Cardinal Leger Secondary School
Department of Social Sciences
Course Name:
Course Code:
Level:
Teacher:
Textbook:
Understanding Canadian Law
CLU 3M1
Ministry Guidelines: Canadian and
University / College
World Studies, 2005
Law in Action
Replacement Cost: $85.00
Course Overview:
This course explores Canadian law with a focus on legal issues that are relevant to people’s
everyday lives. Students will investigate fundamental legal concepts and processes to gain a
practical understanding of Canada’s legal system, including the criminal justice system.
Students will use critical-thinking, inquiry, and communication skills to develop informed
opinions on legal issues and apply this knowledge in a variety of ways and settings, including
case analysis, legal research projects, mock trials, and debates.
Curriculum Strands and Overall Expectations:
Heritage: Overall Expectations
• explain what law is and why societies have laws, and describe the different categories of law;
• analyse the contemporary impact of major historical developments in Canadian law;
• explain the law-making process in Canada, including how laws are developed ,interpreted ,
applied, challenged, and enforced .
Rights and Freedoms: Overall Expectations
• describe the sources of rights and freedoms in Canada and explain how particular rights and
freedoms may conflict;
• describe historical and contemporary barriers to the equal enjoyment of human rights in
Canada;
• describe the rights and freedoms enshrined in Canadian law and explain how they are interpreted,
how they may be limited, and how they are enforced in Canada and in Ontario
Criminal Law and Procedures: Overall Expectations
• explain how a criminal offence is defined in Canada;
• describe the processes, legal institutions, and methods involved in bringing a criminal case to
trial and in resolving it;
• analyse the purposes of sentencing, including those relating to alternative methods of imposing
sanctions or regulating behaviour;
• explain how the criminal law applies to young people.
Regulation and Dispute Resolution: Overall Expectations
• distinguish between private and public law;
• describe the processes, legal institutions, and methods involved in bringing a civil dispute to
trial and resolution;
• explain how the law applies to family matters;
• analyse the role of law as it applies to contractual obligations and claims for compensation
for personal injury or loss;
• explain the dynamic nature of law, including the way in which it evolves in response to
technology and changes in societal values.
Methods of Legal Inquiry and Communication: Overall Expectations
• use appropriate research methods to gather, organize, evaluate, and synthesize information;
• apply the steps in the process of legal interpretation and analysis;
• explain, discuss, and interpret legal issues using a variety of formats and forms of
communication.
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Cardinal Leger Secondary School
Department of Social Sciences
Units of Study
Unit One:
Unit Two:
Unit Three:
Unit Four:
Roots of Canadian Law
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedures
Civil Law
Evaluation
Term Work
70%
Knowledge and Understanding
25%
Thinking
25%
Communication
25%
Application
25%
Final Assessment
30%
Formal Examination
20%
Culminating Task
10%
Course Total
Learning Skills and Work Habits
Responsibility
Organization
Independent Work
Collaboration
Initiative
Self-Regulation
100%
E= Excellent G=Good S=Satisfactory N= Needs Improvement
Fulfills responsibility and commitments.
Takes responsibility for and manages own behavior.
Devises and follows a plan and process for completing tasks.
Establishes priorities and manages time
Independently monitors, assesses, and revises plans to
complete tasks and meet goals.
Uses class time to complete tasks.
Accepts various roles and an equitable share of work in a group.
Builds healthy peer-to-peer relationships.
Looks for and acts on new ideas and opportunities.
Approaches new tasks with a positive attitude.
Sets own goals and monitors progress towards achieving them.
Seeks clarification or assistance when needed.
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Cardinal Leger Secondary School
Department of Social Sciences
Missed/Late/Incomplete Assignments
It is the student’s responsibility to address missed, late, or incomplete assignments. Students are
expected to complete assignments and to adhere to assignment deadlines as follows:
Due Date
A due date is set by the
teacher.
10% Penalty Zone
1 school day late – 3%
2 school days late – 6%
3 school days late – 10%
Maximum penalty of 10%
Closure Date
Once the closure date has
passed, work is considered
incomplete and a mark of
zero applies.
Student Signature: ______________________
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