POLI 221 Final: Notes for Topic 5- Parliament: The Senate
8 Aug 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The senate sober second thought: senate is appointed, legislation passed by the house of commons is re-examined to ensure that minority interests regional, linguistic, political were adequately protected, serve as a check on democratic excess. Senators review and amend legislation, have relative independence from the cabinet + freedom from constituency work and electoral considerations allow them to operate in a more consensual and deliberative way than can. Maritime colonies wanted to know for sure that they would be represented and not drown out by quebec and ontario in the house of commons, senate is a result of political compromise. Quebec insisted that it must be overrepresented in the upper house to protect the francophone population against the ever-growing english minority. Senators appointed by the pm without consulting provincial gov. Canada opted for rep by region and not equal representation between provinces. Weakest proportional representation: alberta, bc, ontario in the upper house.
