Canadian Citizenship Test: Laws and the courts practice questions

Start from the presumption of innocence and the rule of law. The Supreme Court of Canada is the highest court, not a committee of Parliament. Criminal law is federal. The Mounties began as the North-West Mounted Police in 1873.

Question 1

The phrase 'presumption of innocence' means that a person charged with a crime

  1. is innocent until proven guilty
  2. is guilty until they prove innocence
  3. is judged by the Prime Minister
  4. must testify against themselves

Answer: is innocent until proven guilty

The prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The accused does not have to prove innocence, is not judged by the Prime Minister, and cannot be compelled to testify against themselves. Treating a charge as guilt is the error the presumption exists to prevent.

Question 2

The highest court in Canada is

  1. the Federal Court
  2. the Supreme Court of Canada
  3. the Senate sitting as a court
  4. a provincial small-claims court

Answer: the Supreme Court of Canada

The Supreme Court of Canada is the final court of appeal. The Federal Court hears many cases involving federal law and is not the highest court. The Senate is a house of Parliament. Small-claims courts deal with modest civil disputes in the provinces.

Question 3

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police trace their origin to the

  1. railway police of the Canadian Pacific in 1885
  2. militia of the War of 1812
  3. North-West Mounted Police, formed in 1873
  4. town watch of Quebec in 1608

Answer: North-West Mounted Police, formed in 1873

Parliament created the North-West Mounted Police in 1873. The force became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1920. The Pacific railway, the War of 1812 militia and the early town of Quebec are real parts of the story and are not the origin of the Mounties.