Canada’s Government

Chapter 1 Review

When did Canada become a country?

(Specific Date)

July 1, 1867

Name of Canada’s original Constitution.

British North America (BNA) Act

Which 4 colonies joined together to make Canada a reality?

Ontario

Quebec

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

1931 - This act established legislative equality for self-governing dominions of

the British Empire

Statute of Westminster

1982 - This act ended all remaining dependence of Canada on Britain

Canada Act

A special set of laws that establish a framework of governance.

Constitution

Why do we need government?

To create order in society.

What are the 3 levels of government in

Canada?

Federal

Provincial

Municipal

What are the 3 branches of government in Canada?

1. Executive (PM & Cabinet)

- proposes most laws, puts laws into action, runs the day-to-day business of government

2. Legislative (House of Commons, Senate, Governor General)

- makes laws, represents the interests and rights of Canada’s regions

3. Judicial (Supreme Court, provincial/territorial courts)

- applies and interprets laws

Head of Canada’s government; the leader of the political party with the most members elected to the

House of Commons.

Prime Minister

The person who represents the Crown in Canada.

Governor General

Who are the members of the House of Commons?

MP’s - Members of Parliament

Voters elect them.

Someone who lives in a riding and is

represented by an elected official from that riding.

Constituent

Representation in the House of Commons is by what?

Population

45 minutes per day set aside to allow the opposition to ask questions of

the government

Question Period

When a political party wins the most seats (more than 50%) in the House

of Commons.

It always forms the government.

Majority Government

When a political party wins more seats than any other party in the House of Commons, but not more than 50%.

Minority Government

The total support political parties win during an election, regardless

of whether they win ridings.

Popular Vote

The unelected part of the government. They are chosen by the governor general on the advice of the PM.

Senate

1) Number of seats in the Senate?2) Number of seats in the House of

Commons? (number of ridings in Canada)

1. 105

2. 308

This group of people is responsible for different government

departments/portfolios such as education, health, environment…

Cabinet

The highest court in Canada?

Supreme Court

The people who serve Canadians as

employees of government

Civil Service

This act protects members of the civil service against job loss as a result of them blowing the whistle

on any wrongdoing

Federal Accountability Act

Whose job is it to monitor government spending for

parliament and the people of Canada?

Auditor General

The usual basic path of law making in Canada is?

House of Commons – Senate – Royal Assent(First Reading, Second Reading, Committee Stage,

Report Stage, Third Reading)

What is it called when the governor general signs a bill making it law?

Royal Assent

The process of becoming part of a

different cultural group (not your own)

Assimilation

A type of thinking rooted in a person’s point of view.

An opinion based on unchallenged assumptions.

Bias

Includes newspapers, magazines, film, radio, television, the internet,

etc…

Media - this influences our personal understanding of the world and how it works.

A group of people who have similar ideas about how government should

respond to issues facing society.

Political Party

This party believes is less government

involvement, lower taxes and greater

individual initiative and responsibility.

Support from across the country, but

esp. strong in Western Canada

Conservative Party of Canada

(Stephen Harper)

Center party that believes government

needs to be involved in the economy.

Support from across the country but

strongest in Quebec and Ontario.

Liberal Party

(Justin Trudeau)

This party supports significant government intervention in the

economy. Main support comes from Western Canadian farmers, union

employees and some civil servants.

New Democratic Party

(Thomas Mulcair)

This party believes in protecting the environment and sustainable

development.

Green Party

(Elizabeth May)

This party believes that the people of

Quebec would be best served by forming their own country of Canada.

Bloc Quebecois

(Daniel Paille)

A person hired by a group to influence MPs and government officials

Lobbyist

Current Governor General of Canada

David Johnston

Current MLA of Morinville’s riding

Maureen Kubinec

Current Premier of Alberta

Alison Redford

Current Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

Donald Ethell

Current Prime Minister of Canada

Stephen Harper