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Revision 4 closed, replaced by current version.
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Opened in Moodle, August 14, 2009.
View previous syllabus.
Delivery mode: Individualized study online.
Credits: 3 - Social Science
Prerequisite: An introductory political science course or one other course in Canadian government and politics is recommended.
Centre: Centre for State and Legal Studies
POLI 390 has a Challenge for Credit option.
The major concern of POLI 390 is the structure and operation of the Canadian federal system and the relations between Ottawa and the provinces.
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 2: The Origins of Canadian Federalism
Unit 3: Regionalism and Province Building
Unit 4: The Drive for Self-Determination: Quebec Nationalism
Unit 5: The Drive for Self-Determination: Self-Government
Unit 6: Canada's Constitutional Odyssey: Patriation and After
Unit 7: The Courts and Judicial Review
Unit 8: Executive Federalism
Unit 9: Fiscal Federalism
Unit 10: Federalism and the Welfare State
Unit 11: Federalism and Economic Policy
Unit 12: Whither Canadian Federalism?
To receive credit for POLI 390, you must achieve a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination and an overall course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent). You must complete a quiz, three written assignments, and a supervised final exam. The following chart summarizes the types of credit activities, the credit weight associated with each activity, and the recommended place in the course for each activity.
Quiz | Assign 1 | Assign 2 | Assign 3 | Final Exam | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
5% | 15% | 20% | 25% | 35% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Meekison, J. Peter, Hamish Telford, and Harvey Lazar. 2004. Canada: The State of the Federation 2002, Reconsidering the Institutions of Canadian Federalism. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press.
Rocher, François, and Miriam Smith.2003. New Trends in Canadian Federalism. 2nd ed. Peterborough: Broadview Press.
Stevenson, Garth. 2004. Unfulfilled Union: Canadian Federalism and National Unity. 4th ed. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
The course materials include a reading file, study guide, student manual and an assignment manual.