PSC 345

CANADIAN POLITICS

FALL 1999



 
 
 
MWF 1:00pm-1:50pm Dr. Erick Duchesne
218 Natural Sciences 415 Park Hall
Office Hours: M 4-6pm, W 10am-Noon Phone: 645-2251 x415
duchesne@acsu.buffalo.edu

 
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Canada is currently going through an important political crisis. Its own existence is threatened. The failure of recent constitutional tentative reforms is the most visible symptom of the crisis. Deep roots of the crisis can be traced back in the Canadian social environment, especially in its ethnic and regional cleavages. A study of the language, culture, and regionalism will lead us to a better understanding of Canadian political behavior and institutions.

The first section of the class focuses on micropolitics, i.e., the study of political agents: the citizen, the voter, the politician, the legislator. The second section turns to the study of macropolitics, i.e., the study of Canadian political institutions: constitution, parliament, executive branch, public administration, political parties, and interest groups.
 
 

READINGS

There are only two books assigned to this class:

DYCK, Rand, 1996, Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches, 2nd. Ed., Toronto, Nelson Canada.

MALCOMSON, Patrick and Richard MYERS, 1996, The Canadian Regime, Peterborough, Broadview Press.

Examinations will cover material from ALL required readings. Lectures will complement, but NOT reproduce, the materials from the readings.
 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

2 examinations 70% (40% or 30% each)
Quizzes, exercises, and class attendance 30%
 

EXAMS

Make-up exams will be given only to students with medical or personal emergencies (e.g. death in the family). If an emergency arises, you will need to contact me before the exam. I will be strict on this policy. The exams will be weighted in the following way: your best score among the two exams will be worth 40% of your final grade and the second best 30%. The dates of the exams are indicated below. The exams will consist of a mix of multiple choices, true or false, short answers and take-home essays. Take-home essays will be distributed one week prior to the in-class exams and day will be due in class at the beginning of the examination.   QUIZZES, EXERCISES, AND CLASS ATTENDANCE
There will be regular quizzes during the semester. The value of each quiz will vary, but none will exceed five points. There will be no make up for these quizzes. I will also take attendance. You will receive one point if you are present. There is also a possibility of short exercises, which you will do at home. The combination of quizzes, exercises, and class attendance will be weighted to amount 30% of your final grade.
  You are expected to attend class regularly and take notes. A majority of the material for the exams is taken from lecture. I will use materials for lectures that are not covered in the readings. Therefore, if you miss class, it is your responsibility to get lecture notes from a classmate. I will not give, under any circumstances, my lecture notes to students.   GRADING SCALE

90% to 100% = A
87% to 89.9% = A-
84% to 86.9% = B+
80% to 83.9% = B
76% to 79.9% = B-
72% to 75.9% = C+
68% to 71.9% = C
64% to 67.9% = C-
60% to 63.9% = D+
50% to 59.9% = D
< 50% = F

WEB PAGE

The course web page will be a central element of the class. The web page will contain the class syllabus, lecture overheads, assignments, midterm review sheets, additional readings, student contact information, links to sites relating to international relations, and other useful information. The page's address is: http://montana.fss.buffalo.edu/classes/psc/duchesne/psc345/index.html.

TOPICS/READINGS

Monday August 30

    1. Introduction: Syllabus, course description
2) Cleavages and political conflicts
Discussion: What are the principal political conflicts in Canada? Wednesday September 1st 1) Cleavages and political conflicts (Cont’d)
Discussion: What are the principal political conflicts in Canada?

2) Introduction to Canada
 

 Friday September 3 NO CLASS: APSA MEETING Monday September 6 NO CLASS: LABOR DAY Wednesday September 8
    1. Introduction to Canada (Cont’d)
Friday September 10-Wednesday September 15 1) The Constitution
Discussion: The early constitutional context and its evolution.
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 2, Malcomson & Myers, Chapter1 and 2.   Friday September 17, Tuesday September 21, and Wednesday September 22

NOTE: NO CLASS ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20, BUT TUESDAY FOLLOWS MONDAY SCHEDULE

1) National Values Discussion: What are the Canadian national values? Are they different from those of the Americans?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 13. Friday September 24-Wednesday September 29 1) Regional Cleavages Discussion: What is the importance of regionalism in Canada?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 6. Friday October 1- Friday October 8

NOTE: DISTRIBUTION OF TAKE-HOME ESSAYS ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 8

1) Ethnic Cleavages: The First Nations Discussion: Is there a role for the First Nations in Canadian Politics?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 7. 2) Ethnic Cleavages: The Linguistic Debate Discussion: What is the state of the French language in Canada?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 8. 3) Ethnic Cleavages: Other Ethnic Groups Discussion: Canada: A Mosaic or a Melting Pot?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 9. Monday October 11 1) Class Cleavages: Pressure Groups Discussion: Do social classes affect Canadian Politics?
Readings: Dyck, Chapters 10 and 18, and Malcomson & Myers, Chapter 11. Wednesday October 13 1) Political Socialization Discussion: What are the agents of political socialization? What is their impact?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 14. Friday October 15th

FIRST EXAMINATION

Monday October 18- Monday October 25

1) The Executive: The Crown Discussion: Should we abolish the power of the Queen?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 471-76, and Malcomson & Myers pp. 109-16. 2) The Executive: The Prime Minister Discussion: A "One Man Show"?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 477-84, Malcomson & Myers, pp. 120-23. 3) The Executive: The Cabinet Discussion: How are decisions made?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 485-99, Malcomson & Myers, pp. 116-20. Wednesday October 27-Monday November 1 1) The Legislative: The Senate Discussion: Should the Senate be elected?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 561-73, Malcomson & Myers, pp. 139-43. 2) The Legislative: The House of Commons Discussion: Should more powers be granted to the House?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 537-45, Malcomson & Myers, pp. 127-39. Wednesday November 3- Wednesday November 10 1) The Decision-Making Process: Stages of Legislation. Discussion: Too many pitfalls?
Readings: Dyck, pp. 547-60, and Malcomson & Myers, Chapter 3. 2) The Decision-Making Process: The Bureaucracy Discussion: The hidden power of the Bureaucracy.
Readings: Dyck, Chapters 19 and 21, and Malcomson and Myers, pp. 123-26. Friday November 12-Friday November 19 1) Political Ideologies: Liberalism Discussion: Does the Liberal Party still represent the Whigs’ tradition?
Readings: Dyck, Chapter 16, Malcomson & Myers, Chapter 10. 2) Political Ideologies: Conservatism Discussion: Does the Progressive Conservative Party still represent the Tories’ tradition? 3) Political Ideologies: Socialism Discussion: The end of radicalism? 4) Political Ideologies: The new parties Discussion: The rise of regionalism. Monday November 22 and Monday November 29- Wednesday December 8

NOTE: FALL RECESS IS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 24- FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26

NOTE: TAKE-HOME ESSAYS DISTRIBUTED ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 3

    1. The Future of Canada
    2. Discussion: Will the "Québec" Problem Ever Go Away?
Friday December 10

FINAL EXAMINATION