Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2018 - POL 321 J100

The Canadian Federal System (4)

Class Number: 6888

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Tue, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 7, 2018
    Fri, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Instructor:

    Stewart Prest

  • Prerequisites:

    Six lower division units in political science or permission of the department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Development of the federal system including topics such as the division of powers, parties, federal-provincial relations and theories of federalism.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will build upon students’ existing knowledge of Canadian politics, in order to develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of Canadian federalism, past and present.

Discussion will combine an understanding of competing theories of federalism in the country with more concrete empirical studies. Major topics include the constitution and its evolution, the division of powers federally and provincially, mechanisms of dispute resolution, regionalism, and the role of parties in mediating politics and society across the federation. Specific empirical areas of investigation include health and social policy, fiscal policy, environmental policy, and the place of aboriginal and municipal governments.

The four-hour class will include a mixture of lecture, small and large group discussions and debates, online activities, in-class presentations, and audio-visual content. At the conclusion of the course, students will understand the historical origins and subsequent evolution of Canadian federalism, and be able to analyze and critique various aspects of the contemporary and still-evolving Canadian federal order.

Grading

  • Participation 10%
  • In-class assignments 10%
  • Op-ed 15%
  • Policy memo 15%
  • Major paper outline 5%
  • Major paper 20%
  • Final exam 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Bakvis, Herman, Gerald Baier, and Douglas Brown. 2009. Contested Federalism: Certainty and Ambiguity in the Canadian Federation. Toronto: Oxford University Press Canada.
ISBN: 9780195425291

Other readings available online.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The Department of Political Science strictly enforces a policy on plagiarism.
For details, see http://www.sfu.ca/politics/undergraduate/program/related_links.html and click on “Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty” .

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/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

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS