Introduction to Canadian Government
Curriculum Guideline
Lecture: 4 hrs. per week
Instructor presentation of the course will involve the use of formal lectures, structured group work, in-class discussion, and student presentations or formal debates. Additional readings may be assigned for each course unit and placed on library reserve or via selected websites. Audio-visual and interactive materials may be used.
1. The Canadian Constitution
This section covers the origins and evolution of the Canadian Constitution, the formal executive, the monarchy and Governor General, the structure of the judiciary, federal and provincial legislative authority, the 1982 patriation of Canada’s Constitution and key post-1982 events and challenges such as the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords, the 1995 Quebec secession referendum, the Clarity Act, and Indigenous self-government.
2. Federalism
This section examines and evaluates concepts of Canadian federalism. The major challenges to federalism are examined in terms of dualism (French/English), Quebec nationalism, Indigenous sovereignty, and the regional dynamics that influence the legislative authority of both federal and provincial governments.
3. The Prime Minister, Ministry, and Cabinet
This section explores the roles and powers of the political executive, with particular emphasis on the prime minister and Cabinet ministers, and discusses the roles of Cabinet ministers, including the Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations. It examines policy formulation at the executive level, with reference to major coordinating agencies such the Prime Minister’s Office and the Privy Council Office.
4. Legislative Politics
This section assesses the structure and roles of the Canadian parliament, with reference to the governing and opposition parties, parliamentary processes, the committee system, and the roles and diversity of elected members of Parliament and appointed members of the Senate.
5. The Bureaucracy
This section explores the basic structure and role of the civil service, with particular emphasis placed on the role the civil service plays in terms of the development and implementation of public policy.
6. Electoral system, elections, and political parties
This section examines the formal and legal aspects of the electoral system, including redrawing the electoral map; the organization of elections; the lack of proportionality in the electoral system; suggestions for electoral reform; and party and election finance. It also examines the evolution of political parties and interpretations of the party system, party ideology, and party organization. It explores election campaigns and the role of political parties, leaders, candidates, the media and social media, and opinions polls along with the national and local campaigns, voting and other forms of political participation.
7. Advocacy groups, social movements, and lobbying
This section identifies the leading advocacy groups and social movements in Canada and outlines their targets and methods of operation. It examines the activities of professional lobbying firms who work with advocacy groups to influence government activities.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Apply the institutional, state-based, pluralist, class-based, political behavioural, and rational choice approaches to the study of Canadian government;
- Demonstrate understanding of the major institutions in the Canadian political system, for example, the Constitution, the political executive, Parliament, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy;
- Explain the functions of the main institutions of Canada’s political system, such as passing, implementing, executing, and adjudicating legislation;
- Appraise the current electoral system and interpret recent election results;
- Contrast political parties' ideologies and organizations;
- Evaluate the influence of advocacy groups, social movements, and lobbying upon government policies;
- Critically assess the relationship between the State and Indigenous Peoples, for example, by analyzing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the Final Report;
- Apply understanding of course objectives and content to class assignments;
- Pursue study in more advanced work in Canadian government and politics courses.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.
Example evaluation scheme:
Mid-term exam 25%
Participation 10%
Presentation 10%
Research essay 30%
Final exam 25%
Total: 100%
Textbooks and materials are to be purchased by students. A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts may include:
Bickerton, James and Alain-G. Gagnon. eds., Canadian Politics. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Current edition.
Brooks, Stephen. Canadian Democracy: An Introduction. Current edition.
Borrows, John. Freedom and Indigenous Constitutionalism. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Current edition.
Cochrane, Chris, Kelly Blidook, and Rand Dyck. Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches. Toronto: Nelson. Current edition.
Malcolmson, Patrick and Richard Myers. The Canadian Regime: An Introduction to Parliamentary Government in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Current Edition.