POLS 3210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Term Of Office, Bicameralism, Macfarlanes
Document Summary
Senate reform and constitutional amendment: past and future. Appointed by pm until age 75 used to be to their death or retirement. Goal of reformers: triple e (elected senators, e ective in its means/abilities, equal representation from reach province) Same powers as the hoc except: money bills must originate in house some constitutional amendments 180 day suspensive veto for unanimity & 7/50. 30 years of age, you have to own ,000 in property, retire at 75. 1980: scc dismantles stage one can"t reform upper house unilaterally. Up to (and including) harper: pm has to virtually unfettered discretion to appoint. Harper conservatives had senate reform as a goal since inception dating back to reform triple e. Problem: amendment unlikely after charlottetown due to the fact that canadian"s were done with mega constitutional politics. Goal: reform senate indirectly but in meantime, appoint party hacks.