What is the primary goal of electoral reform in Canada?
a) To increase government control over elections
b) To maintain the existing electoral system
c) To enhance the representativeness and fairness of elections
d) To eliminate political parties
Answer: c
Which of the following is a common criticism of the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system?
a) It favors smaller parties
b) It promotes proportional representation
c) It can lead to majority governments with a minority of votes
d) It eliminates the need for coalition governments
Answer: c
What is the main advantage of a proportional representation (PR) electoral system?
a) It promotes majority governments
b) It discourages voter turnout
c) It allows for direct representation of constituents
d) It reflects the popular vote more accurately
Answer: d
Which type of electoral system is designed to provide a more proportional representation by combining single-member districts with additional seats?
a) Ranked-choice voting
b) Mixed-member proportional representation
c) Alternative vote
d) First-past-the-post
Answer: b
In a single-transferable vote (STV) system, voters:
a) Choose multiple candidates in order of preference
b) Cast a single vote for their preferred candidate
c) Vote for a party, not an individual candidate
d) Rank parties in order of preference
Answer: a
Which electoral reform method involves allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference?
a) Mixed-member proportional representation
b) Ranked-choice voting
c) Alternative vote
d) Party-list proportional representation
Answer: b
What is the primary concern with the “wasted vote” phenomenon in the first-past-the-post system?
a) It leads to inaccurate election results
b) It discourages voter turnout
c) It forces voters to choose only one candidate
d) It divides political power evenly
Answer: a
Which country is often cited as an example of a nation that successfully implemented proportional representation?
a) Canada
b) United States
c) New Zealand
d) United Kingdom
Answer: c
What is the primary criticism of ranked-choice voting?
a) It is too complex for voters to understand
b) It requires multiple rounds of voting
c) It does not ensure proportional representation
d) It leads to voter suppression
Answer: a
Which of the following electoral systems is known for its use of party-lists to allocate seats in parliament?
a) Alternative vote
b) First-past-the-post
c) Mixed-member proportional representation
d) Single-transferable vote
Answer: c
What is the purpose of gerrymandering in the context of elections?
a) To encourage voter participation
b) To ensure proportional representation
c) To manipulate district boundaries for political advantage
d) To eliminate the need for electoral reform
Answer: c
Which of the following electoral systems is most commonly used in Canada’s federal elections?
a) Mixed-member proportional representation
b) Single-transferable vote
c) First-past-the-post
d) Ranked-choice voting
Answer: c
What was the primary goal of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform established in 2016 by the Canadian government?
a) To maintain the status quo of the electoral system
b) To recommend changes to the electoral system
c) To eliminate all political parties
d) To reduce the number of federal elections
Answer: b
What impact does proportional representation have on the representation of smaller parties in parliament?
a) It enhances their representation
b) It eliminates their representation
c) It has no impact on their representation
d) It requires a two-thirds majority to include them
Answer: a
Which electoral reform method emphasizes local representation while also including top-up seats for proportionality?
a) Alternative vote
b) Single-transferable vote
c) Mixed-member proportional representation
d) Party-list proportional representation
Answer: c
Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of proportional representation systems?
a) They can lead to single-party governments
b) They can create unstable coalition governments
c) They are biased towards urban populations
d) They discourage voter turnout
Answer: b
How do closed-list proportional representation systems allocate seats?
a) Based on the total votes received by each party
b) Based on the preferences of individual candidates
c) Based on district-specific results
d) Based on direct appointments by the head of state
Answer: a
In Canada, which province has implemented a proportional representation electoral system for its provincial elections?
a) Ontario
b) British Columbia
c) Alberta
d) Quebec
Answer: b
What is the primary purpose of an electoral reform referendum?
a) To select the next head of state
b) To approve changes to the electoral system
c) To determine the length of election terms
d) To establish new political parties
Answer: b
Which electoral reform method is designed to ensure a candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in a single round of voting?
a) Ranked-choice voting
b) Mixed-member proportional representation
c) First-past-the-post
d) Alternative vote
Answer: d
Which of the following statements accurately describes strategic voting?
a) It only occurs in proportional representation systems
b) It involves voting for a preferred candidate without considering the overall outcome
c) It occurs when voters choose a less-preferred candidate to prevent a worse outcome
d) It is not a concern in any electoral system
Answer: c
How does electoral reform relate to the principle of “one person, one vote”?
a) It enforces compulsory voting
b) It seeks to ensure that all votes carry equal weight
c) It requires voters to rank candidates in order of preference
d) It encourages voters to cast multiple votes
Answer: b
Which of the following is a potential challenge in implementing electoral reform?
a) It requires unanimous approval from all political parties
b) It can lead to increased voter suppression
c) It requires a simple majority in a referendum
d) It may face resistance from vested interests
Answer: d
Which of the following is a principle of effective electoral reform?
a) Maintaining the status quo to avoid disruption
b) Prioritizing the interests of urban voters
c) Enhancing the representation of minority groups
d) Eliminating all forms of political representation
Answer: c
What is the main goal of a mixed electoral system?
a) To ensure a majority government in every election
b) To include both closed-list and open-list proportional representation
c) To incorporate elements of different electoral systems
d) To eliminate the need for political parties
Answer: c
What role does the federal government play in implementing electoral reform in Canada?
a) It has full authority to unilaterally change the electoral system
b) It requires the approval of all provincial governments
c) It can only recommend changes, but provinces make the final decision
d) It can bypass provincial approval through a referendum
Answer: c
How does electoral reform impact the accountability of elected representatives?
a) It reduces accountability by diluting the power of elected officials
b) It has no impact on the accountability of elected officials
c) It enhances accountability by ensuring proportional representation
d) It depends on the specific electoral system implemented
Answer: d
Which type of electoral system is known for promoting strong party discipline and centralized decision-making?
a) Proportional representation
b) First-past-the-post
c) Alternative vote
d) Mixed-member proportional representation
Answer: b
What is a potential advantage of retaining the first-past-the-post system?
a) It ensures that every vote counts
b) It guarantees proportional representation
c) It eliminates the need for political parties
d) It simplifies the voting process
Answer: d
Which of the following statements is true about the Citizens’ Assemblies on Electoral Reform?
a) They are appointed by the federal government
b) They consist of elected members of parliament
c) They are independent bodies of randomly selected citizens
d) They are responsible for enforcing electoral laws
Answer: c
Which of the following statements is true about preferential voting systems?
a) Voters can only select one candidate
b) Voters rank candidates in order of preference
c) Voters can cast multiple votes
d) Voters can vote for an entire political party
Answer: b
What is the primary reason for introducing electoral reform?
a) To reduce voter turnout
b) To strengthen the power of political parties
c) To ensure fair representation for all citizens
d) To maintain the existing political status quo
Answer: c
In the context of electoral reform, what is “strategic nomination”?
a) A tactic used by political parties to suppress voter turnout
b) A method of allocating seats in proportional representation systems
c) The practice of nominating candidates with similar policies
d) The strategic selection of candidates to maximize party success
Answer: d
What role does public opinion play in the process of electoral reform?
a) It determines the choice of electoral system without consultation
b) It informs the government’s decisions, but not through consultation
c) It has no impact on the electoral reform process
d) It shapes the debate and can influence decision-making
Answer: d
Which of the following is an advantage of the first-past-the-post system?
a) It guarantees a proportional distribution of seats
b) It reduces the influence of political parties
c) It is easy for voters to understand
d) It eliminates the need for by-elections
Answer: c
What is the role of a referendum in the context of electoral reform?
a) To choose the head of state
b) To decide whether elections should take place
c) To determine changes to the electoral system
d) To appoint members of the electoral commission
Answer: c
Which of the following is a possible outcome of electoral reform?
a) Reduced voter turnout
b) Increased political polarization
c) Fewer electoral districts
d) Greater representation of diverse groups
Answer: d
How does a mixed-member proportional representation system work?
a) It allocates seats based solely on proportional representation
b) It combines first-past-the-post with closed-list proportional representation
c) It eliminates all forms of party representation
d) It allows voters to rank individual candidates in order of preference
Answer: b
Which of the following is a potential disadvantage of a ranked-choice voting system?
a) It requires multiple rounds of voting
b) It eliminates the need for a majority vote
c) It promotes political stability
d) It discourages voter participation
Answer: a
How does the concept of “wasted votes” relate to electoral reform discussions?
a) It highlights the importance of eliminating voter suppression
b) It refers to votes cast for losing candidates that have no impact on election outcomes
c) It encourages voters to abstain from voting
d) It is not relevant to electoral reform discussions
Answer: b
Which of the following is a potential drawback of a mixed electoral system?
a) It can lead to over-representation of urban areas
b) It lacks proportionality in seat allocation
c) It does not allow for direct representation of constituents
d) It reduces the power of political parties
Answer: a
What is the significance of the Gallagher Index in discussions about electoral reform?
a) It measures the economic impact of electoral systems
b) It quantifies the effectiveness of political parties
c) It assesses the proportionality of electoral outcomes
d) It determines the popularity of political leaders
Answer: c
What is the primary argument for maintaining the first-past-the-post system in Canada?
a) It ensures proportional representation
b) It simplifies the voting process
c) It guarantees coalition governments
d) It reflects local representation
Answer: d
How does the “spoiler effect” influence voting behavior in first-past-the-post systems?
a) It encourages voters to cast a strategic vote for a preferred candidate
b) It discourages voter turnout
c) It eliminates the need for political parties
d) It leads to the creation of new political parties
Answer: a
Which of the following statements is true about electoral reform in Canada?
a) The first-past-the-post system has never been challenged
b) There is consensus among all political parties on the need for reform
c) Some provinces have implemented changes at the provincial level
d) Electoral reform has been widely rejected by the Canadian public
Answer: c
What role do citizens’ assemblies play in the electoral reform process?
a) They are responsible for enforcing election laws
b) They determine the length of election terms
c) They make final decisions on electoral system changes
d) They provide recommendations based on public input
Answer: d
Which electoral reform method aims to address the “winner-takes-all” aspect of first-past-the-post?
a) Mixed-member proportional representation
b) Alternative vote
c) Closed-list proportional representation
d) Party-list proportional representation
Answer: b
In the context of electoral reform, what is the “penalty for success”?
a) A measure to reduce voter suppression
b) A consequence of implementing a new electoral system
c) A strategy to discourage political parties from winning elections
d) A calculation used to determine seat allocation
Answer: b
How do electoral thresholds impact the functioning of proportional representation systems?
a) They discourage voter turnout
b) They prevent political parties from participating in elections
c) They ensure that only large parties gain representation
d) They promote a more diverse representation of parties
Answer: c
What is the primary concern of critics who oppose electoral reform?
a) It may lead to less stable governments
b) It could reduce voter turnout
c) It favors larger political parties
d) It eliminates the need for coalition governments
Answer: a
