Overview

The major concern of POLI 390 is the structure and operation of the Canadian federal system and the relations between Ottawa and the provinces.

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction

• Part 1.1: The Study of Federalism
• Part 1.2: Federal Systems around the World

Unit 2: The Origins of Canadian Federalism

• Part 2.1: Confederation
• Part 2.2: The Constitution and the Game of Politics

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

• Part 8.1: Government by Conference
• Part 8.2: Evaluating Executive Federalism

Unit 9: Fiscal Federalism

• Part 9.1: Revenue Sharing/Tax Collection
• Part 9.2: Equalization

Unit 10: Federalism and the Welfare State

Unit 11: Federalism and Economic Policy

Unit 12: Whither Canadian Federalism?

Evaluation

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.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

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.

Other Materials

The course materials include a reading file, study guide, student manual and an assignment manual.