What are the three parts of Parliament?
Quick answer: The Sovereign, the House of Commons and the Senate. In our practice tests 61% of 117 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “The House of Commons, the Legislative Assembly and the Senate”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General), the Senate (upper house, appointed), and the House of Commons (lower house, elected). All three must agree for a bill to become law.
Study Tip
Think about the structure of Canada's federal government and the roles of its key institutions. The correct answer involves the three main branches of the Canadian Parliament.
What should you know about this topic?
Canada's Parliament has three parts: the Sovereign (the King), the Senate, and the House of Commons. Together they make federal laws. The King is represented in Canada by the Governor General, who gives Royal Assent to bills in the King's name.
The House of Commons is the representative chamber. Its Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by Canadians, one for each electoral district (riding). The Senate is the upper house. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. A bill must be passed by both the House of Commons and the Senate, and then receive Royal Assent, before it becomes law. The House of Commons has the most power because its members are elected. Most bills start there, and the government must keep the confidence of the House to stay in power. The Senate reviews these bills carefully and can suggest changes before they move forward.
This structure follows the British Westminster tradition and reflects Canada's status as a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are part of the executive branch and answer to the House of Commons, but the Prime Minister is not one of the three parts of Parliament. Provinces have a similar structure: a Legislative Assembly (called the National Assembly in Quebec, and the House of Assembly in some provinces) plus a Lieutenant Governor. For the test, link this question with how a bill becomes law and with the difference between federal and provincial governments.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- The King, the Legislative Assembly and the Senate: This includes a Legislative Assembly, which is provincial, and leaves out the House of Commons.
- The Sovereign, Governor General and Prime Minister: The Governor General represents the Sovereign but is not a separate part, and the Prime Minister leads the government rather than being one of Parliament's three parts.
- The House of Commons, the Legislative Assembly and the Senate: A Legislative Assembly is a provincial or territorial body, not part of the federal Parliament.
What is the most common mistake?
People often list the Prime Minister or the Governor General as a part of Parliament. The three parts are the Sovereign, the Senate, and the House of Commons.
How can you remember the answer?
"King, Senate, Commons: K-S-C": one is born to it, one is appointed, one is elected.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
61% of 117 practice answers from about 76 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "The House of Commons, the Legislative Assembly and the Senate", chosen 23% 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 19th 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.