Module POL3226 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3226: Money, Lobbying, and Policymaking
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
the purpose of interest groups, what lobbying is and how it is done, laws that regulate lobbying and money in the US and other countries, current research on lobbying and policymaking, case studies of lobbying and policymaking, and related topics. Assignments include a set of three strategic memos, a research essay, data analysis using a statistics package, in-class simulations of lobbying and policymaking.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 44 | 22 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 88 | Preparing for seminars: Reading and research |
| Guided Independent Study | 168 | Completing assessment tasks: Reading, research and writing |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-class simulations | 2 hours each | 1-7 | Oral and global feedback |
| Participation in computer lab sessions | 5 x 2 hour | 1-7 | Oral and global feedback |
| Participation in classroom discussion | 20 x 2 hours | 1-7 | Oral feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic memorandum | 50 | 3800 words | 1-7 | Written feedback via ELE |
| Research essay | 50 | 3800 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic memorandum | Strategic memorandum (3800 words) | 1-7 | Due upon return if possible; otherwise Aug/Sept assessment period |
| Research essay | Research essay (3800 words) | 1-7 | Due upon return if possible; otherwise Aug/Sept assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Baumgartner and Leech, Basic Interests
Baumgartner, Berry, Hojnacki, Kimball, and Leech, Lobbying and Policy Change
Berry and Wilcox, The Interest Group Society
E. E. Schattschneider, The Semisovereign People: A Realist's View of Democracy in America
Frank J. Sorauf, Inside Campaign Finance
Larry Sabato, PAC Power
Panagopoulos and Schank, All Roads Lead to Congress
Robert M. Alexander, The Classics of Interest Group Behavior
Wolpe and Levine, Lobbying Congress
Amy McKay, “Buying Policy? The Effects of Lobbyists’ Resources on their Policy Success.” Political Research Quarterly Austen-Smith and Wright, “Counteractive Lobbying.” American Political Science Review
Chin, Bond, and Geva. “A foot in the door: An experimental study of PAC and constituency effects on access.” Journal of Politics
David Lowery. “Why Do Organized Interests Lobby? A Multi-Goal, Multi-Context Theory of Lobbying.” Polity
Denzau and Munger, “How Unorganized Interests Get Represented.” American Political Science Review
Hall and Wayman, “Buying Time: Moneyed Interests and the Mobilization of Bias in Congressional Committees.” American Political Science Review
Jennifer Nicoll Victor, “Strategic Lobbying.” American Politics Research
