| CODE | PPG3003 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Parliamentary Studies and Legislation | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Policy, Politics and Governance | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit explores the role, structure, and functioning of parliaments in democratic governance, as well as the legislative process that shapes public policy. It examines different parliamentary systems, including presidential and parliamentary democracies, bicameral and unicameral legislatures, and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. The study-unit also delves into the law-making process, from bill initiation to enactment, and the role of parliamentary committees, debates, and oversight functions. Through comparative case studies, students will gain a deeper understanding of how legislative bodies influence governance, representation, and policy development. Study-Unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to: - Explore the structure, functions, and roles of parliamentary institutions in different political systems; - Analyse how laws are drafted, debated, amended, and enacted within parliamentary frameworks; - Investigate how legislatures monitor executive actions, scrutinize policies, and uphold democratic governance; - Identify similarities and differences between various parliamentary models, including bicameral and unicameral systems. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the roles of parliaments in different political systems and their impact on governance; - Examine the stages of law-making, including bill proposals, debates, amendments, and voting procedures; 鈥� Evaluate how legislatures hold governments accountable through committees, questioning sessions, and investigations; 鈥� Identify key differences between parliamentary, presidential, and hybrid systems, and assess their effectiveness. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Assess laws, policies, and parliamentary decisions critically; - Compare parliamentary systems and understanding their impact on governance and representation; - Evaluate legislative challenges and propose solutions for improving parliamentary efficiency; - Engage in discussions, debates, and simulations of parliamentary procedures. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Frendo, M. (2013) "Malta: The Parliament of Malta", in Baldwin, N.D.J. (ed.) (2013), Legislatures of Small States, Routledge, pp. 74-80. - Leston-Bandeira, C. and Thompson, L. (2018), Exploring Parliament, Oxford University Press. - Pirotta, G.A. (2006), Malta's Parliament - An Official History, Department of 福利在线免费. Supplementary Readings: - Laban, M. (2013), Mr Speaker: The Office and the Individuals since 1945, Biteback Publishing. - Leston-Bandeira, C. (ed.) (2013), Parliaments and Citizens, Routledge. - Martin, S. et al. (eds.) (2014), The Oxford Handbook of Legislative Studies, Oxford University Press. - Rush, M. and Giddings, P. (2011), Parliamentary Socialisation: Learning the Ropes or Determining Behaviour?, Palgrave Macmillan. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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