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B. Civic Awareness · Civic Awareness: Democratic Values, Governance and Rights

Civic Awareness: Democratic Values, Governance and Rights: Unit Review

A1.1 A1.2 A1.3 A1.4 A1.5 A2.1 A2.2 A2.3 A2.4 B1.1 B1.2 B1.3 B1.4 B1.5 B2.1 B2.2 B2.3 B2.4 B2.5 B2.6 B2.7 B2.8 B3.1 B3.2 B3.3 B3.4 B3.5 B3.6About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can explain civic issues, perspectives and democratic values, and assess sources critically.
  • I can describe how governance works in Canada, including Indigenous governance, elections, laws and budgets.
  • I can analyse rights and responsibilities in Canada and around the world.

Words to know

civic issue
A public matter that people disagree about and that requires a decision.
rule of law
No one is above the law; laws apply equally and are applied by independent courts.
federation
A country with powers divided between a central government and provinces.
treaty
An agreement between nations, such as between Indigenous nations and the Crown.
confidence
The support of a majority of the elected house that a government needs to stay in power.
Royal Assent
The Crown's final approval that turns a bill into law.
Charter
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of the Constitution since 1982.

Let's review!

In this unit you investigated civic issues and the perspectives behind them, the democratic values of democracy, human rights, freedom and the rule of law, and the threat of disinformation and foreign interference. You learned how governance in Canada works: the form of government and three branches, the orders of government, Indigenous governance and treaties, elections and parties, how laws are made and influenced, and how governments raise and spend money. Finally, you analysed rights and responsibilities: the Constitution and the Charter, using rights for change, courts and other institutions, and rights in a global context.

This review has a few questions from every lesson. Try each one, then press Show answer to check.

How to use this review

Do one or two sections at a time. Write your answer before checking, in full sentences for the "explain" questions. For each mistake, note why (did not know a fact? mixed up two terms? gave an opinion without evidence?) and reread that lesson's modelled examples. Finish with the 10-question quiz.

B1 Civic issues,democratic valuesissues and perspectivesdemocracy, rights,freedom, rule of lawdisinformationB2 Governancein Canadabranches and ordersIndigenous governanceelections and partieslaws, budgets, influenceB3 Rights andresponsibilitiesConstitution, Charterresponsibilities, courtsglobal rightsand responsesStrand A throughout: inquiry, sources, perspectives, communication
The big picture of this unit: values (B1) shape how we govern ourselves (B2) and the rights and responsibilities we share (B3).

Civic Issues, Perspectives and Political Thinking

1

Name the four concepts of political thinking.

2

Write an evaluative question about a new municipal recycling program.

3

What are the five parts of a strong position statement?

Democratic Values, Their Roots and Why People Take Action

1

Explain the rule of law and name one historical document that is a root of it.

2

Give one group that won the federal vote after 1918 and the year.

3

Give two reasons people take civic action, with one example.

Disinformation, Social Media and Foreign Interference

1

When does foreign influence become interference?

2

What does SIFT stand for?

3

Why can interference harm democracy even if it does not change an election's result?

ExecutiveLegislativeJudicialFederalPM and Cabinet;Governor GeneralParliament: King,Senate, CommonsSupreme Court ofCanada; federal courtsOntarioPremier and Cabinet;Lt. GovernorLegislative Assembly(124 MPPs)Ontario courtsMunicipalHead of council;municipal staffCouncil passesbylawsno courts of its own
Review grid: who does what in each branch at each level. Municipalities make and carry out bylaws, but disputes go to provincial courts.

Canada's Form of Government and the Three Branches

1

Give the three labels for Canada's form of government.

2

Which branch interprets laws, and why is its independence important?

3

What happens if a federal government loses a confidence vote?

Who Does What? Federal, Provincial, Territorial and Municipal Governments

1

Which two orders of government are created by the Constitution?

2

Match: (a) criminal law; (b) hospitals; (c) zoning bylaws.

3

Why can Ontario merge two municipalities?

Indigenous Governance, Treaties and Crown-Indigenous Relations

1

Describe one governing system that predates the Indian Act and one created by it.

2

What does section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 do?

3

How does the Robinson-Huron Treaty affect its region today?

Elections, Forming Governments and Political Parties

1

How many seats are needed for a majority in the House of Commons?

2

Explain first-past-the-post.

3

Describe objectively how an economic-left and an economic-right approach might differ on public transit funding.

4

Which five federal parties won seats in 2025?

How Laws Are Made and Who Influences Them

1

List the stages of a bill in Ontario's legislature.

2

At which stage can citizens most directly give input?

3

Name one domestic and one international influence on policy.

Taxes, Budgets and Public Money

1

Calculate the Ontario HST on $80.00.

2

What is the difference between a deficit and debt?

3

Give one short-term need and one long-term plan a municipal budget might include.

The Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

1

Why was the Canadian Bill of Rights (1960) weaker than the Charter?

2

What does section 1 of the Charter allow?

3

A private employer refuses to hire someone because of their religion. Charter or Human Rights Code?

Responsibilities, Rights in Action and the Courts

1

Name two legal duties and two civic responsibilities of citizens.

2

How did SOS Montfort use rights to bring change?

3

Name one institution other than courts that protects rights in Ontario and what it does.

Rights and Responsibilities in a Global Context

1

Name two international human rights documents and their years.

2

What is the difference between the ICC and the ICJ?

3

Give two criteria for judging a response to a human rights violation.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which concept of political thinking asks "What changed and what stayed the same?"

2.

Which is an example of disinformation?

3.

Parliament consists of:

4.

Municipalities in Ontario get their powers from:

5.

The Two Row Wampum represents:

6.

A party with 165 of 343 seats forms government. It is a:

7.

Which stage of a federal bill is the final step before it becomes law?

8.

What is the main source of revenue for municipalities?

9.

The notwithstanding clause can override:

10.

Which Canadian commanded the UN mission in Rwanda in 1994?

For parents and teachers

How to use the results: match mistakes to lessons.

  • Question types, perspectives or position statements: revisit Lesson 1 (Civic Issues, Perspectives and Political Thinking).
  • Democratic values, history of the vote, reasons for civic action: Lesson 2.
  • Misinformation versus disinformation, SIFT, foreign interference: Lesson 3.
  • Branches, head of state versus head of government, confidence: Lesson 4.
  • Which government does what: Lesson 5.
  • Indian Act, treaties, section 35, the Robinson-Huron case: Lesson 6.
  • Majority and minority, first-past-the-post, parties and the political compass: Lesson 7.
  • Stages of a bill, lobbying and other influences: Lesson 8.
  • HST and property tax calculations, deficits and debt: Lesson 9.
  • Charter sections, section 1 and section 33, Charter versus human rights codes: Lesson 10.
  • Responsibilities, using rights for change, courts and tribunals: Lesson 11.
  • International documents, ICC versus ICJ, assessing responses: Lesson 12.

Tip: the most common mix-ups in this unit are head of state versus head of government, deficit versus debt, and the Charter (governments only) versus human rights codes (private parties too). Quick oral quizzes at dinner work well for these.