Contemporary Political Systems 2101-L-W5WPSP-PRMM

1. The concept of the political system. Subsystems in the political system. Setting the political system.
2. Principles of modern constitutional state. The principle of national sovereignty. The principle of pluralism and traditional pluralism (France, Italy, Poland), institutionalized pluralism (Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, Slovenia): the principle of separation of powers-model American and European.
3. Constitutions of the modern state. The genesis and development of constitutionalism. Continental model constitution, Scandinavian model (Sweden), Anglo-Saxon model (United Kingdom).
4. Electoral systems in the modern state. Historical development and democratization of the electoral law. Deformation of the electoral act. Majority system (UK, France, USA). Proportional system (the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Spain). Mixed system (Germany).
5. Head of state in the modern state. Monarchy and the president - the source of legitimacy and competence.
6. Parliament in the modern state. Rank of Parliament, the parliaments of unicameral (Nordic) and bicameral. Organization of parliamentary powers.
7. The government and government administration in the modern state. The structure and powers of government. British model (the government and the cabinet). Scandinavian model. Continental model.
8. The civil service in the modern state. Recruitment of civil servants. Categories of civil servants. Official status. Apolitical attitude.
9. Local government in the modern state. The structure of local government.
10. Political parties and party systems in the modern state. The concept of a political party and party system. Types of political parties and party systems.
11. Interest groups in the modern state. The concept of interest groups. Types of interest groups. Trade Unions. Employers' associations.
12. Systems of governance in the modern state. Presidential and parliamentary systems. Parliamentary-cabinet systems (Italy, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania), cabinet- parliamentary (United Kingdom), mixed systems (France, Finland), a presidential system (USA).

Type of course

obligatory courses

Learning outcomes

- acquiring the skills to interpret the political systems functioning
- Acquiring skills of analysis the legal acts of modern political system

Assessment criteria

Activities, written exam.

Practical placement

Lack of

Bibliography

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 Gdulewicz E. (i inni): Współczesne ustroje państwowe, Lublin 1997
 Herbut R.: Systemy partyjne w Europie Zachodniej, Wyd. Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, Wrocław 1996
 Smith G.: Życie polityczne w Europie Zachodniej, Warszawa 1992
 Ulicka U.: Demokracje Zachodnie, PWN, Warszawa 1992
 Wojtaszczyk K. A.: Kompendium Wiedzy o Państwie Współczesnym, Liber, Warszawa 1998
 Wojtaszczyk K. A.: Współczesne Systemy Polityczne, WSiP, Warszawa 1998
 Wojtaszczyk K. A.: Państwa członkowskie UE, Wydawnictwo Liber, Warszawa 2007
 Wojtaszczyk K.A., Jakubowski W. (red.): Społeczeństwo i polityka, Warszawa 2007