UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA (UiTM)
INSTITUTE
OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT (InED)
AM 110:
DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
PAD 170:
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
This Course is an extension of the "Introduction to Political Science" Course (PAD 120). It introduces students to the structure, organization, functions and powers of the various institutions of democratic governments; the different forms of government; the roles of the political parties and pressure groups; the electoral/representation systems and voting behaviour; and public administration. While focusing on Malaysian Government structure and institutions and politics, the Course will also have an international perspective, dimension and comparison.
On
completion of the Course, students should be able to:
a.
Explain clearly the roles of democratic
governments and their various institutions;
b.
Distinguish between the various forms
of government;
c.
Describe the different electoral
systems and their respective merits and demerits;
d.
Identify the various factors that
contribute to the outcome of elections;
e. Identify the differences between political parties and pressure groups; and
f. Explain the principles of public
administration and identify the various issues concerning
public administration.
a.
Definition
& classification of “government”?
What is ‘politics’?
b.
The Legislature:
Definition & functions; appointment and removal of members of the
legislature; differences between types of legislatures; the powers of Dewan
Rakyat and Dewan Negara; differences between the “Upper House” and “lower
House” in the US, Britain and Malaysia. The legislative process and
constitutional amendments (special reference to Malaysian Legislative
process- i.e. How laws are made in
Malaysia)); Delegated legislation and subsidiary legislation; Direct
legislation: referendum – advantages and disadvantages; Initiative – advantages
and disadvantages; Legislatures from the Islamic perspective.
c.
The Executive: Definition and functions of the Executive;
differences between the various types of Executive (i.e. political executive;
non-political executive; real executive; nominal executive; single executive;
plural executive; methods of selection of the Executive; comparison between the
Executive in Parliamentary and Presidential system; the roles of the Malaysian Cabinet, the Prime
Minister and the YDPA.
d.
The Judiciary: Definition and functions of the judiciary; the concept of
independence of the judiciary- meaning & significance and its evaluation in
the context of the US and Malaysia; and
how is it secured in Malaysia; the structure and jurisdiction of the courts in Malaysia; Rule of Law/Rule by
law; The Judiciary from the Islamic perspective.
e.
The Civil Service: Definition, principles, characteristics and
functions of the civil service; its weaknesses and how to make it effective; the concept of the
neutrality of the civil service; issues in public administration; the principle
of the politics-administration dichotomy; Islamic perspective of
politics-administration dichotomy.
f.
Political Parties:
Definition & functions; the concept of No party system; origins of political
parties; Classification of party systems: single-party system; two-party
system; plural-party system; coalition/alliance system.
g.
Pressure Groups: Definition & functions; differences
between political parties and pressure groups; types of pressure groups;
methods used by pressure groups to gain influence.
h.
Representation Systems: Elections, Electoral systems and Voting
behaviour:
Political franchise; various electoral
(representation) systems; why and how do people vote in an election
(i.e. the factors that influence voters’ behaviour in elections)
i.
Forms of government: Parliamentary & presidential systems;
unitary &
federal systems; absolute versus constitutional monarchy; autocratic
versus democratic systems;
Authoritarianism; Oligarchy; Totalitarianism; Liberal
democracy.
Students should familiarize themselves with the characteristics, differences,
merits and demerits of these forms of government.
COURSE DELIVERY:
a.
Seminar
discussion
b.
Question
& Answer session (Q& A)
c.
Quiz
administration
d.
Group research presentation
e.
Lecture
Abdul Rashid Moten & Syed Sirajul Islam (2009), Introduction to Political Science, Thomson: Singapore
Kapur, A.C. (2009), Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Co. Ltd: New Delhi
Roskin,
Michael (2000), Political Science, Prentice-Hall, Inc.: New Jersey
Rod, Hague
(2001), Political Science, Palgrave: New York
Shively,
Phillips (2001), Power & Choice- An Introduction to Political Science,
Random House: New York.
Federal
Constitution (with the latest
amendments)
© Peter Johnson 2005 - 2011(Revised)