Government Unit Test Study Guide

Testable materials will include all handouts, notes taken in

class, as well as Chapter 1 of the Student Workbook.

Potential Essay Questions

1. Describe major provisions of the Canadian

constitution, including the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, and assess its impact on
Canadian society
Tips for Essay #1:

-Demonstrate an awareness of the precursors to the

Charter i.e.
British North America Act and Bill of Rights
-Explain the significance of the notwithstanding
clause and amending formula
-Identify Charter rights and fundamental freedoms
(i.e. equality, mobility, legal rights, language rights,
access to education) and potential limitations on
those rights
-Give examples that illustrate the impact that the
Charter has had on Canadian society

2. Explain how federal and provincial

governments are formed in Canada

Tips for Essay #2:

 -Describe the elements of the electoral system (i.e.
candidates, parties, constituencies, voting, voting
process, electoral campaigns)
-Distinguish between majority and minority
governments, in terms of benefits and challenges

3. Explain how Canadians can effect change and

the federal and provincial levels

Tips for Essay #3:

-Passage of legislation (i.e. First, Second, Third

Reading, Royal Assent, private member bills)
-Party discipline vs. free votes
-Cabinet
-Patronage
-Order-in-Council
-Compare mechanisms by which public policy cab be
changed (i.e. elections, petitions, protests, special
interest groups, court action, media campaigns and
coverage)

4. Discuss the significance of the political

spectrum and its impact on Canadian society
and government

Tips for Essay #4:

 -Define totalitarianism, democracy, liberalism,
conservatism, socialism, fascism and communism
-Distinguish between Canada and BC’s major political
parties in terms of policies, philosophies and
priorities

• Political Spectrum -Socialism

-Left-wing • Democracy
-Right-wing • Representative
democracy
-Centre
• Constitutional
• Conservatism
monarchy
• Liberalism • Canada's written and
• Political Party unwritten constitution

-Conservative • Federal system

-Liberal -Ability to identify and

differentiate between
-NDP federal and provincial
responsibilities
-Bloc
• Municipal government
• Ideology
-Fascism • Three Branches of
Government
-Communism
-Executive
-Capitalism
-Executive power
-Nazism
-Prime Minister
-Anarchism
-Cabinet
 -Party Whip • Electoral systems
-Stages of a bill -First-past-the-post
becoming law
-Proportional
-Bill Representation
-Cabinet • Special interest
solidarity group/non-
governmental
-Backbenchers
organization (NGO)
-Public Service
• Pressure group
-Legislative
• Lobbyist/lobbying
-Legislative
power • Civil disobedience

-House of • Rule of law

Commons
• Canadian Charter of
-Caucus Rights and Freedoms
-Senate -What is it?
-Patronage -What are some of
the most important
-Governor clauses?
General
• Precedent
-Formal Assent
• Human Rights
-Judicial
-Judicial power • Universal Declaration
of Human Rights
-Supreme Court
• Impartiality
-Provincial Court
• British North America
• Election campaign Act
• Public opinion poll • Bill of Rights