Question 1

Which of the following statements about Canadian federalism is false?

Accepted Answer

The statement that there is a hierarchy of power, with provinces subordinate to the federal government, is false. In Canadian federalism, both the federal and provincial governments are sovereign within their respective spheres of jurisdiction as outlined in the Constitution Act, 1867. The federal and provincial governments operate independently of each other in their areas of authority.

Question 2

What is the process of transferring powers from a central government to regional or local governments that remain under its constitutional purview?

Accepted Answer

Devolution is the process where powers are transferred from a central government to regional or local governments, but these powers are still under the constitutional control of the central government. This allows for more localized decision-making while maintaining the unity of the state.

Question 3

A political system featuring a central government that chooses what powers to grant to regional bodies is known as what type of system?

Accepted Answer

A unitary system is characterized by a central government that holds the primary power and may choose to delegate certain powers to regional or local authorities. Unlike a federal system where power is divided between central and regional governments by the constitution, in a unitary system, the central government retains the ultimate authority.

Question 4

What is the power to exercise authority over a polity within a defined geographical area?

Accepted Answer

Sovereignty is the power to exercise authority over a polity within a defined geographical area, indicating the supreme authority within a territory.

Question 5

Which of the following was a driving factor contributing to the establishment of federalism in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Federalism in Canada was influenced by a combination of factors, including military threats from the United States, changing trade relationships with the United States and Britain, and political deadlock within the United Canadian legislature. These elements collectively contributed to the decision to adopt a federal system of government.

Question 6

The Crown is divided in Canada, meaning:

Accepted Answer

Sovereignty in Canada is divided between the federal and provincial governments, reflecting the country's federal structure. This division of sovereignty means that certain powers and responsibilities are allocated to the federal government, while others are reserved for the provinces. The Crown, symbolizing the state's authority, is thus shared across these levels of government, with the monarch's representative at the federal level being the Governor General and at the provincial level, the Lieutenant Governors. This arrangement does not imply a division of the monarchy itself or a difference in the monarch between English Canada and Quebec, nor does it pertain to disputes over succession or representation by political leaders.

Question 7

Which of the following are not examples of areas of federal jurisdiction?

Accepted Answer

Education is typically under the jurisdiction of state or provincial governments, not federal.

Question 8

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of Canadian federalism today?

Accepted Answer

Canada operates within a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth II, represented in Canada by the Governor General) is the head of state, and the country functions as a parliamentary democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy.

Question 9

What is the sovereignty of the provinces in Canada conferred by?

Accepted Answer

The sovereignty of the provinces in Canada is conferred by the Crown, which is a symbol of the legal authority for both federal and provincial governments.

Question 10

The constitution defines areas of concurrent or shared jurisdiction. What are these?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The constitution defines areas of concurrent or...

Question 11

Section 56 of the BNA Act gave the federal government the power of disallowance. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Section 56 of the British North America Act (now known as the Constitution Act, 1867) gave the federal government the power of disallowance, which means it could veto or disallow provincial legislation, effectively causing its termination. This was a mechanism to oversee and potentially nullify provincial laws that conflicted with the national interest or exceeded provincial jurisdiction.

Question 12

Canada is among the world's ________ federations.

Accepted Answer

Canada is considered one of the least centralized federations in the world, meaning that its provinces have a significant degree of autonomy and power relative to the federal government.

Question 13

Section 55 of the BNA Act outlines the power of reservation, which refers to the ability of:

Accepted Answer

Section 55 of the British North America Act (BNA Act), now known as the Constitution Act, 1867, outlines the power of the federal government to delay the passage of provincial legislation by allowing the Governor General to reserve a bill for the "signification of the Queen's pleasure," essentially allowing the Crown to review and potentially disallow provincial legislation. This is a mechanism for federal oversight of provincial laws.

Question 14

Which of the following objectives did the Fathers of Confederation have in mind when they designed Canada's system of federalism in 1867?

Accepted Answer

The Fathers of Confederation designed Canada's system of federalism to ensure that the federal government was the primary decision-maker in the Canadian political system, aiming to create a strong central government while still allowing for regional representation and autonomy.

Question 15

What does federal spending power refer to?

Accepted Answer

Federal spending power refers to the capacity of the federal government to spend its available funds on a wide range of activities, including those that may not fall within its direct constitutional jurisdiction. This allows the federal government to influence areas traditionally managed by lower levels of government through financial means.

Question 16

What is a model of federalism in which federal and provincial governments operate independently of each other in their own respective jurisdictions?

Accepted Answer

Classical federalism is characterized by a clear division of powers and responsibilities between federal and provincial/state governments, allowing each to operate independently within their own jurisdictions.

Question 17

Collaborative federalism is a model of federalism in which ________ governments take the lead in addressing common public policy problems together.

Accepted Answer

Collaborative federalism involves provincial governments working together to address public policy issues, often in cooperation with the federal government.

Question 18

Which organization was formed in 2003 with the objective of supporting regular meetings among provincial and territorial heads of government?

Accepted Answer

The Council of the Federation was established in 2003 to promote provincial-territorial cooperation and closer ties among Canada's provincial and territorial leaders, facilitating regular meetings among them.

Question 19

Symmetrical federalism refers to a model of federalism in which ________.

Accepted Answer

Symmetrical federalism means that the powers or authorities granted to one province by the federal government are equally available to all other provinces, ensuring uniformity in the distribution of powers across the federation.

Question 20

That Quebec is granted unprecedented jurisdiction over immigration is an example of which type of federalism?

Accepted Answer

Asymmetrical federalism allows for different regions within a country to have varying degrees of autonomy and powers, which is exemplified by Quebec's unique jurisdiction over immigration in Canada.

Quiz 3: Federalism