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Unit
3 Lessons
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Lesson 1 - Canada's Constitution
Open a new Appleworks or Word document.
Using the information found at the following website, answer the questions which follow:
1. What is a "constitution"?
2. What was the full name of Canada's first Constitution?
3. Canada's written Constitution consists of how many parts?
4. In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution also includes unwritten "conventions" or customs. Name 2 of these "conventions".
5. For many years, efforts to "bring home" the Constitution failed. Why?
6. What was Quebec's particular concern about this issue?
7. What is another term for "bringing home" the Constitution?
8. When the Federal and Provincial governments could not agree on a plan to ask Britain to give the BNA Act back to Canada, which body was asked to make a decision?
9. Briefly describe this body's decision, and the "Kitchen Compromise" which followed.
10. Why was Quebec outraged at this?
11. Under the Amending Formula, what do general changes to the Constitution require?
Save your document as "Lesson1.cwk" or "Lesson1.doc" in your "Unit 3" folder.
Lesson 2 - Amending the Constitution
Open a new Appleworks or Word document.
Using the information found at the following website, answer the questions which follow:
1. In 2001, what was the total population of the 10 provinces (not including the Territories)?
2. What is 1/2 of the answer to question #1?
3. Can the Constitution be changed without Ontario and Quebec agreeing with the changes? Why or why not?
4. Why is it not possible for just Ontario and Quebec to decide on changes to the Constitution?
Read the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982, (including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms).
Save your document as "Lesson2.cwk" or "Lesson2.doc" in your "Unit 3" folder.
Lesson 3 - Canada's Parliamentary System
Open a new Appleworks or Word document.
Using the information found at the following website, answer the questions which follow:
1. Parliament consists of what 3 parts?
2. Who represents the Queen in Canada?
3. How many members are in the Senate?
4. Are Senators elected or appointed?
5. How long can a Senator hold office?
6. What kinds of bills can the Senate not initiate?
7. What is the most important role of the House of Commons?
8. How many Members of Parliament are there?
9. When may this number be changed?
10. The party which gets the second-highest number of seats in a federal election is given what title?
11. Under what 2 circumstances must the Governor-General call on the Leader of the Opposition to form a new government?
12. How is the Speaker of the House chosen?
13. Name 3 roles of the Speaker.
Save your document as "Lesson3.cwk" or "Lesson3.doc" in your "Unit 3" folder.
lesson 4 - Leaders and Parties
Open a new Appleworks or Word document.
Using the information found at the following website, answer the question which follows:
1. Name the 5 major political parties and their leaders.
Save your document as "Lesson4.cwk" or "Lesson4.doc" in your "Unit 3" folder.
Lesson 5 - Becoming an M.P.: the electoral process
Open a new Appleworks or Word document.
Using the information found at the following websites, answer the questions which follow:
1. Who calls the election?
2. Who actually issues the writs (orders) for the election?
3. According to the Constitution, how often must Federal elections be held?
4. By tradition, how often are they actually held?
5. What is the minimum length of a Federal election campaign?
6. How does the Chief Electoral Officer begin the election process?
7. Which document specifies the details of the electoral process?
8. Who can be a candidate in a Federal election?
9. Section 65 of the Canada Elections Act list the circumstances under which someone is not eligible to be a candidate. List 4 of these.
10. What 3 ways can a candidate run in a Federal election?
11. How much is a candidate required to pay to run?
12. Is this money returned after the election?
13. Where do you vote?
14. Under normal circumstances, can you vote anywhere else?
15. Approximately 12 days after the election is called, what does every voter receive in the mail?
16. What does this card tell you? (2 things)
17. After the polls close, who counts the votes?
18. What happens to the ballots when the count is complete?
19. What does he/she do with these ballots?
20. To whom are the results sent?
Save your document as "Lesson5.cwk" or "Lesson5.doc" in your "Unit 3" folder.
Lesson 6 - The Work of an M.P.
Open a new Appleworks or Word document.
Using the information found at the following websites, answer the questions which follow:
You are a newly elected Member of Parliament. In an essay of no more than 250 words, take us through what your typical working day might look like when Parliament is in session. Use the following questions as a guide:
Save your document as "Lesson6.cwk" or "Lesson6.doc" in your "Unit 3" folder.
Take
a "virtual tour" of the House of Commons.
Take
a "virtual tour" of Parliament Hill.
Congratulations! You have finished all of the Lessons for Unit 3. Now is the time to send them all to your teacher, attached to an e-mail message. Please put "Canada - Unit 3 Lessons" in the "Subject" line of your message.
When you are ready to begin Unit 4, return to the "Exploring Canadian Government" Home Page.
