Chapter One Review

Issues for Canadians: Governance and Rights

General Outcome: Students will demonstrate an understanding and
appreciation of how Canadas political processes impact citizenship and
identity in an attempt to meet the needs of all Canadians.

Chapter Question:
How effectively does Canadas federal political system govern
Canada for all Canadians?

Chapter Terms
Government

Popular Vote

Perspective

Appointed

Point of view
Executive branch
Minority government
Majority government
House of Commons
Senate
Political Party
Governor General
Cabinet
Minister
Legislative branch
Member of Parliament
Judicial branch
Constituency
Bills
Third Reading

Specific Areas of Study

SPECIFIC OUTCOME: examine the structure of Canadas federal political
system by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
1. What is the relationship between the executive, legislative and
judicial branches of Canadas federal political system?

What is the structure of Canadas federal political system?

Page 22-37

2. How are laws passed in the federal political system?

How do laws become laws?

Federal Accountability Act + Flow Chart about how bill passed as a law
in the House of Commons and Senate
First Nation Perspective on Law Making
Page 38-44

3. What processes are used to determine Members of Parliament

(MPs) and Senators?

MPs (Page 27-30) <Includes Popular Vote>

Senators (Page 31-32)

4. To whom are Members of Parliament and Senators

accountable?

House of Commons/Senate (see pages above).

5. What is the role of political parties within Canadas federal

political system?

Each riding has a seat in the House of Commons

Minority vs. Majority Government
Page 27-28

6. What is the role of the media in relation to political issues?

How do the media connect Canadians to their government?

How media affects current affairs and issues
Page 46-49

7. How do lobby groups impact government decision making?

What do lobbyists do?

Information about lobbyists
The extent to which lobbyists represent Canadians in the political
process
How lobbyists can influence government decision making
Page 51-52

8. Overarching question: To what extent do political and

legislative processes meet the needs of all Canadians?

PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Social Studies 9
Chapter 1 PAT Review Questions
1. To convey certain messages or information to the Canadian people, Canadian
politicians and political groups often use this:
A) volunteers.
B) lobbyists.
C) media.
D) bullhorns.
2. The purpose of lobby groups and lobbyists in Canadian politics is to do all of
the following with the exception of:
A) voice the views of groups on issues that affects their members, products or
services.
B) create policy and propose legislation based on the shared values of their
members or cause.
C) attempt to influence government officials or Members of Parliament when
they create policy and legislation.
D) provide different perspectives and in-depth expertise on certain issues.
3.

Use the information in the box below to answer the question.

The Canadian Federation of Students is a group formed to provide students

with a united voice in the federal and provincial levels of government and
represent the collective interests of students in post-secondary institutions
across Canada. The Canadian Federation of Students has played a large role
in halting the tuition fee increases proposed by the provincial and federal
governments and to restore the federal governments transfer payments for
post-secondary education.

Given this information, the Canadian Federation of Students most likely a(n):
A) lobby group.
B) political party.
C) media outlet.
D) anti-government association

4. In Canada, political parties are formed to:

A) provide a place for socialization and networking for business professionals
and academics.
B) influence government officials and Members of Parliament in favor of
certain industries on controversial issues.
C) create policies on how to deal with specific issues facing society based on
the shared values of its members.
D) provide interest and lively debates at election time.
5.

Use the information in the box below to answer the question.

These positions in the Canadian federal government were created to ensure

that all regions of Canada have an equal and strong voice in the federal
government and to represent the interests and rights of Canada's minorities.

The role being discussed above is that of:

A) Party Whip.
B) Minister of Citizenship
C) Senator.
D) Leader of the Opposition.
6. Use the information in the box below to answer the question.

Federal Political Parties of Canada

o
o

Green Party of Canada

Liberal Party of Canada

Bloc Quebecois

Conservative Party of Canada

New Democratic Party

Christian Heritage Party of

Canada.

Canadian Action Party

Communist Party of Canada

First Peoples National Party of

Canada

Libertarian Party of Canada

Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada

Work Less Party

Western Block Party

Progressive Canadian Party

Neorhino.ca

Marijuana Party

Newfoundland and Labrador

First Party

People's Political Power Party of

Canada

A political party can best be defined as a group of people:

A) who represent a minority group in Canada and works to ensure their voice
is heard in the federal government.
B) hired by an industry or cause to influence members of the government
regarding specific government policies or legislation.
C) dedicated to delivering information about current events and issues to the
Canadian public.
D) that share similar values and ideas about how the government should deal
with issues facing society.

7. Use the information in the box below to answer the question

Patricia and her friends are studying for their upcoming Social Studies test on
the federal government and talking about how laws are made. Each of

Patricia's friends seems to have a different idea on the process of a bill

becoming law in the Canadian government:
Belle: " For a bill to become a law it only needs to be read aloud three times
in the House of Commons."
Felicia " For a bill to become a law it must be accepted and enacted by the
:
Supreme Court of Canada."
Mark: " For a bill to become a law it needs to be voted for by the majority of
the members of the Senate."
Erin:

" For a bill to become a law it needs to be passed by both the House of
Commons and the Senate."

Which of Patricia's friends has given the most accurate description of how a bill becomes a
law in the federal government of Canada?
A) Belle.
B) Felicia.
C) Mark.
D) Erin.
8. Which branch of Canada's federal political system is in charge of proposing
and enacting law and running the day to day business of the government?
A) Legislative.
B) Executive.
C) Provincial.
D) Judicial.
9. Use the information below to answer the question.

When reading or viewing something presented by the media, it is important

to:
a. Look at supporting facts.
b. Determine who the writer or presenter is.
c. Look at the accuracy of the information.
d. Look for obvious appeals to your emotion like creating a sense of
pride or fear.

In taking the steps described above when reading or viewing information presented
through the media, you can do which of the following?
A) Detect bias.
B) Create a slogan.
C) Ensure you only take in information which supports your personal
views.
D) Apply leverage.

10. Read the cartoon and answer the question.

Source: www.mackaycartoons.net
The issue most clearly raised by this political cartoon is that Stephen Harper is

A) not responding to economic problems in Canada

B) ignoring the impact that troubled economies elsewhere will have on
Canada
C) lying to Canadians about the state of the economy
D) avoiding discussion about the economic turmoil because it is not affecting
the country
11. Use the information in the box below to answer the question.

Patricia and her friends are studying for their Social Studies test about the
federal political system in Canada. Patricia is reviewing how bills are made
into law at the federal level; she reads in her textbook that a bill receives
three readings in each the House of Commons and the Senate. Patricia asks
her friends what is involved in the 'reading' of a bill.
Belle: "A reading is exactly what it sounds like; a bill is read out loud three
times in each the House of Commons and the Senate. This is based on
an old British tradition where many members of Parliament could not
read or write well and a 'reading' served to notify Members of
Parliament and Senators of new laws and allow them to get familiar
with the wording of the bill."
Felicia " A 'reading' of a bill is actually the process of making the bill public
:
and gathering support from Canadian citizens for the proposed law. If a
bill is 'read' in public three times without getting any objections from
the public, it becomes a law."
Mark: "With the exception of the first reading, where a bill is just read and
introduced, a reading in either the House of Commons or the Senate
involves a debate and then a vote on the principles of the bill."
Erin:

" A 'reading' of a bill is only a formality and is where the GovernorGeneral reads the bill out loud and gives 'Royal Assent' on behalf of
the Queen to the content of the bill, making it a law."

Which one of her friends gave Patricia the most correct answer?
A) Belle
B) Felicia
C) Mark
D) Erin