Government and Politics

Course summary

The business of politics touches every aspect of our lives and whether or not you agree with what the government is doing, it is important to understand how the whole process of an elected government works. Change is part and parcel of the political landscape and the current context within the UK political system certainly raises significant questions deserving of deeper analysis. What will the future hold for our union? What consequences will come from the decision to exit the EU? Component 1: UK Politics 1. Political Participation: students will study democracy and participation, political parties, electoral systems, voting behaviour and the media. 2. Core Political Ideas: students will study conservatism, liberalism and socialism. Component 2: UK Government 1. UK Government: students will study the constitution, parliament, Prime Minister and executive, and the relationships between the branches. 2. Non-core political ideas: students will study one idea from the following: anarchism, ecologism, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism. Component 3: Comparative Politics For USA (3A), students will study the US Constitution and federalism, US Congress, US presidency, US Supreme Court and civil rights, democracy and participation, comparative theories. Alternatively, for Global (3B) students will study sovereignty and globalisation, global governance: political and economic, human rights and environmental, power and developments, regionalism and the European Union, comparative theories.