COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST - POLI 112: POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON

POLI 112:      POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST: SECOND SEMESTER, 2015/2016

LECTURERS: KWAME ASAH-ASANTE, DR. SEIDU. M. ALIDU

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS

COURSE TITLE	POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
COURSE CODE	POLI 112
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES	No human society can exist without rules, regulations, conventions, norms and so on. These are regulatory mechanisms that shape the conduct of people in society which constitute the basis of political institutions, and they are necessary for the administration of the state. For institutions to play the needed roles as required of them, it is important that they continue to exist for a long time. This can be achieved when people are educated about such institutions so that they will accept and internalise the knowledge. It is on the basis of this that, this course introduces beginners of the study of Political Science to the various political institutions in the state and how they function. Topics that will be considered for discussion are the concepts and theories of political institutions. Others are the legislature, executive, judiciary, political parties, electoral processes and electoral systems.
WEEK NO.	DATE	LECTURE TOPIC	TUTORIALS	VENUE	ASSESSMENT
1	1st & 3rd February 2016	The Concepts and Theories of Political Institutions		NNB1/CC
2	8th & 10th February 2016	Legislature		NNB1/CC
3	15th &17 February 2016	Legislature		NNB1/CC
4	22nd & 24th  February 2016	Executive		NNB1/CC
5	29th February & 2nd   March 2016	Executive		NNB1/CC
6	29th February & 2nd   March 2016	Judiciary		NNB1CC
7	7th & 9th March 2016	Judiciary		NNB1/CC	Continuous Assessment
8	14th & 16th March 2016	Political Parties		NNB1/CC
9	21st & 23rd March 2016	Political Parties		NNB1/CC
10	28th & 30th March 2016	Electoral Processes		NNB1/CC
11	4th & 6th April 2016	Electoral Processes		NNB1/CC
12	11th & 13th April 2016	Electoral Systems		NNB1/CC
13	18th & 20th April 2016	Electoral Systems		NNB1/CC
14	REVISION
15-17	EXAMINATION (70%)
READINGS

1.      Asah-Asante, K. & Brako, I. (2015). Understanding Political Institutions. (Accra: Black Mask Ltd.).

2.      Hague, R. & Harrop, M. (2010). Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction, 8^th ed. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).

3.      Heywood, A. (2007). Politics, 3^rd ed. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan).

4.      Guy Peters, B. (2005). Institutional Theory in Political Science: The New Institutionalism, 2^nd ed. (London: Continuum).

5.      Magstadt, T. M. (2006). Understanding Politics: Ideas, Institutions and Issues. (Wadsworth Cengage Learning).

6.      Miller, R. L. (1999). NTC’s American Government, 2^nd ed. (Lincolnwood: National Textbook Co.).

       COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.      The course will last for thirteen weeks.

2.      Each class will have a two-hour lecture in addition to a one-hour tutorial per week.

3.      To ensure effective teaching and learning, lectures will be organized in an interactive manner. Students will be allowed to ask and answer questions in class.

4.      There will be a Continuous Assessment (CA) test and end of semester examination. The test will take the form of an assignment. The CA test will carry 30 per cent of the final examination mark. The end of semester examination will carry 70 per cent. During this examination, students will be required to answer some multiple choice, short response and essay questions.