Fall 2026 - POL 151 D100
Justice and Law (3)
Class Number: 6199
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
-
Course Times + Location:
Sep 9 – Dec 6, 2026: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
-
Instructor:
Clare McGovern
cmcgover@sfu.ca
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
The development of laws and their application to the citizen and social groups. Special consideration will be given to civil liberties.
COURSE DETAILS:
Course Description:
If there was another pandemic, could governments introduce travel restrictions again? When can provinces hold referendums on separating from Canada, and what happens if they vote yes? This course answers these questions by introducing you to the Canadian constitutional system and discussing the influence of the courts over the big questions of the last few years.
We will start by learning the hierarchy of the courts system, and how judges decide cases. In the second part of the course, we will focus on how politicians interact with the courts. On the one hand, Parliament and the Cabinet oversee the criminal justice system, for example pressing courts to reduce trial delays. On the other hand, the courts enforce limits on what politicians can do. We will see how judges act as umpires in disputes between federal, provincial and Indigenous governments. We will also learn about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: how effectively do courts protect individuals’ rights against the state? Throughout the course, we will focus on recent legal cases, concerning digital privacy, COVID regulations, pipelines and Alberta’s referendum on separation.
Course Organization:
There will be an in-person 2-hour lecture plus an in-person tutorial, once a week; attendance is required at both lecture and tutorial. Please note that you are expected to submit written assignments to Turnitin, and to participate in oral discussion in tutorial.
AI use in this course: required in one assignment; limited to support tasks in all other assignments; must be declared.
AI is integrated into Written Assignment 2 (analysing a legal case). You will be assessed on your transparent and critical use of AI tools, and the rigour with which you verify and evaluate AI-generated output. You will prepare for this assignment in tutorial. Students with ethical objections to using AI should consult the instructor early in the semester; I will work with you to amend the assignment.
For all other assignments, exams and presentations in this course, AI is only permitted for finding sources (if independently verified) copy-editing and checking references. This must be declared in a cover-memo to the assignment. We will discuss exactly what is and is not permitted in lecture.
Grading
- See Notes below: 100%
NOTES:
Course Evaluation:
|
Objective |
Evaluation |
% of course grade |
|
Understanding and participating in debates about the Canadian legal system. |
Written Assignment 1: essay
Final exam. |
20%
30% |
|
Oral communication skills: explaining current legal and political events.
|
Tutorial and lecture participation. Group presentation in tutorial: news analysis |
10% |
|
Reading and analysing legal cases |
Group activities in tutorial: assignment preparation Written Assignment 2: case analysis plus analysis of AI use Closed-book written task: follow-up to Written Assignment 2 (in tutorial) |
20%
|
Note: subject to change in the event of unavoidable interruptions to class or tutorial schedules
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Morton, F.L. and Dave Snow (eds). (2024). Law Politics and the Judicial Process in Canada, 5th ed. University of Calgary Press. ISBN: 978-1-77385-518-9 (paperback) or 978-1-77385-520-2 (e-pub). Copies available through the SFU Bookstore. Please make sure you get the most recent edition: the 5th edition, published in 2024.
Legal cases and articles will also be assigned. These will be available on Canvas or online.
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.