Contemporary Parliamentary Studies and the British Political Tradition

POLI32041 Contemporary Parliamentary Studies and the British Political Tradition 20 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 3 Louise Thompson Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 Weekly topics:1. Introduction to the Course: What’s wrong with parliament?2. Executive-Legislative Relations3. Holding Government to Account: PMQs and PQs4. Holding Government to Account: Select Committees5. Making the Law: Making the Law6. Making the Law: Private Members' Bills7. Representation: MPs and their constituents8. Representation: The House of Lords9. Representation: Parliament and Political Parties10. The Future of the UK Parliament The Palace of Westminster is one of the most photographed buildings in the world, visited by over 1 million people every year. But it is more than just a prominent tourist attraction - it is the core of the UK’s political system; the building in which a deep history and culture combine (and sometimes clash) with the work of modern legislators and government. It is both the symbol of a stable state and a theatre in which ideologies clash and measures of public policy are debated.This module offers an introduction to the UK Parliament, focusing on key questions such as: what does Parliament do? How effectively does it exercise its functions? And what is its relevance in twenty-first century Britain? Focusing on key themes of law-making, scrutiny and representation, the module offers a theoretically informed approach to the understanding of the UK Parliament and its relationship with both the executive and the wider public. You will be introduced to key theoretical debates such as the British Political Tradition and the Parliamentary Decline Thesis (PDT), as well as the mechanics of the legislative process, the committee system and question time.Throughout the module we will draw on contemporary case studies showing all aspects of parliamentary life. Students will be encouraged to carry out independent research using parliamentary resources (including but not limited to: Hansard, committee reports and sessional information/statistics).The module is organised in conjunction with the UK Parliament’s outreach service, who will arrange for some guest speakers to visit our class and provide first-hand practitioner accounts of Parliament’s work. One of the highlights of the module will be a class fieldtrip to the Houses of Parliament. Here we will have the opportunity to tour the building, hear from invited speakers and observe the two Houses in action. The course unit aims to:•      To develop a critical understanding of Parliament through the theoretical framework of the British Political Tradition and the Parliamentary State•      Apply this conceptual framework to explore how the contemporary UK Parliament in practice works.•      Situate this approach within a wider comparative and analytical literature on parliamentary institutions•      To develop awareness of contemporary issues and themes of parliamentary politics including legitimacy, diversity and representation, executive power and media relations.•      In so doing, encourage students to think analytically about the nature of the contemporary British political system.•      To develop an understanding of major political events and how they have affected the evolution of the British state.•      To develop skills of argument and analysis within a small, discussion group environment. On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:•      demonstrate knowledge of the structures, procedures and roles of key actors within the UK Parliament state•      critically appraise empirical studies of legislative behaviour both quantitatively and qualitatively•      critically appraise academic and journalistic accounts of legislative behaviour and the capacity of the legislature to hold the executive to account•      apply conceptual tools such as executive mentality, party loyalty and institutional culture•      demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communication and transferrable skills including making effective oral and written presentations, utilising specialist primary and secondary resources and having a critical awareness of these material, so deepening the capacity for independent learning. 0 Other 100% Blog, 800 words (20%)Research Essay, 3,200 words (80%) Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission via Blackboard (if submitted through Turnitin).Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results. This applies to Semester 2 modules only. Semester one modules with no final examination will have their feedback available within the 15 working days.You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor. Tutors and Course Convenors also have a dedicated office hour when you can meet with her/him to discuss course unit specific problems and questions.On assessments submitted through Turnitin you will receive feedback via Blackboard. This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff Y The key text we will use during the course is:•      C Leston-Bandeira, A Meakin and L Thompson eds. (2025) Exploring Parliament, Oxford: OUP. For more detail about how parliament works as well as its rules and procedures, please go to one of the following:•      P. Norton (2013) Parliament in British Politics [2 edn] Basingstoke: Palgrave•      Rogers, R & Walters, R, (2015) How Parliament Works, [7 edn] London: Routledge•      Evans, P (2012) DODS Handbook of House of Commons Procedure [8 edn] 0 0 0