How is a Cabinet Minister chosen?
Quick answer: By the Prime Minister. In our practice tests 78% of 107 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “By the voters”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Cabinet Ministers are chosen by the Prime Minister. The Cabinet (also called the Ministry) is made up of MPs and sometimes Senators selected by the PM to lead government departments.
Study Tip
In Canada, the selection process for Cabinet Ministers is tied to the Prime Minister's authority. The individual chosen typically has a strong connection to the Prime Minister.
What should you know about this topic?
In Canada's system of parliamentary democracy, the Prime Minister chooses the Cabinet Ministers. Cabinet Ministers are usually Members of Parliament from the governing party, and sometimes senators. Once chosen, they are formally appointed by the Governor General on the Prime Minister's advice. Each minister is responsible for running a federal department, such as Finance, Health or Immigration.
The Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, is the centre of the executive branch. It prepares the federal budget, proposes most new laws and makes key decisions about government policy. Ministers must have the support, or confidence, of the elected House of Commons. If the government loses a confidence vote, it must resign or ask for an election. This principle is called responsible government, and it has been central to Canadian democracy since the 1840s. Ministers are expected to defend their decisions in Question Period.
Voters do not elect Cabinet Ministers directly. They elect their local Member of Parliament. The leader of the party with the most support in the House usually becomes Prime Minister, and then picks the team of ministers. This links to other test topics: the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial), the role of the Governor General, and how a bill becomes law.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- By the King: The Sovereign's representative formally appoints ministers, but only on the Prime Minister's advice; the King does not choose them.
- By the voters: Voters elect Members of Parliament, not Cabinet Ministers.
- By other Cabinet Ministers: Ministers do not choose each other; the selection belongs to the Prime Minister alone.
What is the most common mistake?
Because the Governor General formally swears ministers in, some people think the King or voters choose them. In practice, the Prime Minister selects every Cabinet Minister.
How can you remember the answer?
The PM "picks the team": think of the Prime Minister as the coach who chooses the players for Cabinet.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
78% of 107 practice answers from about 80 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "By the voters", chosen 11% 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 72nd 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.
Practice This Chapter
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.