Table of Contents

1. Introduction
Explanations for Parliament’s Problems 
Paradox and the Competing Logics
Conclusion

2. Historical Foundations and the Competing Logics
Indigenous Peoples and Legislative Representation
The Early Development of Canadian Legislatures
The Logic of Governance
The Logic of Representation
Attempting to Reconcile the Logics: "Every Reform Creates A New Problem"
Reforms of the 1960s–1980s
The 1990s: The Reform Party and Paul Martin’s "Democratic Deficit"
The 2004–2011 Minority Era and Beyond
Consensus Legislatures
Canada in Comparative Perspective
Conclusion

3. Parties 
Canadian Political Parties: An Overview 
The Weakness of Canadian Parties
Party Discipline: Is Canada Exceptional?
Party Discipline in Practice
"Excessive" Discipline
Party Discipline and the Party System
Parties in Minority Governments
Electoral Systems and Parties
Conclusion

4. MPs
Why Do MPs Run?
Who Gets Elected as an MP?
Gender and Race
Socioeconomic and Occupational Backgrounds
Age
Learning to Be an MP
MPs in the House
MPs in the Constituency
Life as an MP: The Personal Dimension
Managing Their Public Roles
Managing Their Personal Lives
MP Pay
Staffing 
An MP’s Day
Departure, Turnover, and "Amateurism"
Conclusion

5. House of Commons Business
The Roles
The Speaker
The Clerk and Procedural Staff
House Leaders and Whips
The Setting
The Chamber and Decorum
The Parliamentary Day
The House of Commons at Work: Four Aspects
Government Bills and Debate
Question Period
Private Members Business
Opposition Days and Confidence/Non-confidence Motions
Process in Minority Parliaments
Committees
Conclusion

6. Diversity
Persons with Disabilities
LGBT Persons
Women in Parliament
Women in the Senate
Women in the House
Figure 9.1 Women in the House of Commons since 1968 (%)
Women as Legislators
Race
Symbolic
Descriptive
Table 9.1 Racialized MPs in the House of Commons Compared to General Population
Substantive
Conclusion

7. The Senate
Bicameralism
A Brief Description of the Senate
History of the Senate
Senate Reform
The Senate since 2016

8. Scrutiny
Scrutiny in Theory and Practice
Parliament and Money
Officers of Parliament
Parliamentary Scrutiny: How Far Can It Go?
Parliament’s Access to Documents and People
Conclusion

9. The Future of Parliament
Technological
Sociological
Citizen Attitudes
Conclusion

About the Author

Jonathan Malloy is a professor of political science and the Honourable Dick and Ruth Bell Chair in Canadian Parliamentary Democracy at Carleton University.

Reviews

" The Paradox of Parliament confronts the struggle Canadians face in both understanding and shaping the crucial roles played by the House of Commons and Senate as representatives and governors of our country. While studies of Canada's institutions may seem quaint and somewhat nostalgic, how we confront current challenges in both domestic and global affairs depends crucially on our perception of Parliament's capacity to lean into changing environments and expectations. In that regard, Jonathan Malloy gives students of Canadian parliament the kind of attention this topic needs."--Anna Esselment, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waterloo
"Canadians have long waited for a comprehensive look at how their Parliament works. They need not wait any longer. Jonathan Malloy has brilliantly answered the call in The Paradox of Parliament. He maps out, from a historical and comparative perspective, the competing forces that shape the inner workings of Parliament. This timely book constitutes a major contribution to our understanding of Canadian democracy."--Donald J. Savoie, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Public Administration and Governance, Université de Moncton
"Frustration. Disappointment. Indifference. Citizens and parliamentarians alike feel dissatisfied with Canada's legislative institutions. The Paradox of Parliament shows that demands for diverse representatives have long collided with expectations of effective governance. Bravo to Jonathan Malloy on a compelling, provocative, and highly readable account of tensions at the heart of Canadian democracy."--Sylvia Bashevkin, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and Professor Emerita of Political Science, University of Toronto
"In exploring the tension between representation and governance at the heart of our Westminster parliamentary system, Jonathan Malloy provides an interesting historical overview of the evolution of Canada's Parliament over the years. A welcome contribution to our knowledge of an often-misunderstood institution at the heart of Canada's democracy: Parliament."--Michael Chong, Member of Parliament, Wellington-Halton Hills
" The Paradox of Parliament is richly written, and filled with anecdotes that will whet the intellectual appetite of parliamentary observers. With diplomatic aplomb, Malloy deftly weaves a commanding understanding of the history, debates, and harsh realities that characterize the Canadian Parliament."--Alex Marland, author of Whipped: Party Discipline in Canada