GV204-5-AU-CO:
British Government
2025/26
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
11 March 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
GV385
This module explores the principles that underpin British government. It explores the relationship between the United Kingdom and its constituent nations and how power is concentrated at Westminster.
The aims of this module are:
- To better understand the principles that underpin British government and the constitutional challenges that the UK faces.
- To understand the politics of the consitutent nations of the UK and the politics of the Union.
- To provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the UK political system.
- To demonstrate to students how the British political system has changed over time.
- To provide students with the foundations for studying more specialised and advanced modules in British politics in subsequent years.
- To develop the key skills required for the successful study of political science.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Understand the core arrangements of British government.
- Develop insights into the distinct political culture of histories of the constituent nations of the UK.
- Understand debates about British government, its constitution and the Union.
The employability skills that students will develop in studying this module are:
- Ability to apply their knowledge of politics and political methodologies to real-world challenges
- To be able to identify topics they are passionate about and learn how these passions and interests can motivate them.
- To understand the need for clarity in the presentation of ideas, statements of theory, concepts, and causal relations.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
-
Flinders, M. (2005) 'Majoritarian Democracy in Britain: New Labour and the Constitution',
West European Politics, 28(1), pp. 61–93. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/0140238042000297099.
-
Arend Lijphart (2012)
Patterns of democracy: government forms and performance in thirty-six countries. 2nd ed. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=474918.
-
Judge, D. (2004) 'Whatever Happened to Parliamentary Democracy in the United Kingdom?',
Parliamentary Affairs, 57(3), pp. 682–701. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsh052.
-
-
Sobolewska, M. and Ford, R. (2020)
Brexitland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://doi-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/10.1017/9781108562485.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay 1 |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Essay 2 |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof John Bartle, email: jbartl@essex.ac.uk.
Professor John Bartle
Module Supervisor: Professor John Bartle -(bartl@essex.ac.uk) /
/ Module Administrator: Jasini Hobbs - (govquery@essex.ac.uk)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Stefano Pagliari
City, University of London
Senior Lecturer in International Politics
Available via Moodle
Of 2 hours, 2 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Government
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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