Political Science 392                                             Instructor: G. Levine         



ESSAY TOPIC SUGGESTIONS FOR SECOND TERM



What follows are suggested topics. Students need not do one of these but, in any case, must discuss their chosen topic with the instructor.



Suggestions:



1. Government ethics laws have increased in number and complexity since the Parker Commission reported in the late 1980s. Discuss that statement with illustrations of specific changes in one area of government ethics law and with an explanation for those changes.



2. The Municipal Statute Amendment Act 2007 contains a section which when proclaimed will allow municipalities to establish ethics and accountability mechanisms. Assess the potential of this legislation by contrasting an American municipal ethics regime with the proposed Toronto system or by analyzing and assessing the difference between requirements for Toronto and the proposed system for other Ontario municipalities.



3. Lobbying is a legitimate activity which ought not to be monitored in any way. Discuss with reference to lobbyists registration schemes in Ontario, BC and the federal level.



4. The municipal level is an appropriate level of government for which to enact lobbyist legislation. Yes or no - explain your answer by contrasting an American municipal lobbyist scheme with the proposed and historical lobbyists registration systems in Toronto.



5. Access to information legislation is critical in ensuring open government in a democracy. Agree or disagree – explain with reference to the Ontario or BC legislation and describe the effects of rules which promote access and of one or more exceptions to or exemptions from access to information. 



6. Privacy protection ought not to be so stringent it affects public health or safety. Agree or disagree – explain with reference to Ontario or BC legislation and assess whether or not disclosure provisions or privacy provisions support your position.



7. Administrative fairness is a basic principle of modern administration. Agree or disagree – explain and illustrate through a discussion of a an executive ombudsman system designed to deal with complaints and problems in a public body (e.g. a university ombudsman, or the WCB Ombudsman in Ontario or BC).



8. Contrast the ombudsman and tribunal approaches to problem solving.



9. Independence is critical for establishing credibility and achieving fair decisions. Discuss this statement in light of an ethics commission or an ombudsman position or an information or privacy commission discussed in his course.



10. Provide a critical assessment of the approaches of any two ombudsmen or commissioners by analyzing some of their public reports.

 

 

 

 

 

Essay

Home