UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON

(All rights reserved)

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

 

FIRST SEMESTER 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR

 

COURSE OUTLINE (LEGON AND CITY CAMPUSES)

 

POLI 111:      POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

CREDITS:     THREE

 

COURSE INSTRUCTOR:

 

DR. KWAME ASAH-ASANTE

·       Office Location: Room 14, Department of Political Science

·       E-mail: kasah-asante@ug.edu.gh

DR. AKPEKO AGBEVADE

·       Office Location: Room 6, Kweku Folson Building, Department of Political Science

·       E-mail: aagbevade@ug.edu.gh

 

COURSE DELIVERY SCHEDULE

COURSE TITLE	POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
COURSE CODE	POLI 112
COURSE OVERVIEW 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	TOPIC	TUTORIAL	VENUE	ASSESSMENT
1	The Concepts and Theories of Political Institutions and Legislature		SAKAI
2	Executive and Judiciary		SAKA
3	Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances and Bureaucracy		SAKAI
4	Political Parties and Interest Groups		SAKAI
5	Electoral Processes and Electoral Systems		SAKAI
6	Constitution		SAKAI
7	REVISION
8-9	EXAMINATION (30%) CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT (70%)
READINGS

1.     Asah-Asante, K. & Brako, I. (2015). Understanding Political Institutions. (2^nd Ed). (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, ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:

1.     The course will last for 6 weeks.

2.     Each class will have a four-hour lecture in addition tutorials per week.

3.     The Sakai learning platform will be the mode of teaching. All class exercises will be undertaken through the Sakai.

4.     There will be class exercises which will constitute 70% of the student assessment for the semester and end of semester examination which will constitute 30%. Students will be required to answer questions including multiple choice questions.

 

Plagiarism Policy

The policy is available at http:www.ug.edu.gh/aqau/policies-guidelines

 

Grading Scale: Refer to Undergraduate Handbook