How do Canada's three northern territories differ from the provinces?

They do not have the status of provinces

They are governed by the United Kingdom

Their residents cannot vote federally

They have no elected assemblies

Who is Canada's Head of State?

A hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King)

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada

What must normally happen before a federal bill becomes law?

It passes both chambers and receives royal assent

It is approved by a national referendum

It is approved by the Supreme Court

Citizenship Test overview

Citizenship Test: How Canadians govern themselves

Canada as a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy: federal and provincial powers, the three parts of Parliament, how a bill becomes law, the Sovereign, the Governor General, Lieutenant Governors, Premiers and Commissioners.

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How Canadians govern themselves · Question 1Score 0/0

Which two areas do the federal government and the provinces share, according to the federal state section?

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Study reference: Discover Canada (IRCC online edition, 2026), Ch. 5 How Canadians Govern Themselves — Federal state, Parliamentary democracy, Constitutional monarchy

All 27 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

Which two areas do the federal government and the provinces share, according to the federal state section?
1. Criminal law and highways
2. Defence and education
3. Agriculture and immigration
4. Currency and health
How do Canada's three northern territories differ from the provinces?
1. They are governed by the United Kingdom
2. Their residents cannot vote federally
3. They do not have the status of provinces
4. They have no elected assemblies
Who is Canada's Head of State?
1. A hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King)
2. The Speaker of the House
3. The Prime Minister
4. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Which of these is a federal government responsibility?
1. Education
2. Highways
3. Municipal government
4. National defence
What must normally happen before a federal bill becomes law?
1. It is approved by a national referendum
2. It passes both chambers and receives royal assent
3. It is approved by the Supreme Court
4. It is signed by every premier
What happens at second reading of a bill?
1. The bill is printed for the first time
2. Members vote on final approval
3. The bill receives royal assent
4. Members debate the bill's principle
In the three territories, who represents the federal government and plays a ceremonial role?
1. The Senator
2. The Commissioner
3. The Premier
4. The Lieutenant Governor
Until what age do senators serve?
1. 75
2. 65
3. 70
4. For life
For how long is a Governor General usually appointed?
1. Ten years
2. For life
3. Four years
4. Five years
How do senators get their seats?
1. Elected by voters in each province
2. Chosen by the provincial premiers after each election
3. Appointed by the Governor General on the PM's advice
4. Inherited from their parents
What must the federal government do after losing the confidence of the House?
1. Resign or seek dissolution for an election
2. Let the Senate take over
3. Continue unchanged until the next scheduled election
4. Ask the Sovereign to dissolve the provinces
What are the three parts of Parliament?
1. The House of Commons, the premiers and the mayors
2. The Senate, the Supreme Court and the Governor General
3. The Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons
4. The Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the courts
Which level of government is responsible for criminal law?
1. Territorial
2. Provincial
3. Municipal
4. Federal
Who selects the Cabinet ministers in the federal government?
1. The voters in each riding
2. The Prime Minister
3. The Senate
4. The Governor General alone
Which office normally grants royal assent to federal bills for the Sovereign?
1. The Prime Minister
2. The Speaker of the Senate
3. The Governor General
4. The Chief Justice acting as a judge
What are the three branches of government?
1. Executive, Legislative and Judicial
2. Federal, Provincial and Municipal
3. Police, Courts and Prisons
4. Senate, Commons and Crown
Who represents the Sovereign in Canada?
1. The Prime Minister
2. The Commissioner
3. The Speaker of the Senate
4. The Governor General
According to the guide, what is one benefit of federalism?
1. Provinces can tailor policies to their populations
2. All provinces must have identical laws
3. Provinces need no legislatures
4. Ottawa can overrule any provincial vote
The British North America Act is now known by what name?
1. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
2. The Canada Act, 1931
3. The Constitutional Act, 1791
4. The Constitution Act, 1867
Which of these is a provincial responsibility?
1. Foreign policy
2. Currency
3. Citizenship
4. Education
Who is the head of government in Canada?
1. The Governor General
2. The Sovereign
3. The Leader of the Opposition
4. The Prime Minister
What are the three key facts about Canada's system of government?
1. Parliamentary republic, federal state, theocracy
2. Unitary state, republic, direct democracy
3. Federal state, parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy
4. Federal republic, monarchy, confederation
At which stage of the legislative process do members study a bill clause by clause?
1. Royal assent
2. First reading
3. Report stage
4. Committee stage
In a province, who has a role similar to the Prime Minister's?
1. The Lieutenant Governor
2. The Commissioner
3. The mayor of the capital
4. The Premier
In Quebec, members of the provincial legislature are called what?
1. Members of Parliament (MPs)
2. Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPPs)
3. Members of the National Assembly (MNAs)
4. Members of the House of Assembly (MHAs)
Who represents the Sovereign in each of the ten provinces?
1. The Commissioner
2. The Lieutenant Governor
3. The Chief Justice of the province
4. The Premier
Which level of government is responsible for property and civil rights?
1. Federal
2. Provincial
3. Municipal
4. Shared with Ottawa

How Canadians govern themselves: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

introduction

Three key facts: Canada is a federal state, a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy.

Federal state

Levels: federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments.
Federal/provincial responsibilities defined in 1867 in the British North America Act, now the Constitution Act, 1867.
Federal: national and international matters — defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law, citizenship.
Provincial: municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, highways.
Shared: agriculture and immigration (the Federal Elections table also lists environment as shared).
Federalism lets provinces tailor policies and experiment.
Every province has an elected Legislative Assembly. The three northern territories have small populations, are not provinces, but their governments do many of the same functions.

Parliamentary democracy

People elect members to the House of Commons in Ottawa and to provincial and territorial legislatures; representatives pass laws, approve and monitor spending, keep government accountable.
The government must retain the House’s confidence. A defeat requires resignation or a request for dissolution and an election, subject to the Governor General’s constitutional role.
Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons. Provincial legislatures = Lieutenant Governor + elected Assembly.
The Prime Minister selects Cabinet ministers and is responsible for operations and policy of government.
House of Commons = representative chamber of MPs elected by the people, traditionally every four years.
Senators: appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister; serve until age 75.
A federal bill must pass both the House of Commons and the Senate and receive royal assent. Provincial legislatures have their own process and do not include the federal Senate.
Steps: 1 First reading (read first time, printed); 2 Second reading (debate the principle); 3 Committee stage (clause by clause); 4 Report stage (other amendments); 5 Third reading (debate and vote); 6 Senate (similar process); 7 Royal assent.
Canadians 18 or older should vote in federal, provincial/territorial and municipal elections.

Constitutional monarchy

Head of State: a hereditary Sovereign (Queen or King) who reigns according to the Constitution (rule of law).
The Sovereign is part of Parliament; non-partisan; focus of citizenship and allegiance; symbol of sovereignty, guardian of constitutional freedoms.
As Head of the Commonwealth, the Sovereign links Canada to other nations.
Head of state = the Sovereign; head of government = the Prime Minister, who directs governing.
Governor General: represents the Sovereign in Canada; appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister, usually for five years.
Lieutenant Governor: represents the Sovereign in each of the ten provinces; appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, normally for five years.
Three branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial.
Provincial/territorial legislators: MLAs, MNAs (Quebec National Assembly), MPPs, or MHAs, depending on the province or territory.
Premier: role in a province similar to the Prime Minister federally.
Commissioner: represents the federal government in each of the three territories; ceremonial role.

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