British Constitution in Crisis
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| POLI1019 | Politics and International Relations | 1 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- POLI1019
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module introduces students to the institutional structure of the British constitution and examines its significance and suitability in the context of crises that have animated it in recent decades. This module will cover topics like parliamentary sovereignty and referendums, devolution, Britain’s changing relationship with Europe, and the legacy of empire. Students will be given the opportunity to explore these topics from both empirical and theoretical perspectives.
Target Students
Available to Year 1 UG students in the School of Politics and International Relations on single and joint honours plans. Also available to incoming exchange students based in the School of Politics and International Relations.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, and lecture engagements.
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 2,000-word essay.
- 50% Coursework 2: 2,000-word essay.
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The module aims to give students a broad knowledge and understanding of crises and controversies in contemporary British politics, and of the context in which key political actors like Prime Ministers, Parliament, and political parties, operate.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
- Demonstrate knowledge of the British political system.
- Apply arguments in democratic and constitutional theory in combination with evidence from empirical case studies to evaluate the British political system.
- Evaluate the merits of different interpretations of issues in British politics.
Intellectual skills
- Evaluation and synthesis of conceptual and normative arguments.
- Gather and evaluate evidence from primary and secondary sources.
- Show aptitude in applying conceptual thinking to concrete examples.
Professional and practical skills
- Communicate effectively in writing for academic and professional audiences.
- Research independently to draw on primary and secondary sources.
Digital competencies
- Use digital repositories and/or archives to gather evidence and answer questions.
- Develop web literacy by using online resources.