General information

Course type LAS
Module title Law and Political Systems
Language English
Module lecturer Krzysztof Duda
Lecturer's email kduda@amu.edu.pl
Lecturer position dr
Faculty Faculty of Political Science and Journalism
Semester 2025/2026 (summer)
Duration 30
ECTS 3
USOS code 18-S1LAA06-P02978

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

1 understanding the classification of scientific fields and disciplines from 2022, with particular emphasis on the area of social sciences, including: legal sciences, security sciences, social communication and media sciences, as well as political and administrative sciences
2 explanation of the basic concepts of law and its functions and sources, the hierarchy of sources, the division of law, as well as discussion of issues relating to constitutional law
3 understanding of the ideas linking constitutional law and political systems, including the role and functioning of key legal acts of the state
4 discussing the fundamental principles relevant to the functioning of a democratic state under the rule of law
5 explaining the role and function of elections in a democratic state
6 raising awareness of the importance of political parties and of functioning party systems
7 understanding the principles of exemplary political systems

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

1. Classification of scientific fields and disciplines in Poland. The field of social sciences. Historical sources of law. The role of political and administrative sciences and research undertaken in this field.
2. Functions of law, division, hierarchies of sources. The norm versus the rule. Introduction to constitutional law and political systems.
3. The political system. Essence, types and content of the constitution. Principles of electoral law.
4. Universal suffrage, compulsory voting, political equality, secret ballot.
5. Political ideologies, doctrines and political programmes. Outline of the problems of party systems. Introduction to the issue of political parties.
6. Civil rights, freedoms and duties.
7. Democracy. Direct and representative democracy.
8. Introduction to electoral systems. Majority rule and proportionality. Methods for allocating seats in parliaments.
9. Political system of the United Kingdom.
10. Political system of the United States of America.
11. Political system of the Federal Republic of Germany.
12. Political system of the Swiss Confederation.
13. Political system of the French Republic.
14. Political system of the Republic of Poland.

Reading list

Obligatory
  1. Heywood A., Politics, 5th Edition, Bloomsbury Academic, 2019.
  2. Dahl R., On Democracy, Yale University Press, 1998.
  3. Hauss Ch., Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, 10th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2018.
  4. Kesselman M., Krieger J., Joseph W.A., Introduction to Comparative Politics: Political Challenges and Changing Agendas, 8th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2018.
  5. Fukuyama F., Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018.
  6. Barrington L., Comparative Politics: Structures and Choices, 2nd Edition, Wadsworth Publishing, 2012.
Optional
  1. de Tocqueville A., Democracy in America, University of Chicago Press, 2002.
  2. Arendt H., The Origins of Totalitarianism, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973.
  3. Hamilton A., Madison J., Jay J., The Federalist Papers, Oxford University Press, 2008.
  4. Ball K., Enjeti S., The Populist's Guide to 2020: A New Right and New Left are Rising, Strong Arm Press, 2020.