Protecting Canadian Democracy: The Senate You Never Knew

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McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP, 2003 - 371 páginas
In recent years Canada's Senate, Parliament's chamber of sober second thought, has often been the subject of controversy and calls for reform. Protecting Canadian Democracy examines the history, role, and evolution of the Senate; places it in the context of other federal systems; and contrasts its role with that of provincial governments. Contributors analyse the Senate's use of its legislative powers, comparing it with the House of Commons, and assess the Senate's contribution to public policy development and review, showing how the upper chamber functions as a forum within Parliament for the representation of Canada's diverse regional, linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic interests. contending that the Senate should be improved by means that do not require formal amendments to the Constitution. The authors identify possibilities for reform the institution within the current constitutional framework, addressing the Senate's veto power, its appointment process, and its legislative independence. A valuable appendix of charts and statistics on the composition and operation of the Senate is also provided.

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Forty Years of Not Reforming the Senate Taking Stock
31
Bicameralism in Federal Parliamentary Systems
67
Back to Basics
105
Which Criticisms Are Founded?
133
The Canadian Senate in Modern Times
151
Comparing the Lawmaking Roles of the Senate and
189
The Senate as the Embodiment of the Federal
271
Appendix
317
Bibliography
331
Contributors
351
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