Module SGIA3651: Parliamentary Studies

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3651: Parliamentary Studies

Prerequisites

• • SGIA1191 Democratic Political Systems and One further SGIA module at level 2

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• • SGIA3461

Aims

• To enable students to gain a detailed knowledge of the key features of the British Parliament at Westminster
• To enable students to develop an understanding of the theoretical and empirical debates surrounding Parliamentary politics in Britain.
• To equip students with the basic analytical tools necessary to relate evidence to arguments about Parliamentary politics in Britain
• To give students a practical insight into the running of parliament and relate the theory of politics to politics as practice.

Content

• This module will examine the major contemporary debates surrounding the workings, role and function of the Westminster Parliament. It will provide students with a detailed knowledge of Parliament as an institution and a firm grasp of cutting edge research into Parliamentary politics in Britain. Topics may vary from year to year, but an indicative list includes:
• o Parliament and executive in British politics
• o Party dominance and party discipline in the House of Commons
• o Parliament and the legislative process
• o The representativeness of Parliament as an institution
• o The MP-constituent link o Popular attitudes to Parliament
• o Constitutional reform in Britain
• As well as gaining a strong theoretical grasp of how parliament works, students will develop their knowledge of and understanding of the empirical realities of how parliament functions through an assessment of the literature, and special sessions where a Parliamentary speaker will come along and lead sessions on relevant topics to give students a real life insight into how Parliament works. This will also include a tour of Parliament.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the module students will gain knowledge of:
• the key institutional features of Parliament
• key actors in Parliamentary politics
• the main contemporary theoretical and empirical debates surrounding the role and functioning of Parliament
• theories of the role of legislatures and political systems more generally
• the logics of enquiry into Parliamentary politics
• The practicalities of Parliamentary processes

• On completion of the module students will be able to:
• describe accurately and effectively alternative theories of Parliamentary politics and explanations of Parliamentary behaviour
• use theoretical frameworks to structure detailed empirical discussion of Parliamentary politics
• evaluate and critique rival theories and interpretations of Parliamentary politics with reference to secondary empirical evidence
• evaluate and critique rival theories and interpretations of Parliamentary politics with reference to primary empirical evidence and practical accounts of parliamentary politics

• Through the module, students will develop key skills, including the ability to:
• retrieve and utilize primary and secondary resources that they have been directed to
• find appropriate primary and secondary resources beyond those they have been directed to
• assess the suitability and quality of resources for research purposes
• engage in independent thought in evaluating existing research
• demonstrate analytical skills which will establish and defend an intellectual position in response to essay questions, showing engagement with and evaluation of theoretical and conceptual material
• complete written work to a deadline and within word limits

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Modes of teaching will be made up of four different elements. (1) three lectures that will accompany (2) sessions lead by a current parliamentary employee to detail the inner workings of parliament and how it compares to theory and to lead a Q&A session with students. (3) 9 two-hour seminars will focus on different aspects of parliamentary politics. These will be student-led discussions of key texts that are assigned prior to the class. These sessions may occasionally include a brief introduction by the seminar leader in relation to key methodological approaches taken in the literature to allow students to relate to the empirical evidence they engage with. Finally, (4) a day trip to Parliament will offer students the opportunity to get an up close look at the home of British politics and to consider how these internal workings relate to the theories and concepts we have analysed in class.
• Summative assessments will have two components. Firstly, a 3,000 word essay which accounts for 50% of the final module grade. Students will be given a selection of questions and will be asked to respond to one of these. All questions will test students theoretical understanding of an aspect of British politics as well as their ability to engage with, and evaluate empirical evidence. Secondly, the students will complete a case study on a topic linked to the sessions run by parliamentary advisors. This could relate to the passage of a bill, incident or a topic covered by the advisers (E.g. A special case study of House of Lords reform). This will help enhance the students ability to think like a researcher and apply relevant concepts and theories to a practical political issue.
• Formative assessment will consist of a 1,500 word essay. A set of questions will be given to students. This will allow students to develop their understanding of the course material and receive initial feedback

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A structured report (1,500 words) to be submitted at the end of the Michaelmas Term

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University