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  figures 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.  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. 

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.  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. In addition, this module includes a trip to Parliament and a devolved Assembly/Parliament. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars		20
Project Supervision		10
External visits		16
Guided independent study:		154
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Report	25
Project output other than dissertation	25

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  on an agreed aspect of the development of policy through Parliament.  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: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmissionPGflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50% overall module mark

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment is in original assessment method. Failed or missing coursework should be resubmitted on Blackboard within the published resubmission deadline. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: Recommended rather than required texts – circa £50

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: Students may incur photocopying costs for seminar reading or essay research at 5p per sheet.

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: circa £20 – with other costs covered by the department.

Last updated: 31 March 2022