Deck 12: The Canadian Political System

Question 1

Canada became self governing in 1867 as a result of the:

A) British North America Act
B) Free Government Act
C) Statute of Westminister
D) Self-Governing Dominion act

Answer 1

British North America Act

Question 2

What does "patriation" in the Canadian context refer to?

A) citizens learning values from Canadian history
B) criticism of U.S. foreign policy
C) bringing control of the Constitution home from Britain
D) tension between the central government in Ottawa and Québec

Answer 2

bringing control of the Constitution home from Britain

Question 3

A key phrase in the Canadian Constitution influencing Canadian rights is the:

A) Nunavut clause
B) Separate but Equal clause
C) Regional Balance of Powers clause
D) Similar in Principle clause

Answer 3

Similar in Principle clause

Question 4

The key clause in understanding provincial power in the Canadian Constitution is Section 92 which deals with:

A) Foreign Policy
B) Property and Civil Rights
C) Legal and Tort Rights
D) Taxation and Representation

Question 5

The key to understanding how the federal government has been able to continue to play a major role in policy-making in Canada is to realize that

A) the West dislikes Québec.
B) the provinces couldn't afford to do everything that they had responsibility for.
C) the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favor of the federal government.
D) Britain didn't want the provinces to have power.

Question 6

On a scale of federal power, Canada is considered:

A) a centralized federalism
B) a true unitary state
C) a decentralized federalism
D) a commonwealth that is neither centralized nor decentralized

Question 7

Canada's regions include each of the following except:

A) the Atlantic provinces
B) the Midwest
C) the Prairie provinces
D) British Columbia

Question 8

The issue of Québec is seen by those in Québec not only in federal-provincial terms but also as involving:

A) nationalism
B) military power
C) regionalism
D) economics

Question 9

One of the prime reasons for Québec agreeing to join the Canadian union in the first place had to do with its fear of invasion from:

A) the United States
B) Britain
C) France
D) Russia

Question 10

When did Québec's "Quiet Revolution" take place?

A) in the 1960's
B) right after Canada's independence in 1867
C) shortly after World War I in 1922
D) right after World War II in 1948

Question 11

When Québec argues for "special status" in the Canadian federation it is suggesting that

A) all provinces are special and it shouldn't be a second class citizen.
B) it speaks French.
C) it controls the most fresh water.
D) it isn't a province just like the other nine.

Question 12

The "two nations" theory of Canadian federalism suggests that

A) Canada needs to watch out for domination by the United States.
B) Québec is a nation in Canada and the other nine provinces together make up a nation.
C) The West needs to be balanced by the East.
D) Britain and France both had influence in Canada's history.

Question 13

The new relationship between Québec and the rest of Canada that was turned down in a national referendum in 1980 was called:

A) equal opportunity
B) separate but equal
C) sovereignty-association
D) equality-fraternity

Question 14

Who is the legal head of state in Canada?

A) the Queen
B) the Prime Minister
C) the Governor General
D) the Chancellor

Question 15

The Canadian Senate is designed to represent __________.

A) regions
B) provinces
C) population
D) languages

Question 16

One of the challenges for effective operation of Canada's Senate is that

A) it has too many political parties to work effectively.
B) all financial legislation must originate in the House of Commons.
C) it is based in Alberta, Canada, and not in Ottawa, Ontario.
D) bills need to receive unanimous approval in order to be passed.

Question 17

A key dimension in discussion of the future of the Senate involves

A) the language that individuals speak.
B) how senators are selected.
C) how much senators are paid.
D) how many senators there are.

Question 18

Voting in the House of Commons typically is guided by

A) a strong system of regions sticking together.
B) a strong system of provincial representatives sticking together.
C) a strong system of language groups.
D) a strong system of party discipline.

Question 19

In Canada the term "Government Bill" refers to legislation that has been

A) authored by the Prime Minister.
B) subject to a vote of confidence and approved.
C) approved by a majority of provincial governments.
D) recommended and approved by the Cabinet.

Question 20

Canada's system of courts has characteristics that

A) are very similar to French courts.
B) are very similar to British courts.
C) reflect its federal political nature.
D) reflect its multi-ethnic makeup.

Question 21

The Canadian system of political parties can be referred to as a:

A) one-party system
B) two-party-plus system
C) two-party system
D) multi-party system

Question 22

One of the key explanations for electoral outcomes in Canada can be found in

A) the single-member-district electoral structure.
B) its federal nature.
C) Québec's language laws.
D) its history as a member of the British Commonwealth.

Question 23

Why are minor parties at the national level in Canadian politics still significant?

A) People belong to more than one political party.
B) The party may go from being a minor party to being a major party in one or two years.
C) Minor parties control national party finances
D) Minor parties may control provincial politics and exert influence there.

Question 24

The Canadian electoral system has what consequence for smaller political parties?

A) it under-represents majority electoral results
B) it makes it difficult for smaller parties to exist and function at the national level
C) it makes it easy for smaller parties to exist at the national level
D) it makes it possible for new parties to come into existence easily

Question 25

Which is one of the key differences between Canadian and British party structures?

A) Canada's federal nature and Britain's unitary nature
B) the French influence on Canadian federal politics
C) the American influence on Canadian federal politics
D) Britain being part of Europe

Question 26

In 1982 the British North America Act was amended to become the Constitution Act.

Question 27

Canada's Supreme Court has played a key role in interpretation of the Constitution since 1867.

Question 28

A key theme in discussion of Canadian regionalism involves Western alienation from the Eastern-dominated federal government.

Question 29

Québec nationalism argues that Québec should be the dominant province in Canada.

Question 30

The terms French Canadian and Québécois mean the same thing.

Question 31

One of the principle areas of concern of Québec's "Quiet Revolution" involved its culture.

Question 32

Québec's "special status" argument says that it wants equal treatment with the other provinces.

Question 33

The Meech Lake Accord was intended to address the problem of cross-border pollution from the United States.

Question 34

The repository of the true executive power in Canadian government today is the Privy Council.

Question 35

Canada has rarely had a majority government in modern times.

Question 36

Canada has a unicameral legislature.

Question 37

The person who traditionally invites the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons to form a Government is the Governor-General of Canada.

Question 38

Question Period in the House of Commons gives members of Parliament the opportunity to ask each other embarrassing questions.

Question 39

Third and Fourth parties have never played an important role in Canadian politics.

Question 40

What is the importance of the "similar in principle" clause for the Canadian constitution and for Canadian political culture?

Question 41

Compare Canadian federalism with federalism as seen in the United States and Germany? Are Canadian provinces more or less powerful than States or Lander? Why?

Question 42

Canada's Senate has received much attention by critics in its history. Why is it important today? What needs to be done to make it a more powerful body?

Question 43

Compare the Canadian Prime Minister's power with the power of the German Chancellor. Who has more power? Why?

Question 44

Discuss the role of regionalism in Canadian politics today. How do Canadian political structures make regional pressures more intense? How do they make pressures less intense?