This course will introduce students to the basic components and structure of Canadian government. It examines the societal norms and institutions that have informed Canadian politics. It introduces students to Canada’s branches of government and their role in informing Canadian democracy, as well as the politics and political parties that dominate it. Students will examine the policy-making environment in Canada, impact of the Canadian Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the lives of Canadians, intergovernmental relationships between the federal government and the provinces, as well as consider the evolving place of First Nations people within Canada. This course is ideal for understanding the political structures that impact our daily lives, as well as for covering some core discussion topics related to Canadian citizenship.