Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

After introducing the defining characteristics of parliaments, the module examines the roots of parliamentary institutions within notions of democracy and political representation. It then explores how such notions have been manifest in the development of different parliamentary bodies (including Westminster, the European Parliament, and the devolved chambers in Scotland and Wales). The module then examines the election and internal organisation of parliamentary chambers, and how these shape the behaviour of individual representatives. Finally, the role of parliamentary institutions in shaping and resisting political reform is addressed.

Students will have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of transferable skills that will help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas. Throughout the course, students should practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills, as well as basic numeracy and self-management skills. In lectures, students will develop listening and note taking skills, as well as analytical skills. In seminars students will enhance their analytical skills and will practice listening, explaining and debating skills, as well as engaging in team-work and problem solving. Essay writing will require students to practice independent research, writing and IT skills, and the examination will test these skills under time constraint conditions.

10 ECTS credits