Political Institutions

Course Code:

PSIR 102

Course Period:

Spring

Course Type:

Core

P:

3

Application:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

5

Prerequisite Courses:

Introduction To Political Science

Course Language:

İngilizce

Course Objectives:

Political Institutions Course (Pols 106) aims to introduce the basic mechanisms, organs and institutions of Government. It intends to givea fair sense of these as tools to identify and distinguish the principal political structures and systems worldwide. By the completion of thiscourse, the students are expected to grasp the underlying concernsand principles of major current political processes and regimes in the world.

Course Content:

The following is a rather flexible schedule listing the topics to be covered during the semester. Besides the Mid-term Examination, there will be 2-3 un-announced quizzes (pop-quiz) during the semester. As an institutional principle, each student is expected to show up in class regularly at a minimum of 80 % of the semester, to be allowed to take the Final Examination at the end of the semester. The lectures will be given in English predominantly, while Turkish synonyms and or equivalents also will be provided, especially for students from other departments. Active participation highly recommended and will be so evaluated.

Course Methodology:

1: Lecture, 2: Question-Answer, 3: Discussion

Course Evaluation Methods:

A: Testing, B: Exams, C: Homework

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
Identify and relate the basic organs and institutions	1,2	1,2,3	A,C
Recognize principle political systems	1,2	1,2,3	A,C
Comprehend and interpret the formation of basic mechanisms and institutions	1,2,10	1,2,3	A,C
Distinguish governmental regimes	2,3,16	1,2,3	A,C
Categorize legal, political systems	3,6,9	1,2,3	A,C
Combine the seemingly unrelated institutions at different levels	1,2,3	1,2,3	A,C
Begin to question the context and neccesity of certain political mechanisms	1,2,3	1,2,3	A,C
Begin to comprehend, relate and explain the reasons behind various political institutions	1,2,3,7	1,2,3	A,C
Evaluate current political changes, attempts to reform prevailing regimes in present world better	6,7,13	1,2,3	A,C

Course Flow

Week	Topics	Study Materials
1	What have we learned so far? An Overview of the last Semester	Related sections of the textbook
2	The Apparatus of Governance Constitutions and the Design of Government Variations in Formality The Virtue of Vagueness Other Principles of Constitutional Design The Importance of Incentive Compatibility The Geographic Concentration of Power “Federal” and “Unitary” States The Distinction between “Unitary” and “Centralized” States “Constitutionalism”	Related sections of the textbook
3	Elections Elections as a means of Building Support Elections as a means of Electing Leaders and Policies Electoral Systems Referendums Electoral Participation The Paradox of Participation The Bases of Electoral Choice	Related sections of the textbook
4	Parties: A Linking and Leading Mechanism in Politics The Political Party Origins of the Modern Party Political Parties and the Mobilization of the Masses Political Parties and the Recruitment and Socialization of Leaders Political Parties as a Source of Political Identity Political Parties as a Channel of Control Party Organization Party Finance Political Party Systems	Related sections of the textbook
5	Structured Conflict: Interest Groups and Politics Interest Groups and Representation Types of Interest Groups Tactics of Interest Groups Patterns of Interest-Group Activity Pluralism Neo-corporatism	Related sections of the textbook
6	MID-TERM EXAMINATION	Related sections of the textbook
7	Evaluation of the Mid-Term Exam National Decision-Making Institutions: Parliamentary Government Cabinet Control What Does a Parliament Do? The Life of a Member of Parliament Parliamentary Committees Exceptions to Parliamentary Supremacy Parliaments in Non-democratic Systems	Related sections of the textbook
8	National Decision-Making Institutions: Presidential Government Presidential and Parliamentary Systems Compared Governmental Responsibility Presidential Systems and Comprehensive Policy Recruitment of Executive Leaders Review and Control of the Executive The Split Executive of Parliamentary Systems Why aren’t all Democracies Parliamentary Systems? Constitutional Review and the Fragmentation of Power	Related sections of the textbook
9	Bureaucracy and the Public Sector Public Administration as a Political Problem Characteristics of Good Public Administration ‘Bureaucracy’: A Reform of the Last Century Bureaucracy vs. Flexibility The Problem of Protected Incompetence Adjustments to Bureaucracy Social Representativeness of Public Administration Corruption	Related sections of the textbook
10	Law and the Courts Anglo-Saxon Case Law Continental European Code Law Religious Law: the Sharia The Blending of Case Law and Code Law Courts	Related sections of the textbook
11	Politics among States The Evolution of the International System Since World War II The New World Order International Politics The Absence of Central Authority Fiduciary Political Roles and International Morality Impediments to International Communication Power and International Politics Power and Choice in International Politics	Related sections of the textbook
12	The Present Situation in view of “The End of History” and “Clash of Civilizations” approaches	Related sections of the textbook
13	Review: Preparation for the Final Examination	Related sections of the textbook
14	Review: Preparation for the Final Examination	Related sections of the textbook
15	Review: Preparation for the Final Examination	Related sections of the textbook
16	Final	Related sections of the textbook

Recommended Sources

Textbook	W. Philips Shively, Power & Choice An Introduction to Political Science, McGraw Hill, 11th Edition, 2008
Additional Resources	-

Material Sharing

Documents	-
Assignments	“What is the best level of centralization?”
Exams	Midterm and final essays taken in the classroom

Assessment

IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Mid-term / Final	1	40 % / 45 %
Quizzes	2	10 %
Assignment	1	5 %
Total		100
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE		45 %
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE		55 %
Total		100

Course’s Contribution to Program

No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4		5
1	Students will demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of Political Science and International Relations as well as other related disciplines such as Law, Economics and Sociology.					X
2	Students will interpret the structure, institutions and operation of national, international and supranational entities via utilization of the concepts and theories of Political Science and International relations and produce project reports that include possible solutions to problems of such institutions when necessary.				X
3	Students will demonstrate that they have developed a comparative, analytical and interdisciplinary approach vis-à-vis human societies and political systems.				X
4	Students will have improved their skills and awareness of personal responsibility and team membership through conducting group or independent research projects, doing internships and producing their graduation dissertations.	X
5	Students will demonsrate proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collections methods.	X
6	Students will prove their understanding of the rapidly-evolving dynamics of national and global environments requires constant self-assessment, life-long learning, and the ability to formulate innovative solutions to maintain their personal and professional development.			X
7	Students should be able to critically evaluate the body of knowledge in political science, assess self-competency and direct self-learning efforts accordingly.			X
8	Students will implement written and oral communication skills in English and Turkish in both academic and professional settings.				X
9	Students should be able to effectively demonstrate their knowledge of written, oral and reading skills in English both in international institutional settings and follow and interpret the global dynamics of the International Relations discipline.				X
10	Students will demonstrate their social skills and experience required by public or private institutions or in the academia.			X
11	Students will show empathy and respect towards societies other than one’s own.	X
12	Students should be able to effectively utilize computer and information technologies commonly-used in the social sciences.	X
13	Students will interpret domestic and international developments and express opinions, having acquired advanced knowledge and proficiency in the via communication with international scholars and students.	X
14	Students will respect personal, social and academic ethical norms.					X
15	Students should understand the personal, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility, and show duties of active and global citizenship.	X
16	Students should know that universality of social-political and legal rights and social justice are the principle components of contemporary society, and that scientific thinking is an essential prerequisite for maintaining social advancement and global competitiveness.			X

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	15	3	45
Mid-terms Quizzes	1	5	5
Homework	1	5	7
Final examination	1	15	15
Total Work Load			125
Total Work Load / 25 (h)			5
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

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