PIM84-Parliamentary Studies

Module Provider: Graduate Institute for Politics and International Studies
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Mark Shanahan
Email: m.j.shanahan@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This highly innovative module is co-taught by Whitehall, Westminster and Devolved Administration Ìýfigures alongside staff from the Department of Politics. This module provides students with an understanding of the working of Parliament both in theory and in practice.

Aims:

Students will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of the functions and workings of the UK Parliament and how Parliament fits within the wider UK political system.Ìý This understanding will be based on real-world engagement with Parliament and parliamentarians as well as the insights of scholarly research. Students will also develop practical skills in interpreting current parliamentary activity in light of existing scholarly literature relevant to Parliament, and evaluative skills in interpreting and analysing the impact of the Parliamentary process on the UK’s citizens.Ìý

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that the student will:

• understand the functions and workings of the UK Parliament, how Parliament fits within the wider UK political system, and how the UK Parliament compares to legislatures in other democracies;


• understand and engage with debates about the efficacy of Parliament, how Parliament has evolved over time, and how Parliament might be reformed in the future to improve that efficacy;


• be able to evaluate the contributions to Parliament of the different elements within the system and to analyse the immediate and lasting impacts of each


• to have a critical understanding of the roles of Government and opposition and to be able to evaluate the ideological influences on how each operates within the Parliamentary system


• understand in detail the activities during the period in which the module is taught of one particular part of Parliament and in terpret how this relates to the roles of that part of Parliament and of Parliament as a whole.

Additional outcomes:

Students’ understanding of and engagement with British politics and democratic politics more generally will be enhanced through direct experience – both through a trip to Parliament and a devolved administration and through participation in seminars with a range of parliamentarians and officials. Students will become expert in one key area of Parliamentary business and will collaborate to share their expertise with fellow students, and with those involved in the business of Parliament.

Outline content:

The module will introduce students to Parliament’s history and current function.Ìý Working with parliamentary officials and Members, we will explore and assess the key elements of the institution including:

• how legislation is made;


• the relationship between Parliament and Government;


• the House of Lords;


• Select Committees;


• devolved powers;


• the role of the media.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Key topics are considered via a combination of lectures and small group seminars within two-hour weekly teaching sessions. Each session will begin with an interactive lecture either from an academic or parliamentary speaker. This will be followed by small-group discussion, simulations focused on specific questions. Each session requires preparatory reading.ÌýIn addition, this module includes a trip to Parliament and a devolved Assembly/Parliament.Ìý

Summative assessment- Examinations:
There is no examination.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Students will write one ‘essay of 4,000 words (+/- 10%) answering a question related to the parliamentary institution. Non-submitted essays will be awarded a mark of zero. The mark for this part of the coursework is 50% of the module mark.

In addition, students will undertake a group exercise leading to a group presentation Ìýon an agreed aspect of the development of policy through Parliament.Ìý Topics and Groups will be agreed in week 1. The Presentation and ensuing Report paper will account for 50% of the overall module mark, with 25% relating to the Group presentation and 25% to the individual contribution to the research.

Formative assessment methods:

Formative assessment methods: Student will be expected to deliver regular updates on the focus of their report in the final part of weekly teaching sessions. Students are welcome to discuss reports and briefing papers with the module convenor during feedback and consultation hours.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: