How are Members of Parliament chosen?
Quick answer: Elected by Canadian citizens. In our practice tests 79% of 98 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Appointed by the Prime Minister”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by Canadian citizens in their riding during federal elections. Each riding elects one MP to represent them in the House of Commons.
Study Tip
Members of Parliament are chosen through a democratic process involving Canadian citizens, but it's not the provinces that directly choose them.
What should you know about this topic?
Members of Parliament, or MPs, are the people who sit in the House of Commons in Ottawa. Each MP represents one electoral district, also called a riding or constituency. Canada is divided into hundreds of these districts, and the number of seats is reviewed after each census so representation keeps up with population changes.
MPs are elected by Canadian citizens in federal elections. Federal elections must be held on or before a fixed date every four years, though an election can be called earlier, for example if the government loses a confidence vote. On election day, voters in each riding choose among the candidates on the ballot. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat, even if they did not get more than half of all votes. Candidates may belong to a political party or run as independents.
Once elected, MPs debate and vote on bills, represent the concerns of the people in their riding, and hold the government to account. This is different from the Senate, the other house of Parliament. Senators are not elected; they are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and may serve until age 75. Related test topics include the three parts of Parliament (the Sovereign, the Senate and the House of Commons), how a bill becomes law, and who is eligible to vote.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Appointed by the King: The King does not appoint MPs. Members of the House of Commons are chosen by voters in their riding.
- Appointed by the Prime Minister: The Prime Minister does not appoint MPs. The Prime Minister advises on the appointment of senators, which is a different role.
- Elected by the Provincial Ministers: Provincial ministers work in provincial governments and have no role in electing federal MPs.
What is the most common mistake?
People sometimes mix up MPs and senators. MPs are elected by citizens; senators are appointed.
How can you remember the answer?
MP = My Pick. Citizens pick their MP with their vote.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
79% of 98 practice answers from about 74 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Appointed by the Prime Minister", chosen 14% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 75th hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the How Canadians Govern Themselves chapter is 77% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more How Canadians Govern Themselves questions.
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Test yourself with questions from How Canadians Govern Themselves. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the How Canadians Govern Themselves section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 47 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.