What is the government of all of Canada called?
Quick answer: Federal. In our practice tests 86% of 100 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “National assembly”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The government of all of Canada is called the federal government. It is based in Ottawa and is responsible for national matters like defence, foreign policy, and criminal law.
Study Tip
Think about the term used to describe the central government in Canada, which is responsible for making laws and policies for the entire country. It's a key concept in Canadian federalism.
What should you know about this topic?
The government of all of Canada is called the federal government. Canada is a federal state, which means power is shared between the federal government and the provincial and territorial governments. The federal government, based in Ottawa, is responsible for matters that affect the whole country. Discover Canada lists examples such as national defence, foreign policy, interprovincial trade and communications, currency, navigation, criminal law and citizenship.
The provinces are responsible for other areas, such as municipal government, education, health, natural resources, property and civil rights, and highways. Some areas are shared, such as agriculture and immigration. This system was set up at Confederation in 1867 so that both English and French Canada, and very different regions, could govern themselves in important local matters while working together on national ones.
This question connects to several related test topics: the three levels of government (federal, provincial or territorial, and municipal), the role of the Prime Minister as head of the federal government, and the role of the House of Commons. A frequent test pattern is to ask which level of government handles a specific area, so knowing the split of responsibilities is very useful. The National Assembly is the name of Quebec's provincial legislature, not the national government. Members of Parliament elected in each riding sit in the House of Commons and help the federal government make laws for all Canadians.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Council: A council usually refers to municipal government, such as a city council, led by a mayor.
- Legislature: "Legislature" usually refers to a provincial law-making body, not the national government.
- National assembly: The National Assembly is Quebec's provincial legislature in Quebec City, not the government of all of Canada.
What is the most common mistake?
"National Assembly" sounds like it should mean the national government, but it is the name of Quebec's provincial legislature. The government of all of Canada is the federal government.
How can you remember the answer?
Federal sounds like "federation", a union of provinces; the federal government governs the whole union from Ottawa.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
86% of 100 practice answers from about 71 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "National assembly", 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 58th 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.
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.