Category Archives: Study

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.

• Four principles of Canadian legal system
  1) the rule of law 2) freedom under the law 3) democratic principles 4) due process
• Provincial courts
  In most provinces, there is an appeal court and a trial court (sometimes called the Court of Queen's Bench or the Supreme Court).
• The role of the police
  The police make sure that people follow the laws that elected representatives have made.
• Presumption of innocence
  Everyone is considered innocent until they are proven guilty. In other words, the government has to prove that a person broke the law; a person does not have to prove that he or she did not break the law.
• Who must follow the law
  In Canada, everyone must follow the law, including politicians, lawyers, judges, and the police.
• Police forces
  In Canada, there are different police forces in different parts of the country, although they work together. In Canada, we can trust the police to help us.
• The highest court in Canada
  The highest court in Canada is the Supreme Court.
• The role of the courts
  The courts settle disagreements between people peacefully.
• Lawyers
  If a citizen cannot pay for a lawyer, most communities have services that provide lawyers free of charge, or inexpensively.
• Provincial police forces
  Ontario and Quebec have their own provincial police forces. In all other provinces and territories, and in many towns and smaller cities, the RCMP are the police force.
• Citizens entitled to due process under the law
  The Canadian justice system guarantees everyone due process under the law.
• Other types of provincial courts
  Family courts, traffic courts, and small claims courts for civil cases.
• Due process
  The principle that the government must respect all the legal rights a person is allowed to under the law.
• Complaints about the police
  If a citizen has a complaint about a police officer, that citizen can make a formal complaint about that police officer.
• The people who make laws
  Laws are made by people who are elected by citizens.
• The Federal Court of Canada
  This is not the same as the Supreme Court! The Federal Court deals with matters concerning the federal government.

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.

• 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).
• (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.
• 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.
• Third level of government
  In addition to the federal and provincial governments, there is also local, or municipal government in cities, town, and villages.
• Elections in less than four years
  The Prime Minister may ask the Governor General to call an early election.
• 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.
• Electoral district
  An electoral district is an area that is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP).
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Candidate
  A person who want to be elected.
• 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.
• 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.
• Minority government
  If the party with the most seats has fewer than half of all seats, then that is called a minority government.
• Mayor or Reeve
  These are the names given to the leaders of local governments. The word Mayor is much more commonly used.
• 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.
• 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.
• Other names for electoral districts
  Electoral districts are also called riding and constituencies.
• Areas of responsibility of First Nations councils and band chiefs
  Housing, schools, and other services.
• Member of Parliament
  A person who is elected to represent an electoral district in the House of Commons.
• When federal elections are usually held
  Federal elections are usually held the third Monday in October, four years after the previous election
• Polling station
  A polling station is the place where people go to vote.
• 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.
• 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.
• Number of electoral districts
  308
• 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.
• Official Opposition
  The opposition party with the most seats makes up the Official Opposition, also called Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
• 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.
• 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.
• By-law
  This is the name we give to laws that are passed by local governments. These laws only affect the local community.
• Majority government
  If the party with the most seats has more than half of all seats, then that is called a majority government.
• 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.
• 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.
• Who may run in a federal election
  Canadian citizens who are over the age of 18 may run in federal elections.

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.

• Sovereign
  King or Queen.
• Three parts of Parliament
  The Sovereign, the Senate, and the House of Commons.
• Executive branch of government
  The Sovereign, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet.
• Three branches of government
  Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
• Legislative Branch of government
  The Senate and the House of Commons.
• Member of Parliament
  A person who is elected in a riding to represent the people in that riding. MP for short.
• Three key facts about Canada's system of government
  1) federal state, 2) parliamentary democracy, 3) constitutional monarchy
• Constitutional Monarchy
  Canada's Head of State is a hereditary Sovereign. The Head of the Government is selected by voters during elections. Some countries combine these jobs, but Canada does not.
• Senate
  Senators are chosen by the Governor General, based on advice from the Prime Minister. Senators serve until the age of 75.
• Areas of shared federal and provincial jurisdiction (responsibility).
  Immigration and agriculture.
• How a bill becomes a law
  First reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage, third reading, senate, royal assent. (Review this process in Discover Canada.)
• Non-confidence vote
  A vote where the majority of elected members vote against the government. This means that government must resign, and new elections must be called.
• Bill
  The name we give a proposed (suggested) law before it becomes a law.
• Parliamentary Democracy
  A system of government where the party with the most members forms the government. Citizens vote for their representatives.
• Lieutenant Governor
  The Sovereign's representative in provinces.
• Governor General
  The Sovereign's representative in Canada. The Governor General is chosen by the Sovereign, based on advice from the Prime Minister.
• Mayor or Reeve
  The elected leader of a city, town, or area of rural land.
• Commissioner
  In the Territories, the Commissioner represents the federal government, and plays a ceremonial role.
• Federal State
  There is a federal government for the whole country, and provincial (and territorial) governments for local issues.
• Examples of local matters that the provincial or territorial governments take care of
  Municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways.
• Judicial Branch of Government
  Judges and courts.
• Reason for federalism
  Federalism allows different provinces to have laws that suit their own local situation, and allows experimentation with new ways to solve problems.
• House of Commons
  The part of parliament with elected members.
• Legislative Assembly
  Although we sometimes use different names in different provinces, we can refer to all provincial governments as "Legislative Assemblies". (List of different name is in Discover Canada.)
• Municipal elections
  The elections where people choose their local (city, town, or countryside) representatives.
• Examples of national matters that the federal government takes care of
  Defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency (money), navigation, criminal law, and citizenship.

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.

• UN Peacekeepers
  Canada has participated in many UN Peacekeeping missions around the world.
• La Francophonie
  An international association of French-speaking countries. Canada helped start this organization in 1970.
• Multiculturalism
  By 1960, one third of Canadians' ancestors were neither French nor English. Canada passed the Multiculturalism Act in 1988. (This date is not in Discover Canada, but you should know about multiculturalism in general.)
• Canada and Quebec Pension Plans
  Started in 1965, these programs ensure that Canadians have income after they retire. Quebec has its own plan, but it works the same way.
• Employment Insurance
  Provides workers with income during times when they can't find work. Started in 1940.
• NATO
  North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This military organization was started to protect the West during the Cold War.
• NORAD
  North American Aerospace Defence Command. This military organization was started during the Cold War to watch and protect the skies over Northern Canada and Alaska.
• Aboriginal people given the vote
  Aboriginals were allowed to vote for the first time in 1960.
• Sovereignty (Separation) Referendums
  In 1982 and 1995, Quebecers voted on whether to separate from the rest of Canada. Both times, the majority of Quebecers voted "no".
• The first time that a majority of Canadians could afford suitable food, clothing, and shelter
  1951
• Recent large groups of refugees
  Canada accepted large numbers of refugees from Hungary in 1956, and from Vietnam in the 1970s.
• Old Age Security
  A government program started in 1927 to make sure that people who were too old to work had some income.
• Canada Health Act
  Ensures a basic level of healthcare coverage for all Canadians.
• Quiet Revolution
  A period of rapid change in Quebec's history.
• United Nations
  Canada was a founding member of the United Nations, an organization that tries to solve international problems through discussion, rather than fighting.
• The beginning of Canada's modern energy industry
  The discovery of oil in Alberta in 1947.
• Official Languages Act (1969)
  This is the law that says that the federal government must supply all services in both official languages. This was one of the results of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, started in 1963.
• Constitution Act 1982
  The Constitution Act 1982 was enacted without the agreement or participation of Quebec. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms was entrenched.

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.

Everybody prepares differently for tests, but here is some advice that we give to our students:THIS IS THE POST VERSION OF THIS INFORMATION

• Know the test location. If possible, visit the test site a few days before you are scheduled to write your test. Knowing the test site will lower your anxiety on the day of your test.

• Don’t study the day of the test. Last-minute studying usually makes people more nervous, and it sometimes confuses them. You need to be very well prepared by the time you show up to the test centre.

• An extra bit of sugar sometimes helps. Your brain required glucose to work. Putting a little bit of extra sugar in your coffee can provide you with a bit of a boost of mental energy. DON’T add too much! Too much sugar may make you jittery, and you may find it hard to concentrate. Also, eating sugar will not put information into your brain; you still need to study!

• Plan to arrive early. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before you are scheduled to write your test. You want to be rested, calm, and relaxed when they call you into the test room. Running into the test centre at the last minute will surely make you anxious.

• Ignore the people around you. There will be a lot of other people there when you get to the test writing centre. Many of them will be nervous, and might be in a bad mood. Don’t worry about them. You are calm and relaxed because you know that you have prepared well for the test. The test will not start until everybody is ready, so there in no need to hurry or push to get in the room. Let other people rush in. You can relax at the back of the line.

• Listen carefully to the test supervisor. You don’t want to miss any important information. Today, all information is important, so listen carefully.

• Before you begin, take a deep breath. Yes, this is an important test, but if you fail, there are other alternatives. No matter what happens, the sun will rise tomorrow.

• Preview the test. Before you begin writing the test, look over the questions. If you find a few questions that look challenging, you can be thinking about those questions as you do the rest of the test.

• Take your time. There are no prizes for finishing first, and 30 minutes really is a very long time for 20 multiple choice questions.

• Don’t be distracted by others. Some people talk to themselves when they’re nervous. Some people tap their desk. Some people click their pencils. Do your best to put those distractions out of your mind and concentrate on the work you have to do.

• Keep your eyes on your own paper. Whatever you do, even if you’re finished your test, don’t look at anybody else’s paper, even for a second.

• Don’t talk. At all. If you were giving a test, and you heard people speaking a language that you couldn’t understand, what would you think they were saying? Don’t give the people supervising the test any reason to think that you might be cheating.

• Nobody is trying to trick you. There is no secret system. Many students look for tricks or traps when they write tests. There aren’t any, so don’t look for them. Just read the question, be sure you understand it, and answer it. Trust us, there is no benefit to using a strategy like “If you don’t know, always guess C“. Tests just aren’t made that way.

• Remember that each question is worth one point. If you come to a question that you don’t know, or that you want to think about, don’t get too worried about it. Either make your best guess, or leave it for later, and move on. Whatever you do, don’t waste time thinking too long about one question.

• Make sure you answer in the right place. If you leave a question blank (without answering) make sure that you answer the next question in the right place. For example, if you skip over number 8, make sure that you answer number 9 in the right spot on your page; don’t put your answer for number 9 in the spot for number 8!

• Be a smart guesser. Sometimes, people get a question that they just don’t know the answer to. Even if you don’t know the answer, you can help yourself by figuring out which answers are wrong. If you can see that answers A and B are wrong, then you know that the right answer must be C or D. You’re still guessing, but if you’re only guessing between A and B, you have a 50/50 chance of guessing right, rather than a 25% chance, which is what you would have if you didn’t eliminate the wrong answer(s).

• Guessing is better than nothing. Even if you have no idea what the answer is, make a guess. NEVER leave a question blank. If you guess, you might get it right. If you leave it blank, you’re guaranteed to get it wrong.

• Don’t leave any questions blank. If you skipped over a question, be sure that you go back and answer that question later.

• Don’t change your answers unless you have a very good reason. Your first feeling is almost always the right answer. When people review their tests, they sometimes think too much about a question, and then change their answer. Don’t change your answer unless you have a very good reason, and you’re sure you’ve made a mistake. For example, if you re-read the question, and realize that you missed the word “not” the first time, then you should change your answer. Unless you realize you’ve made a mistake like this, your first answer is almost always the best choice. (Remember, we are teachers; we have seen people make this mistake again and again!)

• Before you hand your test in, check again to make sure you have answered every question. Check to make sure you have an answer beside every question.

Be calm, confident, and relaxed. You’ll be fine.