The parametrized system called the "ideal clock" is turned into an ordinary
gauge system and quantized by means of a path integral in which canonical
gauges are admissible. Then the possibility of applying the results to obta
in the transition amplitude for empty minisuperspaces, and the restrictions
arising from the topology of the constraint surface, are studied by matchi
ng the models with the ideal clock. A generalization to minisuperspaces wit
h true degrees of freedom is also discussed.