Unit 6 Flashcards

Read the words on the card. Think about what they mean or refer to. When you want to check your answer, click on the card to see the other side. All terms and dates will appear every time you load this page, but the order of the cards will change every time. The information on these flashcards will help you remember the information from the Learn section of this website. By itself, the information on the cards is not enough to prepare you for the real test.

• When federal elections are usually held
  Federal elections are usually held the third Monday in October, four years after the previous election
• How the government is chosen after an election
  Normally, after an election, the party with the most seats is invited by the Governor General to form a government.
• What to take on election day
  When voters go to vote on election day, they should take their voter information card and proof of who they are, and where they live.
• Areas of responsibility of municipal governments
  Municipal governments are responsible for issues such as emergency services, recreation facilities, public transit, snow removal, and some local health and social services.
• Candidate
  A person who want to be elected.
• Mayor or Reeve
  These are the names given to the leaders of local governments. The word Mayor is much more commonly used.
• Advance polls
  If you will not be able to vote on election day, you have the right to vote early, at an advance polling station.
• Member of Parliament
  A person who is elected to represent an electoral district in the House of Commons.
• Matter of confidence
  If a bill is a matter of confidence, then if the bill is defeated, the government must resign and there will be new elections.
• A seat in the House of Commons
  The candidate who wins in his or her electoral district is said to have won a "seat" (in the House of Commons).
• Minority government
  If the party with the most seats has fewer than half of all seats, then that is called a minority government.
• (City or Town) Council
  This is the group of people elected to the local government (in addition to the mayor). The people other than the mayor are called councillors or aldermen.
• How the Prime Minister is chosen after an election
  Normally, after an election, the party with the most seats is invited by the Governor General to form a government. The leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister.
• Number of electoral districts
  308
• Polling station
  A polling station is the place where people go to vote.
• How the winner in an electoral district is decided
  Whichever candidate gets the most votes in that electoral district wins the election, and represents that electoral district in the House of Commons.
• Cabinet
  The Prime Minister and the cabinet ministers, or ministers of the crown, form the Cabinet. Cabinet ministers are chosen by the Prime Minister, and are responsible for running government departments.
• Other names for electoral districts
  Electoral districts are also called riding and constituencies.
• By-law
  This is the name we give to laws that are passed by local governments. These laws only affect the local community.
• Areas of responsibility of First Nations councils and band chiefs
  Housing, schools, and other services.
• Voters List
  The official list of who can vote in a federal election. The list is made by Elections Canada, from a list called the National Register of Electors.
• Ballot box
  This is the box where are the ballots are collected during the election. After the election, the votes are counted, and the results are announced, usually the same night.
• Third level of government
  In addition to the federal and provincial governments, there is also local, or municipal government in cities, town, and villages.
• Parties that did not win the election
  The parties that did not win the most seats in the House of Commons make up the opposition. These parties peacefully oppose or try to improve government bills.
• Types of bills that are matters of confidence
  Bills that involve the government spending money are matters of confidence. Budget bills are examples of matters of confidence.
• Official Opposition
  The opposition party with the most seats makes up the Official Opposition, also called Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
• Referendum
  Sometimes, when a decision is very important, every citizen is given the chance to vote on a specific issue. This is called a Referendum.
• Secret Ballot
  A ballot is the piece of paper you vote on. Nobody can make you tell them how you voted; your vote is secret.
• Who may run in a federal election
  Canadian citizens who are over the age of 18 may run in federal elections.
• Voter information card
  When an election is coming, voters receive a voter information card in the mail. This card tells voters where and when they can vote.
• Electoral district
  An electoral district is an area that is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP).
• Three conditions for voting in a federal election
  1) Be a Canadian citizen 2) Be at least 18 years old 3) Be on the voters' list.
• If you are not on the voters list, can you still vote?
  Yes. You can be added to the voters' list at any time, including election day.
• Major Canadian political parties
  The major political parties in Canada are the Conservatives, the New Democratic Party, and the Liberals.
• Elections in less than four years
  The Prime Minister may ask the Governor General to call an early election.
• Majority government
  If the party with the most seats has more than half of all seats, then that is called a majority government.