Parties And Elections Ch.11 Exam Questions

CHAPTER 11

Parties and Elections

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is a way that groups participate in civil society?

1. Through individual voting forming collective public opinion
2. By belonging to or working for political parties
3. By lobbying
4. Through legal action
5. All of the above

2. Most of what we know about the political world is mediated by which of the following?

1. Press secretaries of politicians, who issue statements to the public covering important issues concerning the government of the day
2. Political party strategists, who spin issues of public importance to the party's advantage
3. Political parties, who select important policy issues for their campaign platforms
4. Lobbyists, who work on behalf of organizations to influence policymaking directly
5. The media, which selects "news" and interprets it

3. Which of the following represents the main contact point(s) between most citizens and the political system?

1. Members of Parliament
2. Plebiscites
3. The public relations officers of political parties
4. Elections and political parties
5. Local ombudspersons

4. Approximately how many eligible voters cast ballots in the last few federal elections?

1. Six in 10
2. Seven in 10
3. Four in 10
4. Eight in 10
5. Five in 10

5. Which of the following is a criticism of Canadian democracy?

1. The ability of those with money to influence voter behaviour
2. Political parties' avoidance of important issues
3. The "dumbing down" of public life by political party spin doctors
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

6. According to Eugene Forsey, what are political parties?

1. Organizations that offer slates of candidates to voters at election time
2. Entrenched in the Constitution in order to ensure consistent representation
3. Voluntary associations of people who hold broadly similar opinions on public questions
4. Created by and are agents of the state
5. Interest groups that have a specific policy goal

7. The Marijuana Party exemplifies which characteristic of political parties?

1. Their aim to influence budgetary decision-making
2. Their attempt to acquire and exercise political power
3. Their aim to get ideas on the public stage
4. Their attempt to elect government office holders
5. Their aim to be a serious contender to form the government

8. Which of the following parties has not run candidates for election in Canada?

1. The Marxist-Leninist Party
2. The Marijuana Party
3. The Rhinoceros Party
4. All of the above have run candidates.
5. None of the above has run candidates.

9. Which of the following is not a function that political parties play?

1. Interest aggregation
2. Structuring the vote
3. Elite recruitment
4. Citizen exclusion from the political system
5. Developing policy

10. What was the predecessor of the NDP?

1. The Communist Co-operative Federation
2. The Confederate Commonwealth Federation
3. The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
4. The Canadian Confederacy Federation
5. The Communist Commonwealth Federation

11. Canada's dominant political parties have favoured which flexible centrist style of politics?

1. Combined politics
2. Coalition politics
3. Collaborative politics
4. Brokerage politics
5. Co-operative politics

12. How have Canadian politicians used brokerage politics?

1. By attempting to accommodate preferences of major interests, regions, and communities
2. By adopting a flexible policy style
3. By avoiding ideological appeals
4. By avoiding language of class politics
5. All of the above

13. Which of the following was the most successful Canadian national party in the twentieth century?

1. Liberal Party
2. Green Party
3. New Democratic Party
4. Conservative Party of Canada
5. Bloc Québécois

14. What does the success of the Liberal Party in the twentieth century demonstrate?

1. That interest aggregation is necessary in order for a party to win an election
2. That it is unnecessary that a party bring together all major groups or regions to be electorally successful
3. That it is seldom possible to avoid playing off one region against another in Canadian politics
4. That majority governments can be formed with little representation from the West
5. All of the above

15. To what can the origins of Canada's two major political parties be traced back to?

1. The mid-1800s
2. The shifting coalitions and alignments in the United Province of Canada
3. Canada's colonial ties with Britain
4. Both A and B
5. None of the above

16. What did Israël Tarte say elections are not won with?

1. Votes
2. Money
3. Liquor
4. Speeches
5. Prayers

17. What kind of political party would the Animal Protection Party of Canada be called?

1. Cadre
2. Functional
3. Mission
4. Single Issue
5. Brokerage

18. Which of the following was not part of the governing coalition of Liberal-Conservatives in the late 1880s?

1. Moderate Reformers from Ontario
2. Remnants of the old ruling oligarchies in Upper and Lower Canada
3. Representatives of commercial and industrial interests in English-speaking Quebec
4. Moderate Conservatives from Quebec
5. All of the above were part of this coalition.

19. Which of the following was not a key element of the National Policy of 1878-1879?

1. The encouragement of settlement in the West
2. The creation of a transcontinental railroad
3. The implementation of a protective tariff to promote growth
4. The desire to protect certain territories from American encroachment
5. Free trade with the Americans

20. Which of the following was a commonality between the opposition coalition of the Clear Grits of Canada West and the rouges of Canada East?

1. A hostility to the banking and commercial interests linked to Sir John A. Macdonald's governing party
2. An outspoken critical attitude towards the Roman Catholic Church
3. An interest in free trade with the Americans
4. An admiration of the republican and individualist ideas of the United States
5. All of the above

21. In the nineteenth century, why were candidates in many ridings called "ministerialists"?

1. Their politics were to support a ministry.
2. They wished to protest the introduction of the secret ballot.
3. Only those with a ministerial post could run for election.
4. Only incumbent ministers could run for election.
5. Their politics were partisan.

22. What grievance did André Siegfried have about Canadian politics?

1. That a preoccupation with questions of material interest and public works lowered the general level of political life
2. That inadequate civic participation levels lowered the general level of political life
3. That concerns with questions about voting rights lowered the general level of political life
4. That a keen interest in American politics lowered the general level of political life
5. That independent candidates would never be elected to parliament

23. What was the name of the old ruling oligarchy in Upper Canada?

1. Château Clique
2. Family Compact
3. Canada East
4. Liberal-Conservative
5. Canada West

24. What is an example of a minor party?

1. Rhinoceros Party
2. Communist Party
3. Libertarian Party
4. Christian Heritage Party
5. All of the above

25. What year was the Reform Party formed?

1. 1945
2. 1967
3. 1987
4. 1935
5. 1977

26. According to Janine Brodie and Jane Jenson, what is the most important function of political parties in liberal democracies like Canada?

1. Their role in integrating the electorate into public life
2. Their role in creating a policy agenda for the nation
3. Their role in promoting religious freedom
4. Their role in ensuring democratic processes are maintained and followed
5. Their role in creating a definition of politics

27. According to Janine Brodie and Jane Jenson, the two federal parties drew the bulk of their support from which social group?

1. Renting farmers
2. New immigrants
3. Young men
4. Property-owning males
5. Women

28. The Reform Party was founded primarily as a vehicle of which of the following?

1. Eastern discontent
2. Northern discontent
3. Discontent in Ontario
4. French Canadian discontent
5. Western discontent

29. The Canadian Alliance was not an advocate of which of the following?

1. The relaxation of party discipline
2. Institutional reforms that would increase citizens' control over MPs
3. Special treatment for Quebec as a distinct society
4. The right of constituents to recall their MPs
5. The greater use of referendums and citizen initiatives

30. Which of the following was a characteristic of Canada's "two and one-half" party system before the 1993 election?

1. The NDP was a stable minority party.
2. The Liberals and Progressive Conservatives had a realistic chance of forming a government.
3. None of the above—these came into prominence after 1993.
4. All of the above
5. The NDP occasionally held the balance of power in a minority government situation.

31. Which of the following was not significant characteristic of the 1993 election?

1. Neither the Conservatives nor the NDP elected enough MPs to qualify for official party status.
2. It was the most significant shift in Canada's national party system since the 1921 election.
3. The Bloc Québécois and Reform Party held the balance of power in government.
4. The Liberal Party won a solid majority in the House of Commons.
5. All of the above

32. What is significant about attaining official party status in the House of Commons?

1. Parties attaining this status receive funding for research staff.
2. Parties attaining this status are guaranteed to have members appointed to cabinet.
3. MPs become part of the pension.
4. MPs secure their place in the history books.
5. Parties attaining this status all receive equal media exposure and funding for their next election campaigns.

33. How did the 1997 election echo the 1993 election?

1. The majority of seats in Atlantic Canada were won by the NDP and Conservatives.
2. The Bloc Québécois continued to be the least popular party in Quebec.
3. The Conservative Party gained some ground in Quebec
4. The Reform Party dominated the Maritimes.
5. The Liberal Party swept all of Ontario's seats.

34. Which of the following can be said of the 2000 election?

1. The Bloc Québécois would never be competitive again.
2. The Liberals decreased their popular vote from 1997.
3. The Canadian Alliance made a much desired breakthrough in Ontario.
4. It was likely called by the governing party as a result of the perception that it was winnable.
5. The NDP formed the official opposition.

35. When did the NDP govern in Ontario?

1. 1990-1995
2. 1985-1990
3. 1970-1975
4. 1980-1985
5. 1975-1980

36. What tax did the Liberal Party propose in 2015 that the Conservative Party opposed?

1. Goods and Services Tax
2. Trade Tax
3. Highway Tax
4. Carbon Tax
5. Sales Tax

37. Why have the Liberals and NDP been unable to "unite the left" as the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Parties were able to "unite the right"?

1. The NDP has much more money than the Liberal Party.
2. Laws passed by the Liberals in the 1980s forbid a merger.
3. The NDP have promised a 20-year moratorium on mergers.
4. Some NDP and Liberal Party supporters cannot reconcile these two parties.
5. Such a merger would be prohibited by Elections Canada.

38. Which Canadian election comes closest to being classified as a realignment election?

1. 1896
2. 2004
3. 1958
4. 1984
5. 1904

39. What does a realignment election produce?

1. A change in the composition in the House of Commons
2. Confusing electoral boundaries
3. A durable change in the parties' bases of support
4. A change in change in political party positions
5. A change in the balance of power of government

40. Why was the 2011 election significant?

1. For the first time in party and Canadian history, the Liberal party formed neither the government nor the Her Majesty's loyal opposition.
2. The Liberals won their first majority in 11 years.
3. For the first time in party history, the Bloc Québécois formed the official opposition.
4. For the first time in party history, the Conservative party lost official party status.
5. For the first time in party and Canadian history, the NDP formed the government.

41. Explanations for the major changes in Canadian party politics in 2011 have focused on which of the following?

1. Party logos
2. The Canadian Alliance
3. Paul Martin
4. American politics
5. s' fatigue with sovereignists and their goal of Quebec independence

42. What contributed to Michael Ignatieff's assumption of the Liberal Party leadership without a leadership convention?

1. Stéphane Dion's appointment to the Senate
2. His connections at Harvard
3. Bob Rae declining to enter the race
4. Personal attacks from Stephen Harper
5. A new Liberal Party policy on leadership selection

43. Which of the following is not a model for selecting political party leaders in Canada?

1. The caucus model
2. The one-member, one-vote model
3. The convention model
4. The plurality model
5. All of the above are models.

44. Which of the following is characteristic of a single-member constituency?

1. The number of members elected by each party coincides with the popular vote.
2. It has multiple members in a single constituency.
3. One person is elected to represent the citizens of a particular riding.
4. A majority of votes is needed to win a particular riding.
5. It guarantees proportionality.

45. Which of the following is a criticism of proportional representation systems?

1. They are said to produce majority governments too easily.
2. They are said to produce unstable government.
3. They do not produce proportional results.
4. They are too simple to understand.
5. They keep out small parties.

46. Which of the following does Alan Cairns identify as a consequence for Canada's party system and national unity that flow from the single-member, simple plurality system?

1. The parliamentary composition of a party will be less representative of the different regions of the country than is that party's electoral support.
2. The voting process is confusing.
3. It only produces minority governments.
4. It tends to produce more seats than votes for the strongest party and for minor parties whose support is regionally concentrated.
5. It gives the impression that certain parties have lots of support in certain regions.

47. Based on voter surveys between 1968 and 2000, what conclusion do André Blais and colleagues arrive at with regard to declining voter turnout?

1. There are important life cycle effects on voter turnout.
2. There is a no generational effect on voter turnout.
3. Liberals are to blame.
4. There has been no actual decline in voter turnout.
5. Any generational differences detected are not related to educational cohorts and differing perceptions on the role and importance of voting among the electorate.

48. Which was the last province to give women the right to vote?

1. Quebec
2. Alberta
3. Ontario
4. Nova Scotia
5. Prince Edward Island

49. Which of the following is true about the Election Expenses Act, 1974?

1. It helped provide public funds to political candidates.
2. It included spending limits for individual candidates and political parties during election campaigns.
3. It ended up being struck down by the Supreme Court.
4. It did not include changes to the Broadcasting Act.
5. It was blocked by the Senate.

50. Which term refers to events where donors attain access to Canada's political elite?

1. Exclusive membership drives
2. Blood drives
3. Paid access opportunities
4. Exclusive lobbying opportunities
5. Philanthropist access opportunities

51. Who bankrolled the Conservative Party leading up to the 1874 federal election?

1. Hugh Allan
2. George Brown
3. Wilfrid Laurier
4. John A. Macdonald
5. Samuel Tilley

52. What was the name of the old ruling oligarchy in Lower Canada?

1. Canada East
2. Canada West
3. Château Clique
4. Family Compact
5. Liberal-Conservative

53. How many seats did the Liberal Party of Canada win west of Ontario in 1974?

1. Two
2. Three
3. 13
4. 23
5. 43

54. How many seats did the Liberal Party of Canada win west of Ontario in 1979?

1. Two
2. Three
3. 13
4. 23
5. 43

55. How many seats did the Liberal Party of Canada win west of Ontario in 1980?

1. Two
2. Three
3. 13
4. 23
5. 43

56. Which party is considered the "natural governing party"?

1. Reform Party
2. Conservative Party
3. New Democratic Party
4. Progressive Conservative Party
5. Liberal Party

57. How many Quebec voters cast a ballot for NDP candidates in the 2011 federal election?

1. One out of 10
2. Two out of 10
3. Three out of 10
4. Four out of 10
5. Five out of 10

58. What was the NDP's historic Quebec breakthrough in 2011 nicknamed?

1. Orange Wave
2. Layton Wave
3. Socialism sweep
4. NDP now
5. Orange Crush

59. How many seats did the NDP win in Quebec in the 2015 federal election?

1. 10
2. 39
3. 59
4. 29
5. 16

60. How many seats did the Green Party win in the 2015 federal election?

1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. Four
5. Five

True or False Questions

1. Only about 60 per cent of eligible voters actually vote in federal elections.

2. Canada's major parties are ideologically opposite.

3. Canadian political parties are dominated by their leader's views.

4. In the nineteenth century, candidates would often buy voters alcohol to secure their vote.

5. Minor political parties do not influence government beyond taking seats from the major parties.

6. The "unite the right" movement began in 2011 to help Stephen Harper win a Conservative majority.

7. When choosing a leader, political parties use multiple rounds of voting but the front runner usually wins.

8. In Canada's plurality system, a candidate does not need a majority to win.

9. After an election under the plurality system, the number of seats a party has is directly proportional to its percentage of votes.

10. A person who is 30 years of age is less likely to vote than someone who is 20.

11. Elections and political parties that contest them represent the main contact points between most citizens and their political system.

12. The Animal Protection Party of Canada is considered to be a multi-issue party.

13. In 2008 and 2015 the Conservative Party proposed a carbon tax.

14. In 2015, only 4 per cent of all candidates ran as independents.

15. The predecessor to the NDP was the Canadian Alliance.

16. The Bloc Québécois first won seats in the 2008 federal election.

17. The Progressive Party was formed in 1920.

18. Brian Mulroney was a unilingual Quebecer.

19. The Reform Party began life as a strictly regional organization.

20. Michael Ignatieff was the leader of the Liberal Party for the 2011 federal election.

21. In the 2015 federal election, the Liberal Party won 39.5 per cent of the popular vote and well over 50 per cent of the seats.

22. The NDP came second in seat count in the 2015 federal election.

23. Pierre Trudeau was the first French-Canadian leader of the Liberal Party.

24. Andrew Scheer won the Conservative Party leadership on the 13th round of voting.

25. The Conservative Party formed minority governments after the elections of 2006 and 2008 with 36.3 per cent and 37.6 per cent of the popular vote, and then formed a majority government in 2011 with 39.6 per cent of the vote.

Short Answer Questions

1. What were the main developments of the 1993 federal election?

2. What were the main developments of the 2000 federal election?

3. What were the main developments of the 2004 federal election?

4. What were the main developments of the 2011 federal election?

5. What are the rules of third party advertising?

6. What are some of the main criticisms of proportional representation?

7. What were some of the results of the party financing reforms of 1974?

8. What were the origins of the Reform Party of Canada?

9. Did the period from the election of 1993 to the election of 2011 produce a realignment in the Canadian party system? Explain your answer.

10. What are three examples of protest parties? What are their motivations for protest?

11. How do political parties integrate citizens into the political system?

12. How do political parties help to "organize" government?

13. How do political parties help to "organize" public opinion?

14. Name the predominant minor political parties in Canadian history and briefly describe their historical context.

15. How did western resentment affect the Liberal party of Canada under the leadership of Pierre Trudeau?

Essay Questions

1. "Ideological labels like conservative, liberal, and socialist are still meaningful in Canadian party politics and elections." Discuss, explaining why you mainly agree or disagree.

2. Parties and the manner in which they campaign for office reveal much about the nature of a country's politics. What do Canada's parties and elections tell us about Canadian politics?

3. André Siegfried lamented some of the aspects of brokerage politics in Canada, but he believed that the Canadian political style was necessary for the preservation of the country's unity. Do you think that he was right? Would this still be a reasonable defence of brokerage politics?

4. During much of the latter half of the twentieth century it was common to refer to the Liberal Party as Canada's "natural governing party". What happened to bring an end to the Liberal Party's dominance?

5. Some politicians have suggested that the NDP and the Liberal Party should merge to form a single more powerful left-of-centre party capable of defeating the Conservative Party. Do you agree or disagree? What would be the advantages and obstacles associated with such a merger?

6. Discuss the "dumbing down" of public life and its impact on electoral politics.

7. Discuss pre-Confederation Canadian political parties.

8. How different were the early Liberal and Conservative parties? What policies did they disagree on? How were they similar?

9. How has the Liberal Party used the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to create wedge issues?

10. Discuss how the current Conservative Party is a direct descendant of the Reform Party.