Political Rights

Political Rights examines how rights and freedoms of Canadians underpin the entire operation of our democratic way of life and form the constitutional foundations for our legislatures, elections, and democratic institutions. The book explores the source of each of these rights in the Constitution, statute laws governing elections, and the common law of elections, then considers the nature of each right and freedom, and restrictions on it.

Patrick Boyer treats fully the “conventions of the Constitution” – the unwritten rules that have been adopted through long practice and form a bulwark in the reliable operation of Canadian politics – applicable to democratic participation in public affairs, including elections. Another chapter examines various constitutional issues which arise in relation to elections, including jurisdiction overlap between different levels of government.

Specific chapters then deal in turn with the right to

• elect governments periodically

• vote for one’s representative

• vote on certain laws (referendums)

• vote by secret ballot

• exercise free speech

• assemble freely

• obtain government information, and

• be a candidate for public office and the freedom to

• form a political party, and

• participate in the political process.

The final chapter deals with citizenship as legal access to political rights.

Details

Publisher: Butterworths, 1981
Category: Election law, political rights, constitutional law, Canadian history
ISBN: 0409816019
Price: $39.95, Canada and U.S.A.
Format: Hardcover, 348 pages, 6 x 9 inches
Features: Table of statutes, table of cases, index, bibliography