GV309-6-SP-CO:
British Government: The institutions and the people that make it work
2026/27
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 18 January 2027
Thursday 25 March 2027
15
18 June 2026
Requisites for this module
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This module will provide students with knowledge of the institutions and people that make British government work. It will focus on the monarchy, the core executive (cabinet and civil service), the judiciary, local government and policymakers. It is explicitly designed to support students who want to pursue careers in and around government – both in Britain and other countries. Students will be assessed by a traditional essay and professional writing assignment (memo, report, advice or press release).
A key feature of the module will be the involvement of Essex alumni or other professionals in two additional sessions in the module. They will provide accounts of their careers and advice about how students can develop the qualities and skills required for a career in and around government.
The aims of this module are:
- To introduce students to the institutions and people that operate the British system of government.
- To provide students with an understanding of the role of the monarchy, ministers, the civil service, the judiciary, local government and policymakers
- To enable students to develop/engage the qualities and skills that enhance their employability in British government (including professional writing).
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the British system of government.
- Understand the role of key institutions and the people who work in those institutions.
- Understand how ideas are transformed into laws, policies, and practice.
- Demonstrate that they have critically reflected on their work.
- Demonstrate the professional writing skills needed for employment in British government.
The following skills are developed on this module:
- Expertise and professional practice
- Demonstrate familiarity and competence with data sources and methods commonly used political science and international relations
- Communication and engagement
- Communicate ideas clearly and concisely to different audiences using quantitative and/or qualitative evidence and rigorous arguments.
- Identity and Knowledge Exchange
- Critically reflect on my learning, identify gaps in understanding.
- Research analysis and discovery
- Identify data and resources that can help answers important questions about the world
Indicative Syllabus
- The monarchy
- Cabinet government
- Departments and their ministers
- The civil service and Whitehall
- The legal system and judiciary
- UK human rights
- Local government
- Devolution and the rebirth of local government
- Policymaking I
- Policymaking II
This module will be delivered via:
- One 2-hour seminar per week.
- Ten drop-in sessions that will include two additional sessions on professional writing and two sessions with alumni.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
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
Yes
Yes
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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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