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PIR-30160 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 19 April 2024

PIR-30160 - Parliamentary Studies
Coordinator: Philip Catney Room: CBA2.028 Tel: +44 1782 7 33346
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Parliament has never seemed more relevant to political life in the UK and this module aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of how the UK Parliament works in both theory and practice. Taught in conjunction with staff from the Westminster Parliament, the module examines the increasing prominence of Parliament as an actor in policy-making in the twenty-first century, particularly in the context of Brexit. The module gives students the tools to understand the role of Parliament in shaping the policy and politics in the twenty-first century.

Aims
This module aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of how the UK Parliament works in both theory and practice. It seeks to examine the increasing importance of Parliament as an actor in policy-making in the twenty-first century. The module aims to enhance both the subject-specific knowledge of students about the operation of Parliament, but it also seeks to develop the analytical skills of students (principally through engagement with advanced interpretive frameworks) and their practical-orientated capabilities (e.g. in writing policy briefs, media training and so on).

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/pir-30160/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

evaluate scholarly accounts of legislatures and legislative decision-making in the context of the UK Parliament
: 1,2
assess the role of the UK Parliament in the policy process in comparison with other legislatures: 1,2
apply theoretical/analytical frameworks from legislative studies and public policy to features of parliamentary practice and public policy outputs: 1,2
develop skills in identifying and analysing rhetoric: 1,2

Study hours

20 hours: 10 two-hour lecture/seminars
12 hours: Day-trip to Westminster (free of charge for students)
42 hours: Preparation and completion of portfolio components
76 hours: Preparation and completion of 2,500-word report

School Rules

Entry to the module will be by application and judged by the module team.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Research Paper weighted 60%
A 2500-word research report analysing Parliament's role in making and shaping public policy
A 2500-word research report analysing the formulation and evolution policy as it makes its way through the parliamentary process (UK-focused but also potentially comparative in nature).

2: Portfolio weighted 40%
Portfolio
Students will compile a portfolio from two pieces of work. These assessments are: 1) Rapid policy briefs (~1000 words); 2) draft parliamentary questions/answers (~1000 words).

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 April 2024