Political Science

Course Description and Themes:

This course provides an introduction to the concepts of the regime, authority, the rule of law, citizenship, and political obligation. It does so through a consideration of the institutions of Canadian government covering topics including, but not limited to: the framing of the constitution, federalism, parliamentary government, the Charter of Rights, the judiciary, political parties, public opinion, and interest groups. The course introduces students to the principles of the regime and the foundations of Canadian politics while also encouraging critical evaluation of historical and contemporary Canadian politics.

Course Objectives: Strong emphasis is placed on enhancing students’ writing as well as analytic skills, particularly with respect to assessing texts, evaluating arguments, and participating in a lecture-based course. By the end of the course, students should be able to:

·         Identify and explain the Constitution and institutions of the Canadian regime;

·         Think critically about the state of Canadian government and politics; and

·         Actively engage in critical discussions about contemporary political issues in Canada.