Question 1

Governors general serve lifetime appointments in Canada.

Accepted Answer

Governors General in Canada are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister and serve at the monarch's pleasure, typically for a term of about five years, not for life.

Question 2

There is no variation in the structure of provincial cabinet committees; they all must conform to the same model.

Accepted Answer

The structure of provincial cabinet committees can vary significantly from one province to another, reflecting the unique needs, priorities, and governance styles of each province.

Question 3

In Canada, most governments fall of their own volition, typically by asking the governor general or lieutenant general to dissolve the legislature and call an election.

Accepted Answer

In Canada, most governments fall of their own volition, typically by asking the governor general or lieutenant general to dissolve the legislature and call an election.

Question 4

Of the main central agencies in the federal government, only the PMO employs exclusively political staff; the Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Department of Finance are staffed by non-partisan public servants.

Accepted Answer

The Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Department of Finance are staffed by professional, non-partisan public servants, whereas the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) employs political staff who are appointed based on their political affiliation or support for the Prime Minister and their party.

Question 5

A central agency is a coordinating body that steers government business across all departments.

Accepted Answer

A central agency coordinates and oversees the implementation of policies and the management of government business across various departments, ensuring consistency and alignment with overall government objectives.

Question 6

The governor general appoints thirteen (13) lieutenant governors who serve as their most trusted policy advisors.

Accepted Answer

The governor general does not appoint lieutenant governors to serve as policy advisors. Lieutenant governors are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Prime Minister to represent the Queen in each of Canada's ten provinces, not as policy advisors.

Question 7

In Canada, prime ministers appoint governors general based primarily on partisan considerations.

Accepted Answer

In Canada, the appointment of the Governor General is formally made by the monarch (the Queen or King) on the advice of the Prime Minister, but it is not based primarily on partisan considerations. The role is largely ceremonial and intended to represent the Canadian state, rather than any political party.

Question 8

Central agencies exist at the provincial and territorial level but not the federal level.

Accepted Answer

Central agencies exist at all levels of government, including the federal, provincial, and territorial levels, to provide strategic advice, policy direction, and support to the executive branch and its leaders.

Question 9

The governor general has the ability to replace a prime minister without calling a general election.

Accepted Answer

The governor general, representing the monarch in a constitutional monarchy, has the power to appoint and dismiss a prime minister. This can be done without calling a general election, typically in situations where the current prime minister has lost the confidence of the legislature or in other exceptional circumstances.

Question 10

The term "premier" is not written in the Canadian constitution.

Accepted Answer

The term "premier" is commonly used to refer to the head of government of a province or territory in Canada, but this specific term is not found in the Canadian constitution. Instead, the constitution refers to these officials as "Provincial Premiers" or by other formal titles, but not simply as "premier."

Question 11

All matters requiring the signature of the governor general or lieutenant governor must be vetted by the full cabinet.

Accepted Answer

Not all matters requiring the signature of the governor general or lieutenant governor must be vetted by the full cabinet. Some matters can be dealt with by specific ministers or through orders-in-council without the need for full cabinet review.

Question 12

In Canada, a politician must have a seat in the legislature before they are eligible to become a minister.

Accepted Answer

In Canada, a politician does not need to have a seat in the legislature to be appointed as a minister. They can be appointed and then seek a seat in a subsequent election or by-election.

Question 13

All public servants in the Privy Council Office are highly partisan.

Accepted Answer

Public servants in the Privy Council Office, like other parts of the public service, are expected to carry out their duties in a non-partisan and professional manner, adhering to principles of political neutrality.

Question 14

Deputy ministers must be elected before assuming their position.

Accepted Answer

Deputy ministers are typically appointed by the head of government or a senior minister, not elected.

Question 15

By convention, ministers must resign their cabinet positions in the event of controversy.

Accepted Answer

While it is common for ministers to resign in the event of a significant controversy, it is not a strict rule or convention that they must resign. The decision often depends on the nature of the controversy, public and political pressure, and the confidence of the prime minister or president in the minister's ability to continue serving.

Question 16

Since the Letters Patent passed in 1947, governors general must always follow the advice of prime ministers, without exception.

Accepted Answer

While the Letters Patent of 1947 do outline the roles and responsibilities of the Governor General, they do not explicitly state that governors general must always follow the advice of prime ministers without exception. In practice, governors general typically follow the advice of the prime minister, but there are constitutional conventions that allow for discretion in exceptional circumstances.

Question 17

Members of the Conservative Party tend to defend the monarchy's role in Canadian democracy.

Accepted Answer

Members of the Conservative Party in Canada generally support the monarchy and its role within the country's democratic framework, viewing it as a symbol of stability and historical continuity.

Question 18

Ministers rely heavily on members of the non-partisan political service to handle affairs with citizens in their home constituencies.

Accepted Answer

Ministers typically rely on members of their own political party or personal staff, rather than non-partisan political service members, to handle affairs with citizens in their home constituencies. Non-partisan political service members usually focus on administrative tasks and are not involved in political activities.

Question 19

In practice, there is no hierarchy around most cabinet tables in Canada; all ministers are endowed with the same amount of influence, including the first minister, who is simply primus inter pares (Latin for "first among equals").

Accepted Answer

In practice, the Prime Minister (the first minister) often has significantly more influence than other cabinet members due to their leadership role and authority to appoint or dismiss ministers, making them more than just "first among equals."

Question 20

Regardless of the outcome of a general election, a prime minister remains head of government until the governor general appoints a replacement.

Accepted Answer

In parliamentary systems, such as Canada's, the prime minister remains in office as a caretaker until a replacement is formally appointed by the governor general, even if they have resigned or lost an election. This ensures continuity of government.

Quiz 5: The Executive

Governors general serve lifetime appointments in Canada.

There is no variation in the structure of provincial cabinet committees; they all must conform to the same model.

In Canada, most governments fall of their own volition, typically by asking the governor general or lieutenant general to dissolve the legislature and call an election.

Of the main central agencies in the federal government, only the PMO employs exclusively political staff; the Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and the Department of Finance are staffed by non-partisan public servants.

A central agency is a coordinating body that steers government business across all departments.

The governor general appoints thirteen (13) lieutenant governors who serve as their most trusted policy advisors.

In Canada, prime ministers appoint governors general based primarily on partisan considerations.

Central agencies exist at the provincial and territorial level but not the federal level.

The governor general has the ability to replace a prime minister without calling a general election.

The term "premier" is not written in the Canadian constitution.

All matters requiring the signature of the governor general or lieutenant governor must be vetted by the full cabinet.

In Canada, a politician must have a seat in the legislature before they are eligible to become a minister.

All public servants in the Privy Council Office are highly partisan.

Deputy ministers must be elected before assuming their position.

By convention, ministers must resign their cabinet positions in the event of controversy.

Since the Letters Patent passed in 1947, governors general must always follow the advice of prime ministers, without exception.

Members of the Conservative Party tend to defend the monarchy's role in Canadian democracy.

Ministers rely heavily on members of the non-partisan political service to handle affairs with citizens in their home constituencies.

In practice, there is no hierarchy around most cabinet tables in Canada; all ministers are endowed with the same amount of influence, including the first minister, who is simply primus inter pares (Latin for "first among equals").

Regardless of the outcome of a general election, a prime minister remains head of government until the governor general appoints a replacement.