All students must submit a hard copy as well as an electronic copy in order to receive credit for this assignment.  An electronic copy must be submitted to the Turnitin.com service by 11pm on July 29. The electronic and hard copies must match. Information on how to log on to Turnitin can be found in the tutorial reader. Further information from SFU about the services is available here. To submit your essay you will need the class ID:  2311866 and the Password is the classroom number (use capital letters).

Remember that your essay is a scholarly examination of a particular topic. You should be striving for your best. There are four major components that form the basis of an excellent essay:

• The paper has to be clearly organized. The introduction should be engaging and informative, awakening the reader's interest and providing a clear idea of the question to be analyzed. The sections of the paper should be logically organized, with clear transitions between them. The conclusion should provide a brief review of the paper's main points, as a base for the concluding remarks that tie paper together and put its findings into context.
• A wide range of research should be evident in the essay. Good use should be made of the sources for direct quotations, relevant facts, and useful arguments. Some idea of the debate among the authors is needed. A MINIMUM of eight different sources should be referred to directly and substantively in your essay. Failure to meet this minimum will result in a failure for the assignment. Dictionary definitions, class lecture notes, and encyclopaedia references DO NOT count towards the minimum number of  research sources.
• The essay should have a strong analytic framework. Description and argumentation are useful only to the extent that they support analysis. Some element of originality should be evident in the way in which the topic is studied.
• Finally, articulate expression is need to convey your ideas informatively and convincingly. Grammar, punctuation, and word choice all contribute to an excellent essay. 

For helpful hints on essay writing and citation formats, consult the SFU Library's Citation Guide (Adobe pdf format), or the Political Science Department's Essay Writing Guidelines.

You are encouraged to include material from electronic sources such as the Internet or reference CD-ROM in the SFU library's collection. However, please try to avoid using information from encyclopaedias - both electronic and book format. If you do use electronic sources, you will find it helpful to consult this Citation Guide for Electronic Sources.

Helpful essay-writing resources -including dictionaries, quotations, thesaurus, and grammar guides - can also be found on-line at ITP Nelson's Essay Writing Reference page.

Students are reminded that all work done for POL-221 must be original for this class. Proper credit must be given to other authors' work. When another author's words are used they must be identified as quotations, by using quotation marks or indented quotations. The use of another author's particular ideas must also be credited in a note. 

Chose one of the following topics and answer the questions posed: 

1) Discuss the nature and importance of judicial independence. In examining this topic analyze what aspects of independence are necessary to achieve judicial impartiality and what aspects may be part of broader issues of the judiciary's desire for greater institutional autonomy.

2) Critically analyze the functions of Parliament and how effectively they may - and should - be performed within the context of Canada's parliamentary system of government. what reforms would you suggest as practical means to foster a more effective Parliament.

3) What are the powers and limitations on the Prime Minister? Do they lead to "Prime Ministerial Government"?

4) Discuss how the nature of Canadian federalism has changed since Confederation through judicial interpretation, political practice, and constitutional amendment. What in you view can and should be changed in our federal structures and division of powers to ensure Canada's survival?

5) Examine the importance of financial arrangements between the federal and provincial governments to the working of Canadian federalism, or to an area of public policy (i.e. health care, or education).

6) Examine individual ministerial responsibility to reveal the differences between theory and practice. Is there any real substance left to the doctrine individual ministerial responsibility?

7) Review critically one or more proposals to reform the Senate. (i.e. Triple E) In your discussions try to identify what failings in the current institutional arrangements are hoped to be ameliorated by Senate reform? Would Senate reform in fact have the desired effects, or are there other consequences or concerns which outweigh the benefits?

8) Many have argued that party discipline is too strong in Canadian politics. Examine why it exists and the range of issues which must be accounted for in order to substantially relax party discipline.

9) Examine the legal and conventional powers of the Governor General? What justification can be given for the personal prerogative powers of the Governor General?

10) Examine the issues involved and the merits of Canada abolishing its ties to the British monarchy. You may draw material and ideas from the current debate in Australia over becoming a republic.

11) Analyze different models for aboriginal self-government for their suitability and desirability. In this topic you should recognize the variety of arrangements possible to implement self-government and their different strengths and weaknesses.

12) Examine some of the positive and negative effects of the Charter of Rights on the Canadian political system. Has it provided a new avenue for disadvantaged group to change public policy? Has it eroded the role of parliament? Does it strengthen or weaken democracy?

N.B. Other topics may only be approved by Prof. Heard

Students are reminded that proper credit must be given to other authors' work. When another author's words are used they must be identified as quotations, by using quotation marks or indented quotations. The use of another author's particular ideas must also be credited in a note. All work submitted for this class must be the student's original work done for this class. 

Students are bound by the University's Code of Academic Honesty  and the Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct Procedures. 
 
For information and tips on essay writing, consult the Department's Essay Guide. For guidelines on citing references from the Internet, read the Electronic Sources Citation Guide.