Lecture Outlines

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Many Canadians are deeply alienated from their politicians, and many Quebeckers would like to leave Canada to set up their own country. What has gone wrong? This class offers on overview of Canada Constitution and government institutions, as a way to see what works well and what doesn't. This should help you understand how our country is being governed, how political power is channeled and exercised. Knowing that, we can have a much better idea of what can and should be fixed, and perhaps a better  appreciation of the limitations of political institutions to accommodate deep divisions within a society. 

The class will be based on two hours of lectures per week and a tutorial session. Students have a mid-term test on Feb 20, a term paper due on in March 26, and a TWO-hour final exam on April 16 at 9:00 to 11:00 am. The term paper should be about 3000 words, or the equivalent of 12 to 14 typed pages.  Essay topics are available here.

Prerequisite: POL100/101 or POL151 

The distribution of grades will be:
 
• Mid-term exam 10%
• Term paper * 35% - Due March 26 in class or tutorial
• Final exam 35% April 164th, 9:00-11:00 am
• Simulation 5%
• Tutorial participation 15%  

* Students are required to submit their essays to the Turnitin.com service in order to get credit for the assignment.

Rand Dyck, Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches, 7th.ed. 

Charlton & Barker, Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues, Custom Reader's Choice Edition
 

TUTORIAL MEETINGS

Each student will meet once a week with a tutorial group, which is meant to provide an opportunity for small group discussion. In order to develop public speaking skills, you will have to give a very short (5 minutes max.) presentation to the group on a reading in the tutorial textbook - Charlton & Barker, Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues (7th.ed.). These presentations should give a summary of the authors' views and some personal comment on the subject. Choose either a YES or NO article from the list of readings below.

The tutorials also are a chance to ask detailed questions about the material covered in the lectures. Attendance is compulsory, but you are allowed one missed session before marks will be deducted. Tutorial participation grades divided into 5% attendance, 5% presentation, and 5% general participation.
 

Jan 8: No meeting

Jan 15: Organizational Gathering

Jan 22:  Can Native Sovereignty Co-exist with Canadian Sovereignty?

Jan 29:  Should the Federal Government Play a Leading Role in Health Care?

Feb 5:   Do Drinking and Driving Laws Discriminate Against Young Drivers?

Feb 12: NO TUTORIALS THIS WEEK - Mid-term break

Feb 19: Essay writing tutorial

Feb 26: Are Prohibitions on Private Health Care Inconsistent with the Charter of Rights?

Mar 5:  Is the Prime Minister too Powerful?

Mar 12:  Is Majority Government More Effective than a Minority Government?

Mar 19: Should Party Discipline be Relaxed?

Mar 26:  Should Representation in Parliament Mirror Canada’s Social Diversity?

Apr 2: Is the Canadian Charter of Rights Anti-Democratic?

Apr 9: Simulation