Federal Elections: Citizenship Test Practice Questions

1. The poll returning officer and your party scrutineer
2. Only you — the secret ballot ensures nobody else can ever see how you voted ✓ Correct answer
3. Your employer upon request for civic records
4. The municipal clerk after polls close

Why: Canadian law guarantees a secret ballot. No one can witness your vote, and no one is permitted to force you to reveal how you voted.

1. Appointed for life by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister
2. Elected by Canadian citizens in their electoral district (riding) ✓ Correct answer
3. Selected by provincial legislatures based on census representation
4. Chosen through national proportional party list votes

Why: Canadians vote in federal general elections for one Member of Parliament to represent their electoral district (or riding) in the House of Commons.

1. The party that wins the second highest number of seats in the House of Commons ✓ Correct answer
2. A coalition of all non-governing independent senators
3. The party representing the largest geographic territory
4. The party designated annually by the Governor General

Why: The political party with the second most seats in the House of Commons forms Her/His Majesty's Loyal Official Opposition.

1. The Senate takes over daily governmental decisions until the next fiscal quarter
2. The Prime Minister asks the Governor General to call a general election ✓ Correct answer
3. The Supreme Court appoints an interim committee
4. The Leader of the Opposition automatically becomes Prime Minister

Why: Under responsible government, if the government loses a confidence vote in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister typically asks the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call an election.

1. Senators
2. Members of Parliament (MPs) ✓ Correct answer
3. Members of the Legislative Assembly
4. Ministers of the Crown

Why: Members of the House of Commons are also known as members of Parliament, or MPs.

1. The House of Commons ✓ Correct answer
2. The Senate
3. The Supreme Court
4. The Privy Council

Why: Canadians vote in federal elections for the people they want to represent them in the House of Commons.

1. A group of provinces with one premier
2. An area run by a Lieutenant Governor
3. A city ward run by a councillor
4. A geographical area represented by one member of Parliament ✓ Correct answer

Why: An electoral district is a geographic area whose citizens elect one MP to the House of Commons.

1. Counties or parishes
2. Wards or boroughs
3. Ridings or constituencies ✓ Correct answer
4. Reserves or territories

Why: Electoral districts are also called ridings or constituencies.

1. 105
2. 343 ✓ Correct answer
3. 250
4. 410

Why: Canada has 343 electoral districts since the 2025 election; the older study guide listed 308.

1. One ✓ Correct answer
2. Two
3. Three
4. One for every 10,000 voters

Why: The citizens of each electoral district elect one MP to the House of Commons.

1. On the first Monday in July, every five years
2. On the second Tuesday in November, every four years
3. On Victoria Day, every three years
4. On the third Monday in October, every four years ✓ Correct answer

Why: Federal elections must be held on the third Monday in October every four years after the last general election.

1. Any permanent resident aged 21 or older
2. Canadian citizens aged 25 or older
3. Canadian citizens aged 18 or older ✓ Correct answer
4. Anyone living in the riding for one year

Why: Canadian citizens who are 18 years old or older may run in a federal election.

1. Electors
2. Candidates ✓ Correct answer
3. Delegates
4. Returning officers

Why: People who run for office are called candidates; there can be many in one electoral district.

1. The candidate who receives the most votes ✓ Correct answer
2. The candidate chosen by the Prime Minister
3. The oldest candidate
4. The candidate with more than 75% of the votes

Why: The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the MP for that electoral district.

1. Only once
2. Twice
3. Up to four times
4. As many times as they wish ✓ Correct answer

Why: In each election voters may re-elect the same MPs or choose new ones; there is no term limit.

1. Owning property
2. Being a member of a political party
3. Being a Canadian citizen ✓ Correct answer
4. Having lived in Canada for 10 years

Why: To vote you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 on election day, and on the voters' list.

1. At least 16
2. At least 18 on election day ✓ Correct answer
3. At least 21
4. At least 19 in the year of the election

Why: Voters must be at least 18 years old on voting day.

1. The National Register of Electors ✓ Correct answer
2. The national census
3. The Canada Revenue Agency files
4. The citizenship oath registry

Why: Elections Canada uses the National Register of Electors to produce voters' lists for federal elections and referendums.

1. A list of all elected officials
2. A register of political party members
3. A record of past election results
4. A permanent database of Canadians qualified to vote ✓ Correct answer

Why: The National Register of Electors is a permanent database of Canadian citizens 18 or older who qualify to vote.

1. Statistics Canada
2. The Senate of Canada
3. Elections Canada ✓ Correct answer
4. Canadian Heritage

Why: Elections Canada produces the voters' lists and administers federal elections.

1. Which candidate you voted for last time
2. That you are on the voters' list, and when and where to vote ✓ Correct answer
3. Which party you belong to
4. How much tax you owe

Why: Electors in the National Register receive a voter information card confirming they are on the list and stating when and where to vote.

1. Yes, you can register and vote if you are eligible ✓ Correct answer
2. No, you cannot vote in that election
3. Only if a candidate signs for you
4. Only in the next election

Why: You do not need to be on the National Register or have a voter information card to vote; eligible electors can register.

1. Only on the day after the election
2. By telephone with any party office
3. At any time during the following week
4. At advance polls or by special ballot ✓ Correct answer

Why: Electors may vote on election day, at advance polls, or by special ballot.

1. Candidates' names are kept hidden
2. Only senators can see the results
3. No one may watch you vote or look at how you voted ✓ Correct answer
4. Votes are never counted

Why: Canadian law secures the right to a secret ballot: your vote is private.

1. Write the candidate's name in full
2. Put an X in the circle beside the candidate's name ✓ Correct answer
3. Sign your name next to the candidate
4. Rank all the candidates in order

Why: To vote, mark an X in the circle next to the name of the candidate of your choice.

1. Election officers count them and results are announced ✓ Correct answer
2. They are sent to the Senate for review
3. They are counted a month later
4. The Governor General counts them personally

Why: When polls close, election officers count the votes and the results are announced on radio, TV and online.

1. The candidate with the most personal votes
2. The leader of the oldest party
3. The Speaker of the Senate
4. The leader of the party with the most seats ✓ Correct answer

Why: The leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons is invited by the Governor General to form the government.

1. By a separate national vote
2. By a vote of the Senate
3. By being appointed by the Governor General ✓ Correct answer
4. By appointment from the Supreme Court

Why: After being appointed by the Governor General, the leader of the party with the most seats becomes Prime Minister.

1. The governing party holds most Senate seats
2. The governing party holds at least half of the seats in the House ✓ Correct answer
3. Two parties share power equally
4. The party won over 75% of the popular vote

Why: If the party in power holds at least half of the House of Commons seats, it is a majority government.

1. The governing party holds less than half of the seats in the House ✓ Correct answer
2. The government has no Cabinet
3. The governing party has no seats in the Senate
4. A government led by a small province

Why: If the party in power holds less than half of the House of Commons seats, it is a minority government.

1. Exactly eight years
2. For life
3. Until the Senate votes them out
4. As long as they keep the confidence of a majority of MPs ✓ Correct answer

Why: The government runs the country as long as it keeps the support, or confidence, of most MPs.

1. Any vote in the Senate
2. A vote to name a new park
3. A vote on a major issue such as the budget ✓ Correct answer
4. A municipal by-law vote

Why: A vote on a major issue, such as the budget, is considered a matter of confidence.

1. The Senate chooses a new Prime Minister
2. The Prime Minister asks the Governor General to call an election ✓ Correct answer
3. The Supreme Court decides the issue
4. Nothing; the government carries on

Why: If the government is defeated, the Prime Minister usually asks the Governor General, on behalf of the Sovereign, to call an election.

1. From among members of the House of Commons ✓ Correct answer
2. From among Supreme Court judges
3. From among provincial premiers
4. From the public service

Why: The Prime Minister chooses ministers of the Crown, most of them from among members of the House of Commons.

1. Judging criminal cases
2. Counting election ballots
3. Appointing the Sovereign
4. Running federal government departments ✓ Correct answer

Why: Cabinet ministers are responsible for running the federal government departments.

1. The Governor General and the senators
2. All members of the House of Commons
3. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers ✓ Correct answer
4. The premiers of the provinces

Why: The Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers together are called the Cabinet.

1. Elects the Governor General
2. Prepares the budget and proposes most new laws ✓ Correct answer
3. Decides court appeals
4. Counts the votes after an election

Why: The Cabinet prepares the budget and proposes most new laws; all MPs can question its decisions.

1. All members of the House of Commons ✓ Correct answer
2. Only the Governor General
3. Only the Senate
4. Only the Supreme Court

Why: Cabinet decisions can be questioned by all members of the House of Commons.

1. Reserve parties
2. Minor ministries
3. Senate caucuses
4. Opposition parties ✓ Correct answer

Why: Parties that are not in power are known as opposition parties.

1. The Shadow Senate
2. The Privy Council
3. The Official Opposition ✓ Correct answer
4. The Crown Party

Why: The opposition party with the most MPs is the Official Opposition, or His Majesty's Loyal Opposition.

1. To appoint senators
2. To peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals ✓ Correct answer
3. To approve royal assent
4. To run the federal departments

Why: Opposition parties peacefully oppose or try to improve government proposals.

1. By-laws ✓ Correct answer
2. Statutes
3. Acts of Parliament
4. Orders in Council

Why: Municipal councils pass laws called by-laws that affect only the local community.

1. A premier and senators
2. A commissioner and MPs
3. A Lieutenant Governor and judges
4. A mayor (or reeve) and councillors or aldermen ✓ Correct answer

Why: A municipal council usually includes a mayor or reeve and councillors or aldermen.

1. National defence
2. Currency
3. Snow removal ✓ Correct answer
4. Citizenship

Why: Municipalities normally handle snow removal, streets, sanitation, firefighting and similar local services.

1. Foreign policy, navigation and currency
2. Firefighting, garbage removal and public transit ✓ Correct answer
3. Criminal law, defence and citizenship
4. Education, health and highways

Why: Municipalities are normally responsible for planning, roads, sanitation, snow removal, firefighting, emergency services, recreation and public transit.

1. Urban or regional planning ✓ Correct answer
2. Foreign trade
3. National defence
4. Immigration selection

Why: Municipalities are normally responsible for urban or regional planning, among other local services.

1. Provincial premiers
2. Territorial commissioners
3. Senators
4. Band chiefs and councillors ✓ Correct answer

Why: First Nations band chiefs and councillors have major responsibilities on reserves, including housing, schools and other services.

1. To appoint the Governor General
2. To run federal elections
3. To be a voice for First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples with governments ✓ Correct answer
4. To act as Canada's highest court

Why: These organizations speak for First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples in their relations with federal, provincial and territorial governments.