How is the Prime Minister chosen?
Quick answer: The leader of the party with the most elected representatives becomes the Prime Minister. In our practice tests 91% of 90 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “The MPs vote on the Prime Minister”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The Prime Minister is the leader of the party that wins the most seats in a federal election. They are not directly elected as PM — Canadians vote for their local MP, and the winning party's leader becomes PM.
Study Tip
In Canada, the Prime Minister is chosen based on the outcome of a democratic process. The answer involves the party with the most elected representatives in the House of Commons.
What should you know about this topic?
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government in Canada. Unlike in some countries, Canadians do not vote directly for the Prime Minister. They vote for a Member of Parliament in their own riding. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons.
After an election, the Governor General invites the leader of the party with the most seats to form the government. That leader is sworn in as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then selects Cabinet ministers, who are responsible for running federal departments and for preparing the budget and proposing most new laws. Cabinet ministers are usually chosen from among the MPs of the governing party.
Because Canada has responsible government, the Prime Minister and Cabinet must keep the confidence, or support, of the majority of the House of Commons. If they lose a confidence vote, they must resign or ask the Governor General to call an election. Party leaders are chosen by the members of their own party, so a Prime Minister can change between elections if the governing party picks a new leader. Related test topics include the role of Cabinet, majority and minority governments, and the difference between the Head of State (the Sovereign) and the Head of Government. Cabinet ministers are usually chosen from among elected MPs.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- The MPs vote on the Prime Minister: MPs do not hold a vote to elect the Prime Minister. The leader of the party with the most seats is invited to govern.
- The King appoints the Prime Minister: The Governor General formally swears in the Prime Minister on behalf of the King, but the choice follows the election result, not the King's personal decision.
- The Governor General with the Senate appoint the Prime Minister: The Senate has no role in choosing the Prime Minister. The Senate reviews bills passed by the House of Commons.
What is the most common mistake?
Newcomers often think Canada has a direct vote for the Prime Minister like a presidential election. Remember that Canadians vote for local MPs, and the leader of the party with the most seats becomes Prime Minister.
How can you remember the answer?
Lead the party, win the most seats, lead the country.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
91% of 90 practice answers from about 71 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "The MPs vote on the Prime Minister", chosen 4% 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 30th 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.