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Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
A short summary of what to know, then 15 free practice questions with answers.
What to know
Canada’s rights and freedoms come from centuries of tradition, including the English Magna Carta of 1215 and habeas corpus, the right to challenge being held unlawfully by the state. Today they are written into the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which became part of the Constitution in 1982.
The Charter protects fundamental freedoms: freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association. It also covers mobility rights, Aboriginal peoples’ rights, official language and minority language education rights, and multiculturalism. Men and women are equal under the law.
Citizenship also brings responsibilities: obeying the law, taking responsibility for yourself and your family, serving on a jury when called, voting in elections, helping others in your community, and protecting Canada’s heritage and environment. Military service is not compulsory, but you can choose to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, the Reserves, or as a police officer, firefighter or member of the Coast Guard.
New citizens take the Oath of Citizenship, swearing allegiance to King Charles III, Canada’s Sovereign, and his heirs and successors, and promising to observe Canada’s laws, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Key facts to remember
- The Charter of Rights and Freedoms became part of the Constitution in 1982.
- Freedom of religion, expression, peaceful assembly and association are fundamental freedoms.
- Nobody is above the law, including government leaders and the police.
- Voting, jury duty and obeying the law are responsibilities of citizenship.
- Military service is voluntary in Canada.
- Applicants aged 18 to 54 generally need to take the citizenship test.
Read the official chapter
This summary is our own and doesn’t replace the official guide. Read “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship” and “Applying for Citizenship” in Discover Canada on canada.ca, then test yourself below. Next topic: Who we are.
Written by ChowChow Labs from Discover Canada. Last reviewed . Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Question 1 · Rights & Responsibilities
Under the Charter, freedom of religion belongs to which category?
- A. A mobility right
- B. A fundamental freedom
- C. A language right
- D. A responsibility of citizenship
Show answer
Answer: B. A fundamental freedom
Religious freedom sits alongside expression, assembly and association in the group of fundamental freedoms.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 2 · Citizenship
A Canadian who wants to serve in the military part-time, near home, can join what?
- A. The House of Commons
- B. The Canada Revenue Agency
- C. The Reserves
- D. Elections Canada
Show answer
Answer: C. The Reserves
Canadians can serve full-time in the regular Forces or part-time in the Reserves in their local area.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 3 · Citizenship
In the Oath of Citizenship, new citizens promise to faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil their duties as Canadian citizens.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: A. True
These promises are part of the Oath taken at the citizenship ceremony.Source: Discover Canada, “Applying for Citizenship”
Question 4 · Citizenship
In Canada, government leaders and police officers are above the law.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: B. False
No one is above the law in Canada; everyone, including officials and police, must obey it.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 5 · Citizenship
Besides the military, which is a way Canadians can serve and protect their communities?
- A. Avoiding all public service
- B. Ignoring local elections
- C. Refusing jury duty
- D. Serving as a firefighter or in the Coast Guard
Show answer
Answer: D. Serving as a firefighter or in the Coast Guard
Police work, firefighting and the Coast Guard are other ways to serve.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 6 · Citizenship
Besides the King, the Oath of Citizenship pledges allegiance to whom?
- A. The Prime Minister and Cabinet
- B. The provincial premiers
- C. The Chief Justice of Canada
- D. His heirs and successors
Show answer
Answer: D. His heirs and successors
New citizens swear or affirm allegiance to the King of Canada and his heirs and successors, not to any politician.Source: Discover Canada, “Applying for Citizenship”
Question 7 · Citizenship
Spousal abuse may be excused in Canada if it is part of a cultural tradition.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: B. False
Cultural tradition is never an excuse: spousal abuse is a crime in Canada and is punished under the law.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 8 · Rights & Responsibilities
How do Canadians vote so that no one else knows their choice?
- A. By a show of hands
- B. By secret ballot
- C. By signing their name on the ballot
- D. By announcing it publicly
Show answer
Answer: B. By secret ballot
Canadian elections use a secret ballot, so each voter's choice stays private.Source: Discover Canada, “Federal Elections”
Question 9 · Citizenship
Since 2021, the Oath of Citizenship refers to the Constitution recognizing and affirming whose rights?
- A. The property rights of landowners
- B. The Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples
- C. The rights of provincial premiers
- D. The rights of foreign governments
Show answer
Answer: B. The Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples
The updated Oath commits new citizens to observe the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.Source: Discover Canada, “Applying for Citizenship”
Question 10 · Rights & Responsibilities
What does habeas corpus protect?
- A. The right to challenge unlawful detention by the state
- B. The right to vote in elections
- C. The right to own property
- D. The right to free health care
Show answer
Answer: A. The right to challenge unlawful detention by the state
Habeas corpus, an English common law tradition, lets a person challenge being detained unlawfully by the state.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 11 · Citizenship
Since 2022, Canada's Sovereign, named in the Oath of Citizenship, has been whom?
- A. Queen Elizabeth II
- B. King Charles III
- C. King George VI
- D. King Edward VII
Show answer
Answer: B. King Charles III
King Charles III became King of Canada in 2022, succeeding Queen Elizabeth II.Source: Discover Canada, “Applying for Citizenship”
Question 12 · Rights & Responsibilities
Minority language education rights in the Charter concern education in which languages?
- A. French and Michif
- B. English and Inuktitut
- C. English and French
- D. Any language chosen by the parents
Show answer
Answer: C. English and French
The Charter protects the right of official-language minorities to have their children educated in English or French.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 13 · Citizenship
Applicants of what ages generally must take the citizenship knowledge test?
- A. 18 to 54
- B. 14 to 64
- C. 16 to 70
- D. 21 to 60
Show answer
Answer: A. 18 to 54
Adult applicants aged 18 to 54 must generally show knowledge of Canada and of English or French.Source: Discover Canada, “Applying for Citizenship”
Question 14 · Citizenship
Military service is compulsory for Canadian citizens.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: B. False
Canada does not conscript its citizens, though many choose to serve in the Armed Forces.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
Question 15 · Rights & Responsibilities
Joining a labour union or a community club is an example of which Charter freedom?
- A. Mobility rights
- B. Freedom of association
- C. Minority language education rights
- D. Habeas corpus
Show answer
Answer: B. Freedom of association
Freedom of association, one of the fundamental freedoms, protects Canadians' ability to form and join groups.Source: Discover Canada, “Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship”
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