Fall 2024 - POL 221 D100

Introduction to Canadian Government (3)

Class Number: 4254

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2024: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 15, 2024: Tue, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 12, 2024
    Thu, 9:29–9:29 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    POL 100 or 151 or permission of department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the institutional order and political structure of the Canadian state. The course will include topics such as the constitution, parliament, cabinet, judiciary, public service and federal-provincial relations.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description:

Why do governments find it so difficult to address issues like climate change, drug overdoses and the housing crisis? How do the Canadian and BC governments respond to these issues – and how will this play out in this fall’s BC election?

This course introduces you to how your government works, in particular the parliamentary system, federalism and the constitution. Understanding these concepts will give you insight into how our political system deals with today’s major challenges. This semester, we will focus on the BC 2024 election, which takes place on October 19.

We will begin by examining Canada’s parliamentary system, contrasting it to the US presidential system. This part of the course will cover the major national institutions: Parliament, the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In the second part of the course, we will focus on the relationship between the Canadian and BC governments. We will ask how this is affected by federalism and political parties, and study how both governments are elected.

We will put this knowledge into practice in a class simulation of the Canadian Parliament. The  opposition parties will be trying bring down the government, and all parties will be reacting to the results of the BC election.

We will then ask what limits the Canadian and BC governments’ power, focusing on the courts, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Indigenous governments. What happens when these institutions comes into conflict with one another?

Course Organization:

There will be an in-person 2-hour lecture plus an in-person tutorial, once a week. We will have a parliamentary simulation on Oct 28 and Nov 4, which is an essential element of the course. Please make sure you are available those days before registering. You are expected to submit written assignments to Turnitin.

Course Evaluation:

Objective Evaluation % of Course Grade

Developing communication skills:

i)       Oral discussion of Canadian politics

ii)      Teamwork: planning strategies and projects

iii)    Written argumentation




Tutorial participation.

Group activities in tutorial: preparation for written assignments and simulation.

Final exam (take-home).




10%

5%

35%


Using course material to understand current political events, especially in the BC election and Canadian Parliament.

Written Assignment: choice of analysis of the Canadian parliament or analysis of the BC election.

25%
Understanding how the Canadian Parliament works, especially the behaviour of parties and individual MPs. Written Assignment: report on the class simulation.  25%

Note: Subject to change in the event of unavoidable interruptions to class or tutorial schedules.

Grading

  • Tutorial Participation 10%
  • Group Activities in Tutorial 5%
  • Final Exam (take-home) 35%
  • Written Assignment 1 25%
  • Written Assignment 2 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Dyck, Rand et al. 2020. POL 221: Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches. Ninth Edition. Top Hat. ISBN:9781774945858

This is a customized version of the textbook, designed for POL 221 at SFU – so you must buy the edition with the ISBN noted above. Other editions are longer, so cost more, and will not match the chapter numbers on the POL 221 syllabus.

Access keys for digital copies are available through the SFU Bookstore, website. Alternatively, students will receive an email at the beginning of the semester, enabling you to buy a digital copy direct from the publisher.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.