Chapter 9 Legislative Branch

Chapter 9 The Legislative Branch

1. The legislative branch is that arm of government which A. enforces the law. B. creates the law. C. interprets the law. D. carries out the law.

2. In Canada, the legislature is A. the Supreme Court. B. the police. C. Parliament. D. the Cabinet.

3. All of the following are sections of the Canadian legislative branch EXCEPT A. the Governor General. B. the Senate. C. the House of Commons. D. the House of Lords.

4. Which of the following best describes the position of Governor General in Canada's constitution? A. The head of state in Canada. B. The most powerful person in the government. C. The representative of the Queen in Canada. D. The country's mascot.

5. How does a person get to be the prime minister of Canada? A. The majority of Canadians vote for him/ her. B. He/she is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons. C. He/she is selected by the Governor General. D. The members of the House of Commons vote for him/her.

6. What title is given to the party that has the second largest number of seats in the House of Commons? A. The government. B. The Speaker's choice. C. The people's choice. D. The opposition.

7. Who sits in the Cabinet? A. The ministers of various government departments. B. The prime minister's friends. C. Leaders of the various parties represented in the House of Commons. D. High-ranking civil servants.

8. Who sits in the Senate? A. Old people. B. People who are elected for various regions of Canada. C. Appointees selected by prime ministers to serve until age 75. D. Previous members of parliament.

9. What is the purpose of the Senate? A. To be the chamber of sober second thoughts. B. To slow down the government. C. To stop a socialist take over of property. D. A place where the prime minister can reward his friends.

10. All of these are steps which a bill has to go through to become law EXCEPT A. Approval of the House of Commons. B. Approval of the Senate. C. Approval of the Congress. D. Royal Assent.

11. At what stage is a bill debated most thoroughly? A. First reading. B. Second reading. C. Third reading. D. Royal Assent.

12. Who reads the Speech from the Throne? A. The Governor General. B. The Speaker. C. The Prime Minister. D. The Cabinet.

13. Who is the most important person in the legislative branch? A. Governor General B. Monarch C. Prime Minister D. Speaker

14. How is the seating arranged in the houses of parliament? A. In a semi-circle facing the chairperson. B. In straight rows facing the Speaker. C. In a complete circle. D. In two groups of seats facing each other.

15. Who sits on the right hand side of the Speaker in the front row of the House of Commons? A. Cabinet members. B. The opposition shadow cabinet. C. The clerks who record the proceedings. D. Members of parliament from Western Canada.

16. A caucus is a meeting of A. all members of the House of Commons. B. all members of the Senate. C. members of parliament and members of the public. D. members of parliament who belong to one party.

17. How is party solidarity shown in the House of Commons? A. Members vote according to their consciences. B. Members vote as their party has decided in caucus. C. Members who cannot agree with their party abstain. D. Members who cannot agree with their party are absent.

18. A minority government is one where the government party. A. has the most members, but less than 50% of the MPs. B. has the most seats of all parties. C. has to get unanimous consent of the House to pass laws. D. must resign and call a general election.

19. During the passage of a bill either house can do all of the following except A. pass it. B. amend it. C. defeat it. D. give it royal assent.

20. At what stage will a bill be considered by a standing committee of the House of Commons? A. After first reading. B. After second reading. C. After third reading. D. After the bill has been considered by the Senate.

21. What is the major role of the Speaker of the House of Commons? A. To speak to the press about matters passed by the House. B. To speak to the monarch or governor general about laws. C. To make sure the taxpayers' moneys are spent properly. D. To be chairperson in the House.

22. What challenge do government ministers face during question period in the House of Commons? A. They can be questioned by any member without notice. B. The public can bring questions to them. C. Television coverage occurs at this time. D. Members from their own party can criticize them.

23. A backbencher in the House of Commons is someone who A. likes to sit in the back, out of the spotlight. B. does not sit as a cabinet member or shadow-cabinet member. C. runs errands for Members of Parliament. D. is not a member of the government party.

24. Why does the Senate very seldom veto laws passed by the House of Commons? A. Public opinion would be hostile to such action. B. The Senate always agrees with the government. C. Senators do not care that much what the new laws say. D. The Senators are mainly senile and can’t remember how they vote.

25. The majority of Senators belong to the Liberal Party because A. Most of the recent Prime Ministers have been Liberals. B. The Liberal Party forms the government currently. C. They were elected by the people of Canada as Liberals. D. They want to keep their job.

26. The only two parties to have formed a government in Canada are A. NDP and Liberal. B. Reform and Bloc Quebecois. C. NDP and Progressive Conservative. D. Liberal and Progressive Conservative.

27. When was the provision allowing the Prime Minister to appoint extra Senators used? A. To pass the GST bill. B. To pass the NAFTA bill. C. To pass the Constitution Act of 1982. D. To pass the new flag bill.

28. Why is Senate reform not a high priority to most elected governments? A. Few people understand what the Senate does. B. The Senate is not a vital part of our government. C. Senators generally do what the government tells them to. D. Active politicians do not sit in the Senate.

29. Which of these words means "a law in the making"? A. Act. B. Bill. C. Law. D. Statute.

30. An federal election is called A. Whenever the Governor General wants. B. After five years in office. C. Whenever the Prime Minister decides. D. After four years in office.