Lecture Outlines

Tutorials

Essays

SFU Library Catalogue

Web Resources

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 June 17, a term paper due on in July 29, and a TWO-hour final exam on August 8 at 12noon to 2pm. The term paper should be about 3000 words, or the equivalent of 12 to 14 typed pages.  Essay topics are available here.

Prerequisite: POL100 or POL151 

The distribution of grades will be:
 
• Mid-Term 15% 
• Term Paper* 35% 
• Final Exam 35% 
• Tutorial 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, 5th.ed. 

Charlton & Barker, Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues, 5th.ed. 
 

• Archer, Gibbons, et al. Parameters of Power
• D.J. Bercuson & B. Cooper, Deconfederation : Canada Without Quebec
• J. Bickerton, & A-G. Gagnon, Canadian Politics, 3^rd.ed
• Alan Cairns, Citizens Plus: Aboriginal Peoples and the Canadian State 
• Ronald Daniels et al., The Security of Freedom: Essays on the Canadian Anti-Terrorism Bill
• Rand Dyck, Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches, 3^rd.ed
• Tom Flanagan, First Nations? Second Thoughts 
• C.E.S. Franks, The Parliament of Canada
• Ian Greene, The Charter of Rights
• Andrew Heard, Canadian Constitutional Conventions
• Rainer Knopff & F.L. Morton, The Charter Revolution and the Court Party
• Chirs Manfredi, Judicial Power & The Charter 
• F. Rocher & M. Smith, New Trends in Canadian Federalism
• M. Westmacott & H. Mellon, Challenges to Canadian Federalism 
• M. Whittington & G. Williams, Canadian Politics in the 21st Century 

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 (4th.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.
 
 

May 6:       No meeting

May 13:      Organizational Gathering

May 20:      #2 Can Native Sovereignty Co-exist with Canadian Sovereignty?

May 27:      #5 Should the federal government play a leading role in health care?

June 2:        #4 Is the Canadian Charter of Rights Anti-Democratic?

June 10:      #7 Is the Clarity Act good for Canada?

June 17:      Tutorial on essay writing

June 24:      #8 Is the Prime Minister too Powerful?

July 1:        CANADA DAY  - No tutorials this week!

July 8:      #11 Should Representation in Parliament Mirror Canada’s Social Diversity?
                 AND #10 Should Party Discipline be Relaxed?

July 15:      #6 Are Canada's child pornography laws unconstitutional?

July 22:      #13 Is a Mixed-Member Proportional electoral system in Canada's interest?

July 29:    Review of Material for Final Exam