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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.

• Common Law
  The set of laws inherited by Canada from England.
• Freedoms in the Magna Carta
  Freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press; freedom of peaceful assembly; freedom of association.
• Responsibility
  A responsibility is something that you must do, like following the law.
• Six important responsibilities
  Obeying the law, being responsible for yourself and your family, serving on a jury, voting, helping the community, and protecting our heritage and environment.
• Five important rights and freedoms in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  Mobility rights, Aboriginal Peoples' Rights, Official Language Rights and Minority Language Education Rights, and Multiculturalism.
• Right
  A right is something that you can expect, like to be treated fairly by the police.
• Constitution of Canada
  The Constitution of Canada was amended (changed) in 1982 to include the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Habeas corpus
  The right to not be held in jail unless you are able to see a judge; freedom from arbitrary arrest.
• Magna Carta
  The Great Charter of Freedoms. This document gave people several important freedoms. It was signed in 1215 in England.
• The difference between men and women according to the law
  Men and women are treated equally under the law in Canada.

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Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities. These come to us from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions, identity, and values.

Canadian law has several sources, including laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France and the unwritten constitution that we have inherited from Great Britain.

Together, these secure for Canadians an 800-year old tradition of ordered liberty, which dates back to the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 in England (also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms), including:

• Freedom of conscience and religion;
• Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press;
• Freedom of peaceful assembly; and
• Freedom of association.

Habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, comes from English common law.

The Equality of Women and Men

In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada’s openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices that tolerate spousal abuse, “honour killings,” female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada’s criminal laws.

Citizenship Responsibilities

In Canada, rights come with responsibilities. These include:

• Obeying the law — One of Canada’s founding principles is the rule of law. Individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions. No person or group is above the law.
• Taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family — Getting a job, taking care of one’s family and working hard in keeping with one’s abilities are important Canadian values. Work contributes to personal dignity and self-respect, and to Canada’s prosperity.
• Serving on a jury — When called to do so, you are legally required to serve. Serving on a jury is a privilege that makes the justice system work as it depends on impartial juries made up of citizens.
• Voting in elections — The right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote in federal, provincial or territorial and local elections.
• Helping others in the community — Millions of volunteers freely donate their time to help others without pay—helping people in need, assisting at your child’s school, volunteering at a food bank or other charity, or encouraging newcomers to integrate. Volunteering is an excellent way to gain useful skills and develop friends and contacts.
• Protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment — Every citizen has a role to play in avoiding waste and pollution while protecting Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.

Defending Canada

There is no compulsory military service in Canada. However, serving in the regular Canadian Forces (navy, army and air force) is a noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career choice (www.forces.ca). You can serve in your local part-time navy, militia and air reserves and gain valuable experience, skills and contacts. Young people can learn discipline, responsibility, and skills by getting involved in the cadets (www.cadets.ca).

You may also serve in the Coast Guard or emergency services in your community such as a police force or fire department. By helping to protect your community, you follow in the footsteps of Canadians before you who made sacrifices in the service of our country.

Click to view images from this unit of Discover Canada

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