Short Reports on Committee Meetings Custom Paper

You have to attend four Canadian committee meetings of your choice, with at least one in the Senate, and one in the House of Commons. Information about the committees and their agenda can be found at http://www.parl.gc.ca/ParlBusiness.aspx?Language=E .
You have to write two reports based on your observations and your analysis of those meetings.
Report 1: The Big Picture (1,250-1,500 words, descriptive)
-Description of the meetings you attended
The following are just examples of questions you could ask yourselves. What you think is interesting is your best guide.
During the meetings:
– Who represents the Crown?
– Are MPs able to hold the government to account?
– Are Senators up to the expectations of their ‘sober second thought’ responsibilities?
– Who seems to have the most influence and why?
– Were witnesses able to express their views in a way that will help MPs and Senators to make up their minds about the issues discussed?
– Are party lines obvious?
– How do you assess the role of chairs, parliamentary secretaries (House meetings), other members, and staff?
– Did MPs reflect in any way the role of the House in controlling the purse?
General:
-In contrast to an expert committee, or Question Period, what is the purpose of those meetings?
-What did you learn about the role of MPs and Senators through those meetings?
-How do those committees fit within the general convention of responsible government?
-What would an ‘orthodox’ or a ‘reformer’ have to say about those meetings?

Report 2: The Specifics (1,250-1,500 words, argumentative)
-Select one aspect of the elements you identified in Report 1, and analyze it deeper.
– Develop a well-argued position about that element of Committee business.
– Do not use secondary sources other than the ones we used in class. It is your position based on your observations, through the general theoretical framework provided by Forsey and Aucoin.