PIED2100 British Central Government
20 Credits Class Size: 120
Module manager: Dr Tim Heppell
Email: T.Heppell@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running
2016/17
This module is approved as a discovery module
Module summary
Why should I take this module?
You should take this module if you want to find out more about the real-world 'corridors of power' in Britain. The focus is on the key governing 'triangle' of Whitehall-Westminster-Palace, and on the organisation and operation of central government in Britain. The module looks at the people who run the country, how they get to those positions, the powers and responsibilities they have, how they are held to account, and at how government policy is made
Brief Reading List
Christopher Foster British Government in Crisis (2005)
Simon James British Cabinet Government (1999)
Objectives
On completion of the module, students should be able to demonstrate understanding of, and appraise competing theories about, the organisation and operation of British central government through a focus upon the following key questions:
- Who are the key decision-makers in British central government?
- How do they achieve their offices?
- What roles, functions, powers and responsibilities do they have?
- How is government policy made and decisions taken?
- How accountable are decision-makers?
- How and why have things changed in these respects over recent decades?
Syllabus
The module involves analysis of ten key categories of office-holder:
- Prime Minister
- Leader of the Opposition
- Ministers (Cabinet Ministers and Junior Ministers)
- Top civil servants
- Political advisers
- Members of Parliament
- Chief Whip
- Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Treasury
- Foreign Secretary and the Foreign Office
- The Monarch
Teaching Methods
| Delivery type |
Number |
Length hours |
Student hours |
| Lecture |
11 |
1 |
11 |
| Seminar |
11 |
1 |
11 |
| Private study hours |
178 |
| Total Contact hours |
22 |
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) |
200 |
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
non-assessed mid-term and in-class assignments
Methods of Assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type |
Notes |
% of formal assessment |
| Essay |
3,000 words |
50 |
| Essay |
3,000 words |
50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) |
100 |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading List
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 8/10/2016
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team