yet passed

Question 14

what is the BNA act

Answer 14

what makes us a country, sets all the rules like the constitution

Question 15

What does debate mean

Answer 15

Both the House of Commons and the Senate debate on bills before they are passed

Question 16

What is a riding

Answer 16

A district in which one candidate is elected to represent the occupants

Question 17

what is a Lobbyist

Answer 17

someone hired by a pressure group to influence MPs and government officials….must be registered with the government

Question 18

what is Royal Assent

Answer 18

governor general gives it, must have royal assent for a bill to become a law

Question 19

what are MPs

Answer 19

members of parliament, the representative of people who live in their constituency, voted in

Question 20

what is the Auditor general

Answer 20

gives objective and unbiased information to the government through audits

Question 21

What are Senators

Answer 21

Appointed by the Prime Ministers to represent minorities that are not represented by MPs. Can propose laws, but can’t for any that will create or use taxes

Question 22

Who is elected

Answer 22

All MPs are elected

Prime minister is elected indirectly, most become leader of their party and then win in their riding

Question 23

who is appointed

Answer 23

governor general (by the Monarch after advisement from PM), senators (by PM), supreme court judges (PM and Cabinet)

Question 24

what is bias

Answer 24

a type of thinking rooted in a person’s point of view, often creates an unbalanced view of someone or a subject word choice, overall topic, pictures)

Question 25

What are Constituents and Constituencies

Answer 25

Constituents are the people who vote for and elect a representative

Constituencies are the areas that elect a representative

Question 26

What is the Parliament

Answer 26

An assembly of elected representatives from regions all around Canada

Question 27

What is the House of Commons

Answer 27

All MPs are part of the House of Commons, including all party leaders and Cabinet Ministers

Question 28

What are the roles and responsibilities of the Executive branch

Answer 28

• Propose most laws
• Put most laws into action
• Run day to day business of Government

Question 29

What is the role and responsibilities of the Legislative branch

Answer 29

• Make laws

- Represent interests of Canadians in their region

Question 30

What are the qualities of a good politician

Answer 30

• mission driven
• creative problem solvers
• can function strategically with limited resources
• integrity
• communicate vision

Question 31

what happens to the party with the most seats and the party with the second most seats

Answer 31

The party with the most seats become the head party

the party with the second most seats becomes the official opposition and all other parties are the opposition

Question 31

what happens to the party with the most seats and the party with the second most seats

Answer 31

The party with the most seats become the

Question 32

How many Supreme Court Judges are there

Answer 32

Nine from four regions of Canada

Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada and Maritimes

Question 33

How do Supreme Court Judges get their position

Answer 33

appointed by Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, goes through a review committee of MPs. Final say given by PM

Question 34

What is unique about the Judicial Branch

Answer 34

Everyone is from the legal profession

Question 35

What is the process for creating a law

Answer 35

Senate

1. First reading
2. Second reading
3. Committee Stage
4. Report stage
5. Third Reading

House of Commons
6. Debate and vote on Senate amendments

Senate
7. Debate and vote on House decision

8. Royal Assent

Question 36

What is the F.A.A.

Answer 36

The Federal Accountability Act

• makes government responsible and accountable for spending
• Protects government employees who blow the whistle

Created after the “sponsorship scandal” in 2006