What is the lower house of Canada’s federal legislature called?
a) House of Lords
b) House of Representatives
c) House of Commons
d) Senate
Answer: c
How many Members of Parliament (MPs) are there in the Canadian House of Commons?
a) 100
b) 200
c) 338
d) 500
Answer: c
What is the primary role of the House of Commons in the legislative process?
a) To review and amend bills
b) To propose and pass bills
c) To represent provincial interests
d) To appoint the Prime Minister
Answer: b
How are Members of Parliament (MPs) elected to the House of Commons?
a) By appointment
b) By the Governor General
c) By direct election
d) By the Prime Minister
Answer: c
What is the term of office for a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons?
a) 2 years
b) 4 years
c) 6 years
d) Until the age of 75
Answer: b
What is the minimum voting age for Canadian federal elections?
a) 16
b) 18
c) 21
d) 25
Answer: b
Who has the authority to call federal elections in Canada?
a) The Prime Minister
b) The Governor General
c) The Chief Justice of Canada
d) The Senate
Answer: b
What is the role of the Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons?
a) To represent the ruling party’s interests
b) To lead the largest opposition party
c) To chair parliamentary committees
d) To appoint Cabinet ministers
Answer: b
What is the main function of the House of Commons in holding the government accountable?
a) Reviewing international treaties
b) Passing budget bills
c) Conducting debates and questioning government officials
d) Appointing Supreme Court justices
Answer: c
How often are federal elections typically held in Canada?
a) Every year
b) Every two years
c) Every four years
d) Every six years
Answer: c
What is the term for the practice of assigning MPs specific topics or areas of expertise to represent?
a) Party leadership
b) Constituency representation
c) Party discipline
d) Portfolio assignment
Answer: d
Who is the presiding officer of the House of Commons?
a) The Prime Minister
b) The Speaker of the House of Commons
c) The Leader of the Official Opposition
d) The Chief Justice of Canada
Answer: b
What is the role of the Speaker of the House of Commons?
a) To represent the government in the House
b) To propose and pass legislation
c) To chair debates and maintain order
d) To lead the opposition party
Answer: c
How does the Speaker of the House of Commons maintain order during debates?
a) By participating in debates
b) By casting tie-breaking votes
c) By expelling disruptive MPs
d) By vetoing bills
Answer: c
Which principle requires that the government maintains the support of the majority of MPs in the House of Commons to stay in power?
a) Bicameralism
b) Division of powers
c) Responsible government
d) Parliamentary sovereignty
Answer: c
What is the term for a bill that has been approved by the House of Commons and has received royal assent?
a) Proposed bill
b) Green bill
c) Enacted bill
d) Draft bill
Answer: c
How does the House of Commons contribute to the examination of government spending and finances?
a) By drafting and introducing budget bills
b) By reviewing and approving the federal budget
c) By representing provincial budget interests
d) By determining tax rates
Answer: b
What is the term for the practice of extending debates to delay the passage of legislation?
a) Veto
b) Filibuster
c) Override
d) Adjournment
Answer: b
What is the purpose of a “confidence vote” in the House of Commons?
a) To express support for a new law
b) To determine public opinion
c) To decide on the Prime Minister’s resignation
d) To test the government’s majority support
Answer: d
What is the significance of the “Westminster tradition” in the Canadian House of Commons?
a) It emphasizes bicameralism
b) It emphasizes responsible government and parliamentary supremacy
c) It emphasizes regional representation
d) It emphasizes presidential leadership
Answer: b
Which committee in the House of Commons examines proposed legislation in detail and can make amendments?
a) Public Safety Committee
b) Ethics Committee
c) Procedure and House Affairs Committee
d) Committee of the Whole
Answer: d
What is the term for the period during which the House of Commons does not meet, usually due to an election or a break?
a) Recess
b) Break
c) Adjournment
d) Hiatus
Answer: a
Which of the following is a duty of the House of Commons’ Ethics Commissioner?
a) Passing legislation
b) Representing the Prime Minister
c) Investigating violations of ethical rules by MPs
d) Appointing Supreme Court justices
Answer: c
How does the House of Commons participate in the process of selecting the Prime Minister?
a) By directly electing the Prime Minister
b) By nominating candidates for Prime Minister
c) By approving the Governor General’s choice for Prime Minister
d) By voting on the confidence of the government
Answer: d
What is the term for a Member of Parliament (MP) who does not belong to a recognized political party?
a) Party-independent MP
b) Government MP
c) Opposition MP
d) Independent MP
Answer: d
Which of the following is a role of the House of Commons’ Public Safety Committee?
a) Drafting legislation
b) Reviewing the federal budget
c) Reviewing national security and public safety matters
d) Appointing Cabinet ministers
Answer: c
What is the term for a Member of Parliament (MP) who serves as a spokesperson for a specific government department?
a) Whip
b) Minister
c) Caucus leader
d) Deputy Speaker
Answer: b
What is the purpose of a “whip” in the House of Commons?
a) To lead the opposition party
b) To maintain party discipline and ensure attendance
c) To chair House of Commons sessions
d) To draft legislation
Answer: b
How does the House of Commons contribute to the scrutiny of government appointments, such as judges and senior officials?
a) By nominating candidates for appointment
b) By conducting interviews with candidates
c) By holding public referendums on appointments
d) By reviewing and approving appointments
Answer: d
What is the term for a question asked by an MP in the House of Commons to a government minister?
a) Inquisition
b) Inquiry
c) Interrogation
d) Question Period
Answer: d
In which chamber of Parliament does Question Period take place?
a) House of Commons
b) Senate
c) House of Lords
d) House of Representatives
Answer: a
Which of the following statements accurately describes the concept of “Cabinet solidarity?
a) It refers to the unity of government and opposition MPs
b) It emphasizes the independence of Cabinet ministers
c) It requires Cabinet members to publicly support government decisions
d) It refers to the ability of MPs to question the Prime Minister
Answer: c
What is the term for a parliamentary motion that can end debate and force a vote on a bill?
a) Adjournment motion
b) Closure motion
c) Veto motion
d) Filibuster motion
Answer: b
What is the purpose of the “Speech from the Throne” in the House of Commons?
a) To present the federal budget
b) To introduce proposed legislation
c) To outline the government’s agenda and priorities
d) To conduct a vote of confidence
Answer: c
What is the term for a practice where the Prime Minister or Cabinet members respond to questions raised by MPs?
a) Ministerial discourse
b) Executive engagement
c) Prime Minister’s address
d) Government accountability
Answer: d
How does the House of Commons contribute to the process of amending the Canadian Constitution?
a) By unilaterally amending the Constitution
b) By approving constitutional amendments proposed by the Senate
c) By proposing and passing constitutional amendments
d) By holding a national referendum on each amendment
Answer: c
What is the term for a formal parliamentary session during which government officials answer questions from MPs?
a) Committee session
b) Caucus meeting
c) Question Period
d) Public forum
Answer: c
How does the House of Commons participate in the process of reviewing and amending bills?
a) By drafting and introducing bills
b) By proposing constitutional amendments
c) By approving bills passed by the Senate
d) By holding committee hearings and debates
Answer: d
What is the term for the document that outlines the government’s planned expenditures and revenues for the upcoming year?
a) Government agenda
b) Fiscal plan
c) Budget proposal
d) Estimates
Answer: d
What is the role of the Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons?
a) To chair debates and maintain order
b) To represent the opposition party
c) To lead the government’s legislative agenda
d) To make decisions on the constitutionality of bills
Answer: a
What is the term for a parliamentary practice that allows MPs to express their constituents’ opinions on proposed legislation?
a) Petition
b) Referendum
c) Plebiscite
d) Constituency vote
Answer: a
Which principle reflects the idea that the House of Commons is the supreme decision-making body in Canada’s parliamentary democracy?
a) Responsible government
b) Bicameralism
c) Division of powers
d) Parliamentary sovereignty
Answer: d
How is the Speaker of the House of Commons chosen?
a) By the Prime Minister
b) By the Governor General
c) By a popular vote
d) By a vote of MPs
Answer: d
Which of the following is a duty of the House of Commons’ Finance Committee?
a) Reviewing international treaties
b) Reviewing and approving the federal budget
c) Reviewing public safety matters
d) Appointing Cabinet ministers
Answer: b
How does the House of Commons contribute to the examination of government policies and programs?
a) By proposing constitutional amendments
b) By approving government policies without debate
c) By holding debates and committee hearings
d) By appointing government officials
Answer: c
Which of the following is a role of the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee?
a) Reviewing budget proposals
b) Reviewing national security matters
c) Reviewing international treaties and agreements
d) Reviewing ethical violations by MPs
Answer: c
What is the term for a parliamentary motion that calls for the immediate end of a debate?
a) Adjournment motion
b) Closure motion
c) Dissolution motion
d) Veto motion
Answer: b
How does the House of Commons contribute to the process of scrutinizing the actions of the government?
a) By selecting Cabinet ministers
b) By drafting the federal budget
c) By reviewing and questioning government officials
d) By proposing constitutional amendments
Answer: c
What is the term for a parliamentary motion that expresses disagreement with a decision made by the House of Commons?
a) Dissent motion
b) Veto motion
c) Opposition motion
d) Rejection motion
Answer: a
How does the House of Commons contribute to the process of amending the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
a) By unilaterally amending the Charter
b) By reviewing and approving amendments proposed by the Senate
c) By proposing and passing amendments with a two-thirds majority
d) By consulting with the provincial governments only
Answer: c
