Asset Pricing Models: Capm & Apt

UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR

POLITICAL SCIENCE 45-100(01)

INTRODUCTION TO CANADIAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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Winter 2017                                                                Stephen Brooks

1:00pm - 2:20pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays                        brooks3@uwindsor.ca

Room 1101, Neal Education Building                                                                                                        

Introduction to the Course

This course aims to introduce you to the fundamental issues, institutions and processes of Canadian politics and government.  It begins with a discussion of some of the important concepts and ideas that you need to be familiar with in order to understand politics.  Throughout the course we will often compare politics and government in Canada to those in other countries, particularly the United States but also to some European countries.  The comparative perspective is one that helps you to better understand the nature and significance of features of the Canadian political scene, providing you with a broader context against which to make sense of politics and government in Canada.

Although this course does not require that you have a background in Canadian history, society, culture or economics, some knowledge of Canada obviously is useful.  If you do not have at least a bit of knowledge of the fundamentals of Canadian society I would recommend that you invest a few hours in reading entries on some of these topics at some online source such as the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Readings and other Materials

All of the readings for this course will be drawn from my book, Canadian Democracy, 8th edition (Oxford University Press, 2015).  Copies are available at the university bookstore or may be published directly from the publisher at www.oupcanada.com.   Do not use an earlier edition of the book.  There have been many changes made for this 8th edition. This edition is linked to a website that we will be using and so the reasons for not relying on an earlier edition of the book are many.  To access the book’s website, go to http://oupcanada.com/higher_education/companion/politics/9780199011155/student_resources.html 

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We will be viewing some video material in class and frequently visiting websites.  All of this will count as testable material.  This means, of course, that regular attendance is absolutely necessary.  If you cannot be in class on a regular basis then I would not recommend that you take this course.

Course Requirements

First mid-term………February 2, 70 minutes

Second mid-term…..March 9, 70 minutes

Final exam……………April 10 at 8:30am, 90 minutes (location TBA)

Each of these requirements is worth one-third of your grade.  The format for all of the exams will involve a combination of multiple-choice questions—probably 25-30 on each exam--and two essay-style questions.  You will be required to answer one of the two essay questions.

The University of Windsor grading scale may be found at the end of this syllabus.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has a formal policy on missed examinations which is attached to this syllabus.  You should familiarize yourself with it because the policy will be strictly applied.

Contact Hours

I am available every day of the week via email.  If you have questions concerning the material in the text or that I cover in class, I strongly encourage you to speak with one of the graduate assistants for this course during their office hours.  Their names, email addresses and office hours will be posted at the course website by week 2 of the semester.  Your midterm exams will be available for pick up from the graduate assistants during their regular office hours.

Lecture Schedule and Readings (subject to minor changes)

N.B. Videos, websites and podcasts used on a week-to-week basis may be announced through the Blackboard website as the semester unfolds.  The podcasts may be found at the website for our book, Canadian Democracy, which is not the same website as the Blackboard website for   45-100.

Weeks 1-2        Introduction to the Course and to the Study of Canadian Politics

                Reading:  Chapter 1

Weeks 2-3        Canadian Political Culture

                Readings:  Chapter 2

Week 4                Diversity and Multiculturalism

                Reading:  Chapter 4 

                Video: Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity,

 http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/video/video-eto-eng.cfm

February 2        FIRST MID-TERM EXAM, 70 MINUTES, written during regular class time

Weeks 5-6        The Constitution and the Law-making Process

                Readings:  Chapter 6 and selected pages from Chapter 9 (TBA)

                Video:  Selections from CBC Archives, www.cbc.ca 

                Website:  Canadian Parliamentary Channel

Weeks 6-7        Rights and Freedoms

                Reading:  Chapter 7

Week 8                Federalism

                Reading:  Chapter 8

March 9        SECOND MID-TERM EXAM, 70 MINUTES, written during regular class                         time

Week 9                Parties and Elections

                Reading:  Chapter 11

Websites:  Canadian political parties’ websites

Week 10        Media and Politics

                Reading:  Chapter 13

                Websites:  To be announced