Module POL2113 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL2113: Parliamentary Studies
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module aims to foster your understanding of the many facets of Parliament – from the structure, functions and internal working of parliamentary bodies to inter-parliamentary relations between the UK Parliament and European institutions and devolved legislatures of the UK.
In addition to the institutional set-up, it aims to examine parliamentary politics by focusing on behaviours and legislative roles of parliamentarians, as well as their relationships with constituents, political parties and the British public using a series of simulation games and interactive activities.
Finally, it aims to build confidence and proficiency in the use of parliamentary language and writing styles, thus enabling you to write for political practitioners in the future.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
---|---|
Module-Specific Skills | 1. Show understanding of the internal organisation and the relationships between and within UK parliamentary structures, as well as the mechanics of the legislative process 2. Demonstrate awareness of debates regarding (1) the relationship between the executive and Parliament; (2) modernisation and reform of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and (3) the relationships of Parliament with devolved legislatures and with the EU institutions 3. Identify, explain and discuss the roles of Members of the House of Commons and Lords and the dynamics and effectiveness of parliamentary scrutiny and of parliamentary accountability |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the main issues shaping the future development of legislatures, including the UK Parliament 5. Demonstrate knowledge of the main theoretical and methodological approaches to legislative studies 6. Select and present in a coherent way, orally and in writing, empirical and theoretical arguments relevant to the study of Parliament 7. Collect, synthesise and analysis evidence, as well as present it in a coherent way in response to both academic and practitioners inquiries |
Personal and Key Skills | 8. Select, critically engage with and manage relevant learning resources and information and to develop own, evidence-based arguments 9. Organise study time, plan and undertake assigned tasks, as well as reflect on and integrate oral and written feedback, individually and in collaboration with peers 10. Communicate effectively and accurately, orally and in writing, to academic and political practitioner (i.e. parliamentary) audiences |
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
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Detailed outline of the submission to the Select Committee inquiry | 750 words | 1-10 | Written 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Submission to the Select Committee inquiry | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
Research essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Submission to the Select Committee inquiry | Submission to the Select Committee inquiry (2,000 words | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
Research essay | Research essay (2,000 words) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment 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.
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.