Question 1

In Canada, the formal executive consists of:
A) senior bureaucrats and policy advisors
B) the first minister and the cabinet
C) the first minister and deputy minister
D) the monarch and their representatives

Accepted Answer

In Canada, the formal executive includes the monarch (currently the British monarch, who is the head of state) and their representatives in Canada (the Governor General at the federal level and Lieutenant Governors at the provincial level). These figures embody the constitutional or ceremonial aspects of executive power, distinct from the day-to-day operations of government led by elected officials and their appointees.

Question 2

In Canada, which branch of government includes the public service bureaucracy?
A) the judicial branch
B) the legislative branch
C) the executive branch
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The executive branch includes the public service bureaucracy in Canada, as it is responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of laws, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Question 3

What is the highest-ranking figure in a sovereign state, serving as its foremost ceremonial representative, known as?
A) the head of delegation
B) the head of government
C) the head of state
D) the head of federation

Accepted Answer

The head of state is the highest-ranking figure in a sovereign state, serving as its foremost ceremonial representative. This role is distinct from the head of government, who is typically responsible for running the country's day-to-day affairs.

Question 4

Who is Canada's current head of state?
A) the monarch
B) the prime minister
C) the longest-serving premier
D) the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Accepted Answer

Canada is a constitutional monarchy, which means the country's head of state is a monarch. As of my last update in 2023, this role is filled by the monarch of the United Kingdom, who is also Canada's monarch.

Question 5

Which of the following is true of the governors general in Canada?
A) They are selected by the monarch on the advice of the Canadian prime minister.
B) They are the monarch's representative at the federal and provincial levels in Canada.
C) They are elected by the members of the House of Commons.
D) They are the head of government at the federal level.

Accepted Answer

The Governor General of Canada is selected by the monarch on the advice of the Canadian Prime Minister. They serve as the monarch's representative at the federal level, not at the provincial level, and are not elected by the House of Commons nor are they the head of government.

Question 6

Which of the following are examples of the duties of the governor general?
A) granting royal assent by the symbolic signing of bills into laws
B) reading the Speech from the Throne
C) proclaiming that writs of election be issued
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The governor general performs all these duties as part of their role in representing the monarch in a parliamentary system.

Question 7

Each of the three territories has a ________ who serves as a representative of the ________.
A) commissioner; monarch
B) lieutenant governor; monarch
C) commissioner; federal government
D) councillor; hereditary chief

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because a commissioner is a representative of the federal government.

Question 8

What is a republic?
A) A system of government in which sovereignty is vested in the people, not the Crown.
B) A system of government in which sovereignty is vested in the Crown, rather than the people.
C) A system of government that was once very popular in Western nations but is now outdated.
D) A system of government in which sovereignty is vested in an unelected, autocratic leader.

Accepted Answer

A republic is a form of government where the country is considered a "public matter" and the head of state is an elected or nominated president, not a monarch. Sovereignty is vested in the people who exercise power through elected representatives.

Question 9

Support for Canada moving to a republican system of government is most pronounced in which province or territory?
A) Quebec
B) Alberta
C) Newfoundland and Labrador
D) Ontario

Accepted Answer

Quebec has historically shown the highest levels of support for moving to a republican system of government, reflecting its distinct cultural and political identity within Canada.

Question 10

In Canada, what is the name of the highest-ranking official appointed by the Crown to lead the political executive at the federal level?
A) head of government
B) first minister
C) prime minister
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The Prime Minister is the highest-ranking official appointed by the Crown to lead the political executive at the federal level in Canada.

Question 11

What is the executive body of prominent federal politicians and officials that typically advise the governor general?
A) The Council of Lieutenant Governors
B) The Privy Council
C) The Governor General's Council
D) The Queens' Counsel

Accepted Answer

The Privy Council is the executive body of prominent federal politicians and officials that typically advise the governor general in countries with a parliamentary system, such as Canada.

Question 12

In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, the head of government is the ________ who is selected by ________.
A) premier; the members of the legislature
B) premier; the electorate
C) commissioner; the governor general
D) commissioner; premier

Accepted Answer

In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, the head of government is the premier, who is selected by the members of the legislature.

Question 13

Since the 1950s, appointments to the position of governor general have alternated between:
A) men and women
B) different provinces
C) different regions
D) anglophones and francophones

Accepted Answer

Since the 1950s, the appointment of the governor general in Canada has alternated between anglophones and francophones to reflect the country's bilingual nature.

Question 14

Which of the following is not one of the many duties of the head of government in Canada?
A) Reading the Speech from the Throne
B) Fielding inquiries during Question Period
C) Meeting with international and domestic counterparts in private and during summits
D) Publicly explaining the government's decisions and positions on issues

Accepted Answer

The duty of reading the Speech from the Throne in Canada is performed by the Governor General, who represents the monarch, not by the head of government. The head of government, typically the Prime Minister, is responsible for duties such as fielding inquiries during Question Period, meeting with counterparts, and explaining the government's decisions publicly.

Question 15

The influence of the Prime Minister's Office and premiers' offices over members of the governing caucus, including ministers, has been:
A) decreasing slightly
B) virtually non-existent
C) relatively stable
D) increasing

Accepted Answer

The influence of the Prime Minister's Office and premiers' offices over members of the governing caucus, including ministers, has been increasing. This is due to a variety of factors, including centralized control and decision-making processes, which have strengthened the power of these offices over time.

Question 16

The cabinet is typically made up of ________ who are appointed by ________ on the advice of ________.
A) members of the legislature; the monarch's representative; the first minister
B) members of the legislature; the first minister; the monarch's representative
C) members of the PMO; the first minister; the monarch's representative
D) members of the civil service; the monarch's representative; the first minister

Accepted Answer

Cabinet members are usually appointed from among members of the legislature by the monarch's representative (such as a governor-general or president), acting on the advice of the first minister (such as a prime minister). This reflects the parliamentary system of government where the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is accountable to, the legislature.

Question 17

What is the political head of a government ministry, responsible for directing and overseeing the activities of its departments and agencies, boards, and commissions?
A) director
B) commissioner
C) governor
D) minister

Accepted Answer

The political head of a government ministry is known as a minister. They are responsible for directing and overseeing the activities of their ministry's departments, agencies, boards, and commissions.

Question 18

A minister's portfolio refers to which of the following?
A) their areas of responsibility
B) their collection of news stories
C) their record of service or accomplishments in government
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

A minister's portfolio specifically refers to their areas of responsibility within the government, such as health, education, or defense.

Question 19

Which of the following is true of regional ministers?
A) They are appointed by provincial governments to serve in the federal cabinet.
B) They serve as the prime minister's chief liaison with premiers and other regional actors.
C) They are backbenchers who can use the opportunity to increase their political profile.
D) They are unelected political staff who do not sit in cabinet

Accepted Answer

Regional ministers serve as the prime minister's chief liaison with premiers and other regional actors, playing a key role in coordinating federal-regional relations and ensuring regional interests are represented at the federal level.

Question 20

In addition to full ministers of the Crown, the political executive often features a pair of junior positions that exist outside the formal cabinet. These roles are:
A) regional ministers and local ministers
B) ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries
C) backbenchers and legislative advisors
D) legislative assistants and constituency assistants

Accepted Answer

Ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries are junior positions in the political executive that assist full ministers in their duties, but do not hold cabinet positions themselves.

Quiz 5: The Executive

In Canada, the formal executive consists of:

In Canada, which branch of government includes the public service bureaucracy?

What is the highest-ranking figure in a sovereign state, serving as its foremost ceremonial representative, known as?

Who is Canada's current head of state?

Which of the following is true of the governors general in Canada?

Which of the following are examples of the duties of the governor general?

Each of the three territories has a who serves as a representative of the .

What is a republic?

Support for Canada moving to a republican system of government is most pronounced in which province or territory?

In Canada, what is the name of the highest-ranking official appointed by the Crown to lead the political executive at the federal level?

What is the executive body of prominent federal politicians and officials that typically advise the governor general?

In Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, the head of government is the who is selected by .

Since the 1950s, appointments to the position of governor general have alternated between:

Which of the following is not one of the many duties of the head of government in Canada?

The influence of the Prime Minister's Office and premiers' offices over members of the governing caucus, including ministers, has been:

The cabinet is typically made up of who are appointed by on the advice of .

What is the political head of a government ministry, responsible for directing and overseeing the activities of its departments and agencies, boards, and commissions?

A minister's portfolio refers to which of the following?

Which of the following is true of regional ministers?

In addition to full ministers of the Crown, the political executive often features a pair of junior positions that exist outside the formal cabinet. These roles are: