Major Political System

Unit I — The Political System of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Historical evolution and growth of the British Constitution · Sources of the British Constitution: Statutes, Conventions, Common Law, and Royal Prerogative · Salient features: Unwritten nature, Parliamentary Sovereignty, Rule of Law, Constitutional Monarchy · The Executive: The Crown and the Cabinet system · The Legislature: Structure, powers, and functions of the British Parliament · The Judiciary: Features, independence, and recent reforms · Political Party System and Party Politics in the UK

• Parliamentary Sovereignty in the United Kingdom and Contemporary Challenges
• Parliamentary and Presidential Government (Meaning and Definition, Features, Merits and Demerits and Comparative Study)

Unit II — The Political System of United States

Historical background and evolution of the U.S. Constitution · Salient features: Written Constitution, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federalism · American Federalism: Division of powers and Centre–State relations · The Executive: Presidency and the Cabinet – powers, roles, and impeachment · The Legislature: Structure, composition, and powers of the U.S. Congress · The Judiciary: Supreme Court, Judicial Review, and the role in constitutional interpretation · Political Parties and the Two-Party System in the U.S.

• Liberal Interpretation with Checks and Balances
• Application of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers in the US and India (Specified)
• Rule of Law and Judicial Review, Judicial Review in India and the USA- a comparative study
• Parliamentary and Presidential Government (Meaning and Definition, Features, Merits and Demerits and Comparative Study)

Unit III — The Political System of Switzerland

Historical development and evolution of the Swiss Constitution · Salient features: Pluralism, Federalism, Collegial Executive, and Direct Democracy · The Federal Legislature: Bicameral structure and legislative process · The Federal Executive: Federal Council – election, composition, and powers · The Judiciary: Structure and role in federal adjudication · Instruments of Direct Democracy: Referendum, Initiative, and Recall · Multi-party system and consensus politics in Switzerland

Unit IV — The Political System of People’s Republic of China

Evolution and development of constitutionalism in China · Salient features of the 1982 Constitution: Socialist legality, Party-State fusion · The Legislature: Structure, composition, and role of the National People’s Congress (NPC) · The Executive: Role of the President and the State Council · The Judiciary: Structure and limitations of judicial independence · Political System: Role and structure of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Unit V — Political System of India

Historical background and making of the Indian Constitution · Salient features: Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic; Federalism with a Unitary Bias · Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP): Interrelation and judicial interpretation · The Executive: President, Prime Minister, and Council of Ministers · The Legislature: Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – structure, powers, and law-making process · The Judiciary: Structure, independence, Judicial Review, Public Interest Litigation (PIL)

• Historical background and framing of the Indian Constitution
• Salient Features of the Indian Constitution
• Origin, Purpose and Significance of Fundamental Rights
• 1. — Directive Principles of State Policy
• Federalism
• Legislature and Executive under the Indian Constitution Unicameral and bicameral Legislatures
• Law making procedure
• Qualification, Powers, and functions of — President and Vice-president Union Council of Ministers Governor State Council of Ministers
• Independence of Judiciary
• Rule of Law and Judicial Review, Judicial Review in India and the USA- a comparative study
• Article 32- Right to Constitutional Remedies and Public Interest Litigation