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47 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Where does Canada’s political system draw its base? |
The United Kingdom. It is a constitutional monarchy.
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How is Canada’s constitutional monarchy composed? |
The Queen of Canada, who is officially represented by the Governor General (or by a lieutenant-governor at the provincial level), the Senate and the House of Commons.
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How many seats are in the Canadian Senate?
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105. They are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
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How many seats are in the House of Commons?
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308. Members are elected by the citizens of Canada.
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Where does the Government originate?
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In the elected House of Commons.
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According to the principle of constitutional monarchy, the Queen…
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Rules but does not govern.
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True or False: The Canadian Constitution is a mixture of unwritten conventions, written Acts and judicial decisions that together form the political system.
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True
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What does the Canadian Constitution define?
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The jurisdiction and powers of the federal, provincial and territorial governments.
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True or False: The federal government is responsible for the administration of all elections.
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False: Federal, provincial and territorial governments are each responsible for the administration of its own elections.
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What is the maximum time between federal general elections?
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5 years.
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What is the exception to the maximum?
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Time of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection.
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How was this maximum set?
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In the Constitution Acts of 1867 and 1982.
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True or False: The Canada Elections Act specifies that a general election must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous general election.
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True
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Can an election be called early?
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Yes. If the Governor General accepts the Prime Minister’s advice to dissolve Parliament.
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True or False: An election can be called early is the Governor General accepts the resignation of the Prime Minister after the Government has been defeated on a motion of confidence in the House of Commons and the Governor General does not ask the leader of another party to become Prime Minister and form a government.
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True.
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After an election, who will normally form the Government?
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The party with the largest number of elected representatives.
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How is the Prime Minister chosen?
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The leader of the party with the largest number of elected representatives.
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What must the elected party be able to do at all times to remain in power?
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Maintain the confidence of the House of Commons.
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How is the official Opposition decided?
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The party with the second-largest number of elected representatives.
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How many seats does the winning party need to have a majority?
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50% plus one.
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What do Cabinet ministers do?
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Head various government departments.
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How are Cabinet ministers chosen?
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By the Prime Minister. They are usually members of the House of Commons of his/her party, but can also be senators or others.
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How is representation in the House of Commons based?
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On geographical divisions called electoral districts, also known as ridings.
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How many electoral districts are there at the federal level?
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308.
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What are the rules, that establish electoral districts, set out in the Constitution Act, 1867 called?
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The “representation formula.”
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True or False: Electoral district boundaries cannot be changed.
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False: Since 1964, independent commissions have been entrusted with adjusting electoral district boundaries based on population changes identified in every 10-year census.
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According to the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, what must the commissions consider when wanting to change electoral district boundaries?
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Communities of interest or of identity, historical patterns and the geographic size of electoral districts.
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What is the process of readjusting the boundaries called?
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Redistribution.
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How are the three-member electoral boundaries commissions composed?
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Chaired by a judge, chosen by the chief justice of the province. The two other members are appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons.
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Why are commissions not required for the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut?
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Each territory is a single electoral district.
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True or False: Each commission publishes its proposal, holds hearings where members of the public and parliamentarians can provide their input, then issues a report to the House of Commons.
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True.
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True or False: All final decisions about the new electoral boundaries are made by the Prime Minister.
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False: The final decisions are made by the commissions.
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Where are the decisions published?
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In the Canada Gazette as a representation order.
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How long does the redistribution process take?
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About two years.
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When can the new boundaries and names be used?
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At the first general election called at least seven months after the representation order is proclaimed.
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True or False: In 2011, Parliament adopted the Fair Representation Act. On top of shortening the time frame for the redistribution process, its primary effect was to change the representation formula. Provinces that had become under-represented relative to their share of the population would gain seats in the 2013 redistribution.
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True
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How many seats will there be in the 2015 general election?
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338.
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Where were the seats gained/added?
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Ontario gained 15, British Columbia gained 6, Alberta gained 6, Quebec gained 3.
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What is Canada’s electoral system referred to as?
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A “single member plurality” system, commonly called a “first-past-the-post” system.
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How is a person elected to the House of Commons to represent an electoral district as its member of Parliament?
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The candidate with the highest number of votes.
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True or False: A candidate can run in more than one riding to increase their chance of being elected.
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False. A candidate may only run in one riding, either independently or under the banner of a registered political party.
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What is the average number of candidates per riding?
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5. The actual numbers ranged from 3 to 9 per riding.
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How many registered political parties are there?
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In the 41st general election there were 18. A up-to-date list can be found on the Elections Canada website.
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What does the Canada Elections Act define as a political party?
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An organization that has as one of its fundamental purposes participating in public affairs by endorsing one or more of its members as candidates and supporting their election to the House of Commons.
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True or False: Political parties that meet this definition can register with the Chief Electoral Officer to gain official status and become eligible to obtain certain monetary and other benefits under the Act.
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True.
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Since 1972, what is the largest number of registered political parties?
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19 in 2008.
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Since 1972, what is the smallest number of registered political parties?
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4 in 1972. |
