POLI 221 Lecture : The Senate
22 Apr 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
When canada was created, spent most of their time talking about the senate: pei refused to join confederation in 1867 because of the senate they wanted an elected senate. Legislative role within the parliament of canada: meant to be a checking institution to check the popularly elected. House of commons: designed to protect minorities. The rich will always be a minority . John a. macdonald: senate wanted to protect the property classes, requirement was property/money, was to be a chamber of sober second thought . Not to control house of commons, not to be equal in principle, but to act as a check on the elected base hoc: also, to be part of the federal system. Not meant to represent provinces, meant to represent regions. **designed as another check in our system of government. Senate today performs 4/5 functions: refines legislation, studying legislative proposals, investigations, reward for party organisers, occasional check on government.
