Question 1

What is one of the ways of maintaining a high degree of control over the majority caucus and over the legislative assembly as a whole?

Accepted Answer

Party discipline is the practice of requiring members of a political party to vote with the majority on issues that are considered important by the party leadership. This ensures that the majority caucus can maintain control over the legislative assembly and pass key legislation. It also helps to create a unified front and prevent dissent within the party. Caucuses and cabinet solidarity are also important factors in maintaining control over the legislative assembly, but party discipline is often the most effective tool for ensuring that the majority government can govern effectively.

Question 2

A voter selects the candidate he feels is the friendliest,most open,and most approachable option.Which type of representative is he most likely electing?

Accepted Answer

A delegate is a representative who is expected to vote according to the wishes of their constituents. If a voter is looking for a "friendly, open, and approachable" representative, they are likely looking for someone who will communicate with and listen to their constituents, which would make them a good delegate. Trustees, on the other hand, are expected to use their own judgment to make decisions for the greater good, and party members may prioritize the interests of their political party over their constituents. A microcosm representative typically represents a small subset of the population, rather than the entire constituency.

Question 3

Which term refers to a proposal for Senate reform representing the intrastate model of federalism in which the interests of the various regions of the country are given effective representation?

Accepted Answer

The term referred to in the question is triple-E, which stands for equal, effective, and elected. The proposal for Senate reform under the triple-E model aims to give equal and effective representation to the various regions of the country through elected senators. The other options, House of the Provinces and House of the Federation, do not specifically refer to this model of Senate reform.

Question 4

Which of the following tasks would an MP be LEAST likely to perform?

Accepted Answer

While MPs are expected to represent the views and interests of their constituents, challenging party policy based on constituent demands may cause conflicts within the party and is less likely to happen.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the four essential functions of parliament in Canada?

Accepted Answer

The four essential functions of parliament in Canada are establishing legitimate government, making government behave, making an alternative government, and representing the electorate. Making important cabinet and judicial appointments is not one of these essential functions.

Question 6

If a voter basis his electoral choice on the intelligence and moral stance of the candidates,which type of representative is he most likely electing?

Accepted Answer

A voter who bases their electoral choice on the intelligence and moral stance of the candidates is likely looking for someone who can exercise independent judgment and make decisions based on their own expertise and beliefs. This is the role of a trustee, who is elected to represent the interests of their constituents while using their own judgment and knowledge to make the best decisions for the community as a whole. Delegates, on the other hand, are expected to follow the wishes of their constituents more closely, while party members may be more influenced by partisan ideology. A microcosm is not a type of representative but refers to a small group or community that represents a larger whole.

Question 7

Which term is commonly used to refer to a representative assembly?

Accepted Answer

The term commonly used to refer to a representative assembly is legislature. A legislature is a branch of government that is responsible for making laws. Other options like government and executive refer to the overall governing body or the branch responsible for carrying out laws, respectively. The term chamber could be used to refer to a specific room where the legislature meets, but it is not as commonly used to refer to the assembly as a whole.

Question 8

What is one possible path of legislation in the Canadian Parliament?

Accepted Answer

The typical legislative process in Canada involves a bill starting with a minister who introduces it to the cabinet for approval. Once approved, it is then presented to the House of Commons for debate and vote. If passed, it moves to the Senate for further debate and approval before becoming law. This process reflects the parliamentary system in Canada, where legislation is often initiated by the government.

Question 9

Which of the following is one of the proposed solutions to address the difficulty of increasing the number of underrepresented groups in a legislature?

Accepted Answer

Dual-member constituencies involve two representatives being elected from the same geographic area, with the aim of increasing representation of underrepresented groups. By electing two representatives, it is possible to ensure that at least one of them is from an underrepresented group. This system has been used successfully in New Zealand and has resulted in increased representation for women and people of color in their legislature. Party discipline, executive dominance, and single-member plurality are not solutions to address the difficulty of increasing the number of underrepresented groups in a legislature.

Question 10

A man votes for a political candidate that he often sees attending his Church.Which type of representative type is he most likely basing his vote on?

Accepted Answer

Microcosm representation refers to choosing representatives who share similar characteristics, backgrounds, or interests with the voters, in this case, attending the same Church.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT one of the four different ways in which agents represent those who elect them to a representative assembly?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is NOT one...

Question 12

A politically knowledgeable voter does not bother looking up any personal information about the candidates in her riding.When she goes to the polls,which type of representative is she most likely electing?

Accepted Answer

A politically knowledgeable voter who does not bother looking up personal information about the candidates likely has a strong party preference and will vote based on the party's platform and ideology. Therefore, this voter is most likely electing a party member rather than a trustee or microcosm.

Question 13

Over the last few decades,how has the role of the representative as trustee changed in parliamentary democracies?

Accepted Answer

The role of the representative as a trustee has declined in parliamentary democracies, primarily because the role of the representative as a party member has increased. This shift reflects a trend towards stronger party discipline and the prioritization of party positions over individual judgment or constituency preferences.

Question 14

In liberal democratic parliamentary systems,how do party members usually vote?

Accepted Answer

In liberal democratic parliamentary systems, party members typically vote as loyal members of the caucus, following the instructions of the leadership. This is known as party discipline, and it ensures that the party presents a unified stance on legislative matters.

Question 15

In which of the following situations would the practice of responsible government provide the most effective representative check on the executive?

Accepted Answer

In a minority government situation where the Official Opposition is ahead in the polls, the practice of responsible government would provide the most effective check on the executive because the opposition has the most support from the electorate and therefore has the strongest mandate to hold the government accountable. The government would be more inclined to listen to the opposition in this scenario, in order to avoid losing its mandate and potentially being toppled by a vote of non-confidence. In a majority government situation, the ruling party has a strong mandate and may not feel as much pressure to listen to the opposition. In a minority government situation where the opposition is not an acceptable coalition partner, there may not be an effective check on the executive at all. In a minority government situation where the Official Opposition is trailing in the polls, the government may feel even less pressure to listen to the opposition.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor in the decline of legislative influence?

Accepted Answer

Use of responsible government, which holds the government accountable to the legislature, actually enhances legislative influence rather than declining it. The other options all contribute to the decline of legislative influence in various ways.

Question 17

What theory of representation suggests that a prime minister should appoint to the cabinet a member from each of the provinces?

Accepted Answer

The microcosm theory argues that government should be a representative cross-section of society, including geography. Therefore, appointing a member from each of the provinces to the cabinet would align with this theory.

Question 18

An opposition MP in a majority government situation regularly attends and contributes to debates on a proposed bill in the legislature.Given the reality of the legislative process in Canada,what is most likely her motive?

Accepted Answer

The answer of An opposition MP in a majority government...

Question 19

In the United States Obama had difficulty with health-care reform due to pro-life representatives in Congress.What prevents similar experiences from happening in Canada?

Accepted Answer

In Canada, party discipline is much stronger than in the United States. This means that members of parliament are expected to vote with their party on most issues, including health-care reform. Therefore, the influence of pro-life representatives would be diminished, as they would be expected to vote along with their party's stance on the issue.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT one of the proposals for Senate reform put forward in Canada's constitutional debates in the last 30 years?

Accepted Answer

"Atrophy" is not a proposal that has been seriously considered in the context of Canadian Senate reform. The other options (abolishment, replacement with a House of the Provinces, and the triple-E Senate model) have all been discussed in various proposals.

Quiz 26: Representative Assemblies