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Social Studies 30-1

Social Studies 30-1 · Worksheets

Political and economic systems · Set B

Ten questions of mixed difficulty, covering Political and economic systems. Print it, or work through it on screen — the answer key starts on its own page.

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Political and economic systems · Set B

Social Studies 30-1 · maddyhelps.com

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Circle the best answer for each question. Use the space to note the reasoning or the source detail that decided it.

  1. Holding a referendum is an example of:

    1. a) consensus government
    2. b) direct democracy within a representative system
    3. c) authoritarian decision-making
    4. d) a parliamentary election

  2. In a command economy, decisions about what to produce are mainly made by:

    1. a) foreign trading partners
    2. b) consumers and businesses
    3. c) labour unions
    4. d) the government

  3. Under Canada's first-past-the-post system, who wins a riding?

    1. a) the candidate chosen by the party leader
    2. b) every candidate, in proportion to their votes
    3. c) the candidate with the most votes, even without a majority
    4. d) only a candidate with more than half the votes

  4. The legislatures of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories use consensus government. This means:

    1. a) members are elected without political parties and make decisions by agreement
    2. b) the federal government chooses the premier
    3. c) one party always holds power
    4. d) citizens vote on every law

  5. Canada's system of government is best described as:

    1. a) a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy
    2. b) a direct democracy
    3. c) a republic with an elected president
    4. d) an absolute monarchy

  6. What is a minority government in Canada?

    1. a) The governing party holds fewer than half the seats and needs support from other parties to pass laws
    2. b) A government that represents only minority groups
    3. c) A government without a prime minister
    4. d) A government elected by less than half of voters

  7. On the traditional left–right political spectrum, ideologies that favour greater equality and social change are placed on the:

    1. a) left
    2. b) right
    3. c) centre
    4. d) far right

  8. Which best describes an authoritarian government?

    1. a) Power is concentrated in a leader or small group, with limited political freedom and little accountability
    2. b) Power is divided between independent branches
    3. c) Citizens vote on every major decision
    4. d) Leaders are chosen by consensus of all citizens

  9. Why is Canada's Senate sometimes criticized as undemocratic?

    1. a) Senators are appointed rather than elected
    2. b) It meets outside Ottawa
    3. c) Senators are chosen by the provinces' citizens
    4. d) It has more members than the House of Commons

  10. In a direct democracy:

    1. a) citizens elect representatives
    2. b) citizens vote on laws themselves
    3. c) the military runs the government
    4. d) a single party chooses all leaders

Answer key · Political and economic systems · Set B

Social Studies 30-1 · maddyhelps.com

  1. b) direct democracy within a representative system — Citizens decide one question themselves instead of leaving it to their representatives — like Quebec's sovereignty referendums.
  2. d) the government — Central planners set production targets and prices. In a market economy, those decisions come from supply and demand.
  3. c) the candidate with the most votes, even without a majority — The winner only needs more votes than anyone else. In a close three-way race, someone can win with around a third of the vote.
  4. a) members are elected without political parties and make decisions by agreement — Members run as independents and choose the premier and cabinet from among themselves, an approach that reflects Indigenous traditions of decision-making.
  5. a) a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy — The monarch is the head of state but acts within the Constitution, while an elected Parliament and the prime minister do the governing.
  6. a) The governing party holds fewer than half the seats and needs support from other parties to pass laws — The party with the most seats usually governs, but without a majority it must win votes from other parties — or risk losing a confidence vote.
  7. a) left — The left generally favours equality, change and a larger role for government in the economy. The right generally favours tradition, order and free markets.
  8. a) Power is concentrated in a leader or small group, with limited political freedom and little accountability — Authoritarian rule removes the checks that let citizens hold leaders to account — free elections, a free press, independent courts.
  9. a) Senators are appointed rather than elected — Senators are appointed and serve until age 75, so voters cannot remove them. Defenders argue that independence lets the Senate give sober second thought.
  10. b) citizens vote on laws themselves — Ancient Athens is the classic example. Referendums bring a piece of direct democracy into representative systems like Canada's.