Poli 221 Theoretical Models & Analytical Concepts

What is Executive Federalism in Canadian politics?

A system of governance where constitutional negotiations and policy decisions are driven almost exclusively by political executives (PM and provincial Premiers) behind closed doors, without direct parliamentary debate or broad public participation.

What is Stein’s proposed Blended Process Model

Stein’s normative solution to constitutional reform, which runs parallel, complementary tracks of elite bargaining and direct public participation across all three phases of reform (Agenda-Setting, Negotiation, and Ratification)

What are Peter H. Russell’s Three Phases of Constitutional Reform?

1. Agenda-Setting: Deciding which issues enter the constitutional arena and constraining its scope

2. Elite Negotiation: Deliberation, bargaining, and text-drafting amond leaders and key stakeholders

3. Ratification: Formal legal adoption via legislatures, executive acts, or popular referendums

What does Stein mean by Amendment Overload?

The breakdown of a constitutional process caused by attempting to resolve too many unrelated, highly contoversial issues simultaneously, leading to an over complex package that attracts widespread multi-front opposition (the primary procedural flaw of Charlottetown)

What is Logrolling in political negotiations?

The practice of trading votes, concessions, or policy inclusion across unrelated issues between competing interest groups to build a winning coalition. In constitutional rounds, excessive logrolling creates unfocused and contradictory omnibus packages

What is the Double Majority Rule in constitutional referendum

A ratification requirement where an amendment must receive approval from both a majority of the overall national electorate AND majorities within specific sub-national regions or provinces to ensure broad federal consensus

What is Asymmetric Federalism

A federal structure in which different member states or provinces hold different levels of constitutional authority, autonomy, or jurisdictional powers relative to one another.