Canadian Law and Justice Study Guide for the Citizenship Test
Canada is founded on the rule of law, which means everyone, including governments, is subject to the law and no one is above it. Canada's legal tradition draws on English common law, the civil law of France used in Quebec, and the customs of Indigenous peoples. Historic milestones such as the Magna Carta of 1215, known as the Great Charter of Freedoms, and the right of habeas corpus shaped these freedoms.
The courts apply the law and protect people's rights, with the Supreme Court of Canada as the highest court. A key principle is the presumption of innocence: anyone charged with an offence is considered innocent until proven guilty. Police forces, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), keep people safe and enforce the law.
Key facts to remember
- Canada is founded on the rule of law, so no one is above the law.
- The Magna Carta of 1215 is known as the Great Charter of Freedoms.
- The Supreme Court of Canada is the country's highest court.
- People are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
- The RCMP is Canada's national police force.
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20 questions from this topic, with answers and explanations.
Canadian law comes from several sources. Which of the following is one of them?
Answer: Laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures.
Per Discover Canada, Canadian law has several sources, including laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France, and the unwritten constitution inherited from Britain.
Fill in the blank. One of Canada's founding principles, meaning individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions, is the ______.
Answer: rule of law.
Per Discover Canada, one of Canada's founding principles is the rule of law: individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions, and no person or group is above the law.
In Canada’s justice system what does “presumption of innocence” mean?
Answer: Everyone is innocent until proven guilty
Presumption of innocence means a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty per Discover Canada.
In Canadian law, from which legal tradition does habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention, come?
Answer: English common law.
Per Discover Canada, habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, comes from English common law.
In Canada, are you allowed to question the police about their service or conduct?
Answer: Yes, if you feel the need to.
Discover Canada says you are free to question police about their service or conduct if you feel the need to.
What is the role of the courts in Canada?
Answer: To settle disputes.
The role of the courts is to settle disputes per Discover Canada.
True/False. In Canada, a person charged with an offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Answer: True
True. Presumption of innocence means a person is considered innocent until proven guilty.
Fill in the blank. The highest court in Canada is ______.
Answer: The Supreme Court of Canada
Discover Canada identifies the Supreme Court of Canada as the highest court.
In Canadian law, what is meant by "habeas corpus"?
Answer: The right to challenge unlawful detention by the state
Discover Canada describes habeas corpus, from English common law, as the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state.
Fill in the blank. One role of the police in Canada is ______.
Answer: to enforce the law
The police are there to keep people safe and to enforce the law. They can be federal, provincial or municipal.
What is the role of a jury in Canada?
Answer: Ordinary citizens decide whether a person accused of a crime is guilty
Serving on a jury is a responsibility of citizenship. Juries of ordinary citizens decide the outcome of a trial, which is why the justice system depends on impartial juries.
In which two provinces does the RCMP NOT serve as the provincial police force?
Answer: Ontario and Quebec
The RCMP is the federal police and serves as the provincial police everywhere except Ontario and Quebec, which have their own provincial forces.
Fill in the blank. If a person needs a lawyer but cannot pay for one, they can get ______, a free or low-cost service.
Answer: legal aid
In most communities there are legal aid services that provide free or low-cost legal help to those who cannot afford a lawyer.
What was the name of the police force, established in 1873, that became today's Royal Canadian Mounted Police?
Answer: The North West Mounted Police
Prime Minister Macdonald established the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1873; it became the RCMP.
Fill in the blank. The RCMP's training academy is located in ______.
Answer: Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, is home to the RCMP training academy.
In Canada, are politicians, police officers and judges required to obey the law?
Answer: Yes, because no one is above the law
One of Canada's founding principles is the rule of law: individuals and governments are regulated by laws, and no person or group, including officials, is above the law.
Canada's legal system is based on a heritage that includes the rule of law, freedom under the law, democratic principles and what else?
Answer: Due process.
Canada's legal system is based on a heritage that includes the rule of law, freedom under the law, democratic principles and due process.
What is due process?
Answer: The principle that the government must respect all the legal rights a person is entitled to under the law.
Due process is the principle that the government must respect all the legal rights a person is entitled to under the law, per Discover Canada.
Which court deals with matters concerning the federal government?
Answer: The Federal Court of Canada.
The Supreme Court of Canada is our highest court, and the Federal Court of Canada deals with matters concerning the federal government.
Which courts deal with civil cases involving small sums of money?
Answer: Small claims courts.
Provinces have trial and appeal courts, plus provincial courts for lesser offences, family courts, traffic courts and small claims courts for civil cases involving small sums of money.
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