Rights and Responsibilities of Canadian Citizens Study Guide

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been part of the Constitution since 1982. It sets out the rights and freedoms Canadians believe are necessary in a free and democratic society. It protects fundamental freedoms such as freedom of religion, freedom of thought and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association, along with mobility, legal, and equality rights.

With those rights come responsibilities. Canadian citizens are expected to obey the law, take responsibility for themselves and their family, serve on a jury when called, vote in elections, help others in the community, and protect Canada's heritage and environment.

Key facts to remember

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms became part of the Constitution in 1982.
Fundamental freedoms include religion, thought and expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
Responsibilities include obeying the law and serving on a jury when called.
Voting in elections is both a right and a responsibility.
Citizens are expected to help others and protect Canada's environment and heritage.

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Rights & Responsibilities practice questions & answers

41 questions from this topic, with answers and explanations.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms begins by stating that Canada is founded upon principles that recognize what?
Answer: The supremacy of God and the rule of law
The Charter begins: 'Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.'
Name two fundamental freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Answer: Freedom of conscience and religion, and Freedom of association.
Both are among the fundamental freedoms listed in the Charter per Discover Canada.
True/False. Volunteers are paid for the time they spend helping others in the community.
Answer: False
False. Volunteers freely donate their time to help others without pay; that is what makes it volunteering.
True/False. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was entrenched in the Constitution in 1982.
Answer: True
True. The Constitution was amended in 1982 to entrench the Charter.
True/False. When you become a Canadian citizen, you gain the right to apply for a Canadian passport.
Answer: True
True. Mobility rights let citizens enter and leave Canada freely and apply for a passport.
Name three additional rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Answer: Mobility rights, Multiculturalism, and Aboriginal Peoples' rights.
The Charter protects mobility rights, Aboriginal peoples' rights and multiculturalism among additional rights listed in Discover Canada.
True/False. In Canada, men and women are equal under the law.
Answer: True
True. Equality of men and women under the law is a fundamental Canadian value.
What is meant by the equality of women and men?
Answer: Men and women are equal under the law.
Discover Canada states equality of women and men means they are equal under the law.
Which of the following is a responsibility of citizenship rather than a right?
Answer: Serving on a jury when asked.
Discover Canada lists serving on a jury as a responsibility of citizenship, along with obeying the law, voting, helping others in the community, and protecting the environment.
True/False. To become a Canadian citizen, you must be able to speak both English and French.
Answer: False
False. Applicants need adequate knowledge of English OR French, not both.
Which statement about military service in Canada is correct?
Answer: There is no compulsory military service; serving in the Canadian Forces is voluntary
There is no compulsory military service in Canada; serving in the Canadian Forces (navy, army, air force) is voluntary.
Which of the following is NOT one of the fundamental freedoms protected by the Charter?
Answer: The right to own property
The Charter's fundamental freedoms are conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression (including speech and the press); peaceful assembly; and association. Property rights are not among them.
Adult citizenship applicants of what age and over do not have to meet the language requirement or write the citizenship test?
Answer: 55 and over
Applicants aged 18-54 must have adequate knowledge of English or French and write the test; those 55 and over are exempt.
According to the Charter, what do Mobility Rights allow Canadians to do?
Answer: Live and work anywhere in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a passport.
Per Discover Canada, Mobility Rights mean Canadians can live and work anywhere they choose in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a passport.
Canada’s openness and generosity do NOT extend to which of the following?
Answer: Barbaric cultural practices such as spousal abuse, “honour killings,” or forced marriage.
Discover Canada states that Canada does not tolerate barbaric cultural practices such as spousal abuse, “honour killings,” female genital mutilation, or forced marriage; those responsible are severely punished.
True/False. Serving on a jury when called is a responsibility of Canadian citizenship.
Answer: True
True. When called, you are legally required to serve on a jury; it is a responsibility of citizenship.
True/False. English common law and the civil code of France are both sources of Canadian law.
Answer: True
True. Canadian law draws on laws passed by Parliament and the legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France, and the unwritten constitution inherited from Britain.
Fill in the blank. Serving in the Canadian Forces is ______.
Answer: a voluntary and noble way to contribute to Canada
There is no compulsory military service in Canada. Serving in the regular Canadian Forces is a noble way to contribute and an excellent career choice.
Under the Charter, the guaranteed rights and freedoms will not adversely affect the treaty or other rights of which peoples?
Answer: Aboriginal peoples.
Per Discover Canada, Aboriginal Peoples' Rights are protected: the rights guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of Aboriginal peoples.
Name six responsibilities of citizenship.
Answer: Obeying the law, taking responsibility for oneself and one's family, helping others in the community, voting in elections, serving on a jury, protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment.
These are the six responsibilities of citizenship listed in Discover Canada.
True/False. All Canadian citizens are required by law to serve in the military.
Answer: False
False. There is no compulsory military service in Canada; serving is voluntary.
True/False. Habeas corpus is the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state.
Answer: True
True. Habeas corpus, from English common law, is the right to challenge unlawful detention.
True/False. Protecting and enjoying Canada's natural, cultural and architectural heritage and environment is one of the responsibilities of citizenship.
Answer: True
True. Per Discover Canada, protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment (avoiding waste and pollution and protecting Canada's natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations) is a responsibility of citizenship.
True/False. In Canada, the right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote in federal, provincial or territorial, and local elections.
Answer: True
True. Per Discover Canada, voting in elections is a responsibility of citizenship: the right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote in federal, provincial or territorial, and local elections.
Which of the following is a right reserved specifically for Canadian citizens?
Answer: The right to vote in elections
Voting (and running for office) is a right reserved for citizens. Legal rights such as a lawyer and a fair trial apply to everyone in Canada, not only citizens.
True/False. Multiculturalism is a fundamental characteristic of Canadian heritage and identity.
Answer: True
True. Multiculturalism is described in the guide as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian identity.
True/False. Helping others in the community is one of the responsibilities of Canadian citizens.
Answer: True
True. Helping others is listed among the responsibilities of citizenship; millions of Canadians volunteer their time.
Which of the following is a way to take on the responsibility of helping others in your community?
Answer: All of the above
Helping others can mean assisting at a school, freely donating your time, volunteering at a food bank, and more; all of these are ways to contribute.
Give an example of how you can show responsibility by participating in your community.
Answer: Volunteer.
Discover Canada lists volunteering as a way to show responsibility and participate in the community.
Fill in the blank. The Charter's four fundamental freedoms are conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression; peaceful assembly; and ______.
Answer: association
The four fundamental freedoms are: conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression (including speech and press); peaceful assembly; and association.
What is the name of the official study guide for the citizenship test?
Answer: Discover Canada
The only official study guide for the citizenship test is 'Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.'
Name two key documents that contain our rights and freedoms.
Answer: Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Magna Carta (the Great Charter of Freedoms).
Discover Canada cites the Charter and the Magna Carta as key documents of rights and freedoms.
Give an example of where English and French have equal status in Canada.
Answer: In the Parliament of Canada.
English and French have equal status in Parliament, federal courts and federal institutions per Discover Canada.
The Official Languages Act (1969) guarantees what?
Answer: French and English services in the federal government
The Official Languages Act (1969) guarantees French and English services in the federal government across Canada.
Fill in the blank. ______ is not a responsibility of Canadian citizens.
Answer: Owning your own home
The guide lists responsibilities such as obeying the law, serving on a jury, voting, helping others, and caring for yourself and your family. Owning a home is not a responsibility of citizenship.
Canada's tradition of ordered liberty traces back to which 1215 English document, also called the Great Charter of Freedoms?
Answer: Magna Carta
Discover Canada dates Canada's 800-year tradition of ordered liberty to the Magna Carta (the Great Charter of Freedoms), signed in England in 1215.
What part of the Constitution legally protects the basic rights and freedoms of all Canadians?
Answer: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the Constitution protects Canadians' basic rights and freedoms.
What are some examples of taking responsibility for yourself and your family?
Answer: Getting a job, taking care of one's family and working hard in keeping with one's abilities.
Discover Canada lists getting a job, providing for one's family and working hard as responsibilities of citizenship.
Fatima is a new immigrant in Canada. What law allows her to take a job at par with a man?
Answer: Equality of women and men
Discover Canada lists 'equality of women and men' as a fundamental Canadian value ensuring women can work on equal terms with men.
What will you promise when you take the Oath of Citizenship?
Answer: Pledge allegiance to the King, observe the laws of Canada and fulfil the duties of a Canadian.
The Oath of Citizenship includes pledging allegiance to the Sovereign, observing Canada's laws and fulfilling one's duties as a citizen.
Which of the following is a fundamental freedom guaranteed to everyone in Canada?
Answer: Freedom of peaceful assembly
Freedom of peaceful assembly is one of the Charter's fundamental freedoms. Free education, a guaranteed job and firearm ownership are not fundamental freedoms.

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