How does a bill become a law?
Quick answer: Approval by a majority in the House of Commons and Senate and finally the Governor General. In our practice tests 84% of 103 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Approval by the Members of the Legislative Assembly”.
Why is this the correct answer?
A bill must be approved by a majority in both the House of Commons and the Senate, and then receive Royal Assent from the Governor General before it becomes law. This three-step process ensures thorough review.
Study Tip
In Canada, the process of a bill becoming a law involves approval from different levels of government. It starts with the elected representatives in the House of Commons and the Senate.
What should you know about this topic?
In Canada, federal laws are made by Parliament, which has three parts: the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Senate and the House of Commons. A proposed law is called a bill. Discover Canada explains that a bill must pass through several stages in both houses before it can become law. These stages include first reading, second reading, committee study, report stage and third reading.
After a bill passes third reading in the House of Commons, it goes to the Senate, where it goes through a similar process. The elected House of Commons and the appointed Senate must both approve the bill in the same form. The final step is Royal Assent, which is given by the Governor General on behalf of the Sovereign. Once a bill receives Royal Assent, it becomes law. This careful process allows debate, review and changes so that laws are well considered.
This process is a key part of Canada's system of parliamentary democracy. It connects to related test topics such as the role of Members of Parliament, the role of Senators (appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister), and the role of the Crown. Provincial laws follow a similar path in each provincial legislature, where the Lieutenant Governor gives Royal Assent. Knowing the difference between federal and provincial steps will help you answer several test questions.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- The King must sign the bill: The King is Canada's Sovereign, but Royal Assent for federal laws is normally given by the Governor General as his representative.
- The Lieutenant Governor must approve the bill: The Lieutenant Governor gives Royal Assent to provincial bills, not federal laws passed by Parliament.
- Approval by the Members of the Legislative Assembly: MLAs make provincial laws in provincial legislatures; federal bills must pass the House of Commons and the Senate.
What is the most common mistake?
Many people think the King personally signs every Canadian law. In practice, the Governor General gives Royal Assent to federal bills on the Sovereign's behalf, after both the House of Commons and the Senate approve them.
How can you remember the answer?
Remember "House, Senate, GG": a federal bill climbs the House of Commons, then the Senate, then gets the Governor General's Royal Assent.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
84% of 103 practice answers from about 74 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Approval by the Members of the Legislative Assembly", chosen 7% 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 65th easiest 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.