CLN4U: Canadian and International Law Student Outline
Course Description
This course examines elements of Canadian and international law in social, political, and global
contexts. Students will study the historical and philosophical sources of law and the principles
and practices of international law and will learn to relate them to issues in Canadian society
and the wider world. Students will use critical-thinking and communication skills to analyze
legal issues, conduct independent research, and present the results of their inquiries in a
variety of ways.
Outline of the Course Content
Units of Study
Unit 1: Introduction and Methods of Legal Inquiry
Methods of Legal Inquiry
Legal Literacy
Understanding Case Law
Methods for Conducting Legal Research
Detecting Bias
The Importance of Communication in Law
Unit 2: Canada’s Legal Heritage
Origins of Law
The Nature of Law
Sources of Law
Historical Perspectives on Law
Historical Influences on Canadian Law: Aboriginal, French, British
Classifying the Law
Legal Concepts, Theories, and Theorists
Legal Concepts
Law and Justice
Philosophers of Law
Contemporary Legal Theories
Contemporary Legal Theorists
Law, Society, and Legal Reform
Connections and Conflict
Key Influences on Law Reform
Unit 3: Canadian Rights and Freedoms
Constitutional Law
Sources of the Canadian Constitution
Sources of Canadian Constitutional Law
Components of the Canadian Constitution
Constitutional Renewal
Law-Making in Canada
Human Rights in Canada
The Evolution of Canadian Human Rights Law
Human Rights in Canada
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Legislatures, and the Judiciary
Applying the Charter
Legislatures
The Judiciary
Conflicts and Resolutions in a Democratic Society
Barriers to the Equal Enjoyment of Human Rights
Balancing Minority and Majority Rights
Conflict Resolution
Unit 4: Criminology and Criminal Procedure
Criminology
Historical Perspectives on Criminology
Contemporary Perspectives of Criminal Deviance
The Purpose of Criminal Law
2
What is a Crime?
The Criminal Code of Canada
Concepts of Justice
Pre-Trial and Trial Procedures
Pre-Trial Procedures
Trial Procedures
Miscarriage of Justice
Defences and Sentencing
Criminal Defences
Sentencing
Unit 5: Regulations and Dispute Resolution
Labour Law
Bargaining and Employment
Governments and the Workplace
Unions: Past and Present
The Collective Agreement
Environmental Law
The Role of Governments in Environmental Protection
The Role of the Courts
Advocates for Environmental Protection
International Environmental Protection Agreements
International Law: Concepts and Issues
Defining International Law
Sources of International Law
Concepts in International Law
Issues in International Law
3
Conflicts and Resolutions in the Global Context
The Road to the United Nations
The United Nations at Work
Human Rights
International Peace and Security
Resolving Conflicts
Evaluation
Term work accounts for 70% of the Final (June Report) mark with 30% assigned to the
Final Evaluation.
Term Work will consist of:
1.
2.
Tests (worth 35% of the Final Mark); and,
Assignments (worth 35% of the Term Mark).
The Final Evaluation will have two parts:
1.
2.
A major project completed before the examination period (worth 10% of
the Final Mark), and;
An examination, covering material presented throughout the duration of
the course (worth 20% of the Final Mark).
While writing tests and the final examination, students will be permitted to bring in and
refer to an "aide de memoire." This reference may take the form of one 8 ½ inch by 11
inch sheet of paper with notes written on both sides.
Additional Assessments (Non-Graded)
In addition to Tests, Assignments, the Major Project, and the Final Examination (all of
which will be graded) records will be kept in FA Web on the following non-graded
assessments: Assessments as Learning, Assessments for Learning, Quizzes, Text Book
Checks (TBC), Home Work Checks (HWC) and On Task Assessments (OTA).
Graded and non-graded assessments will provide information on the following learning
skills: Responsibility, Collaboration, Organization, Independent Work, Initiative and Self4
Regulation.
Late and Non-Submitted Assignment Policy
Work Submitted After Its Due Date
If an assignment is not submitted on, or before, its due date (and no valid,
parentally verified reason exists) a five percent (5%) penalty will be levied for each
class meeting that the piece of work is late. The maximum late penalty will be
fifteen percent (15%).
Non-Submitted Assignment
If an assignment is not submitted within four weeks of its due date (and no valid,
parentally verified reason exists) a grade of zero will be recorded for this piece of
work.
Format of Classes
Although the way an individual period of instruction is conducted will depend on the material
being studied, many classes will follow this format:
Length of Class: 75 minutes
On-Line-Time (OLT)
Tie back to previous lesson
Lesson
Individual/Small Group work
Law related discussion/reading/video
5 minutes
5-10 minutes
25-30 minutes
20-25 minutes
10-15 minutes
Resources
Primary Textbooks: (Required)
Blair, Annice, Kathleen Ryan-Elliott, Bonnie Manning, and Marcus Mossuto.
Canadian and International Law. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2004.
Turabian, Kate L. Manual For Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, 8th or later
editions.
5
Supplemental Resources: (Not Required)
Blair, Annice, William Costiniuk, Larry O’Malley and Alan Wasserman. Law in Action:
Understanding
Canadian Law, (2nd Edition) Toronto: Prentice Hall, 2009.
Dickinson, Gregory and Steven Talos. Canadian Case Law Studies. Toronto: McGraw-Hill
Ryerson,
2004.
Dickinson, Gregory, Michael Liepner, Steven Talos and Donald Buckingham. Understanding the
Law, Second Edition. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1996.
Garner, Bryan A., ed. Black's Law Dictionary, Eighth Edition, St. Paul, Minnesota: The West
Group,
2004.
Greenspan, Edward L. Martin's Annual Criminal Code 2012. Aurora, Ontario: Canada Law Book
Inc., 2012.
Macklem, P., C.J. Rogerson, K.E. Swinton, L.E. Weinrib, R.C.B. Risk and J.D. Whyte. Canadian
Constitutional Law, Second Edition. Toronto: Emond Montgomery Publications Limited,
1997.
Rodrigues, Gary P. Pocket Criminal Code 2005. Toronto: Thomson Canada Limited, 2004.
Waddams, S.M. Introduction to the Study of Law. Toronto: The Carswell Company Limited,
1987.
6