BC Government and Politics

POLI 304 (3)

Section 1 - 2nd term   T  H  11:00-12:30

Instructor: Nick Loenen                                    
Required Texts:  TBA                                               
Essays and Exams: TBA                                
Prerequisite: POLI 101 (or 200) or permission of the instructor  
Course Website: none 

The course aims to give students a working knowledge of provincial political institutions and public policy processes, an appreciation for their historical development, and to help students assess those institutions for their responsiveness to democratic accountability and the public interest. 

The course is focused on the process of public policy decision making. It examines the effects of the Single Member Plurality voting system on BC politics and governance.  In particular, the course considers the relationship of the voting system to BCs political parties, the character of party competition, elections, regionalism, polarization and the development of public policies, the operation of the legislature, and the role of political actors such as MLAs, premier, and cabinet.  It considers recent attempts at democratic reform such as the 2004 Citizens Assembly on electoral reform and the potential implications of the recommended Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.