College of Social Sciences and International Studies
Parliamentary Studies
Module POL2113 for 2020/1
Module POL2113 for 2020/1
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL2113: Parliamentary Studies
This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 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:
- Theoretical and historical perspectives on the UK Parliament
- Modernisation and the structure of the UK Parliament since 1997
- Passing legislation through the UK Parliament: The legislative cycle
- The EU, UK politics and Parliament
- Parliament and devolution
- Legislative roles and parliamentary behaviour
- Parliamentary representation and accountability
- The UK Parliament in a comparative perspective
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 |
---|---|---|
22 | 128 | 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 & Teaching activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hr interactive lectures |
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hr seminar discussions and simulation games |
Guided independent study | 40 | Completing readings assigned for the module on a weekly basis |
Guided independent study | 8 | Preparation for formative assignment. Preparing a detailed outline of the submission to the Select Committee inquiry |
Guided independent study | 37 | Preparation of assignment 1 (submission to the Select Committee inquiry). Conducting research, syntethising evidence, designing recommendations for the government and writing up |
Guided independent study | 37 | Preparation of assignment 2 (research essay). Conducting research, collecting and analysing data and writing up results |
Guided independent study | 6 | Receiving and reflecting on feedback |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
- Parliamentary Research Papers (House of Commons Library/House of Lords Library) http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/
- Hansard (official report of parliamentary debates) https://www.hansard.parliament.uk/
- Committee publications http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/committees/select-committeepublications/
- UK Government Departmental sites http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm
- UK Cabinet Office website http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
- They Work For You http://www.theyworkforyou.com
- Hansard Society http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk
- The Constitution Unit http://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit
- The Study of Parliament Group http://www.studyofparliament.org.uk
- History of Parliament Trust http://www.histparl.ac.uk
- The Inter-Parliamentary Union http://www.ipu.org/english/home.htm
- The Commonwealth Parliamentary Union http://www.cpahq.org/cpahq/mem/default.aspx
- PSA Specialist Group on Parliaments and Legislatures http://www.psa.ac.uk/spgrp/33/ParlLeg.aspx
- Institute for Government http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
- Westminster Foundation for Democracy http://www.wfd.org
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.
Basic reading:
- Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (eds.) 2018. Exploring Parliament. Oxford: OUP.
- Norton, P. 2013. Parliament in British Politics, 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Additional readings:
- Bogdanor, V. 1999. Devolution in the United Kingdom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Cowley. P. 2002. Revolts and Rebellions, Parliamentary Voting under Blair. London: Politico.
- Deschouwer, K. and Depauw, S. (eds). 2014. Representing the people: a survey among members of state-wide and sub-state parliaments. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Flinders, M. 2002. ‘Shifting the balance? Parliament, the Executive and the British constitution’, Political Studies 50(1): 23-42.
- Geddes, A. 2013. Britain and the European Union. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Goldsworthy, J. 1999. The Sovereignty of Parliament: Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Kelso, A. 2009/13. Parliamentary Reform at Westminster. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
- Rehfeld, A. 2006. The Concept of Constituency: Political Representation, Democratic Legitimacy, and Institutional Design Cambridge: Cambrige University Press.
- Robert, R. and Walters, R. 2006. How Parliament Works. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
- Russell, M. 2013. The Contemporary House of Lords: Bicameralism Revived. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Searing, D. 1994. Westminster's world: Understanding political roles. Harvard University Press.
- Thompson, L. 2015. Making British Law, Committees in Action. Basingstoke: Palgrave.