Master the Canadian Citizenship Test! With tailored quizzes, real test simulations, detailed explanations, and expert tips. With over 500 questions. Updated for 2025

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What constitutes a majority government?

  1. When the opposition holds more seats than the governing party.

  2. When no single party has members in the House of Commons.

  3. When the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons.

  4. When there are an equal number of seats held by all parties.

The correct answer is: When the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons.

A majority government is formed when the party in power holds at least half of the seats in the House of Commons. This means that the governing party has the most seats and therefore has the power to pass legislation without relying on support from opposition parties. The other options mentioned in the choices are incorrect because they do not meet the definition of a majority government. Option A suggests a minority government, in which the opposition parties hold more seats than the governing party. Option B, on the other hand, describes a hung parliament, where no party has a clear majority. Option D describes a situation of a split parliament, where there is no majority party. Therefore, it is necessary for a party to hold at least half of the seats in the House of Commons in order to form a majority government.