Fall 2025 - POL 221 D100
Introduction to Canadian Government (3)
Class Number: 2873
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Clare McGovern
cmcgover@sfu.ca
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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 did this play out in the past year’s Canadian and BC elections?
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.
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 put this knowledge into practice in a class simulation of the Canadian Parliament. You will be representing particular parties and provinces – and the Official Opposition will be trying to bring down the Government. The smaller parties will decide which side to support, trying to bargain for concessions from the larger parties.
We will finish the semester by asking 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 Nov 3 and 10, 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.
Grading
- See the table below in "Notes" 100%
NOTES:
Course Evaluation
| Objective | Evaluation | % of course grade |
|
Developing communication skills: 3. Written argumentation |
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. |
Written Assignment: choice of analysis of the Canadian parliament or issues in recent elections. |
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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
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:
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
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.