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LAW112 Political Institutions and Processes
(No. of Hrs. 40-60 Hrs)
Course Name: Political Institutions and Processes Course Code: LAW112
Total number of hours: 60 Credits: 4
Course description: This course has been conceptualized in order to help the students
understand various societal trajectories & complexities from a political vantage point.
It traces the field of Politics from one party system to multi-party system and beyond.
It also looks into the fine workings of Political institutions and how different societal
nuances political processes aid and abet the existing political institutions.
Course outcomes: By the end of the course the learner should be able to:
1. To understand the foundations of political institutions in India with the reading of
Constitution
2. To assess the relevance and evolution of the different political institutions and their
processes
3. To analyze current socio-political challenges by evaluating the different issues and
their solutions in the country
Pedagogy: Lectures, Relevant Documentary Screenings, Presentations and Case-Study
Unit I: Introduction to Indian Constitution Hours: 12
1. Colonial Legacy and the Contribution of Indian National Movement to the Making
of the Indian Constitution
2. Features of Indian Constitution
3. Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties
4. Federalism: Structure, Nature and Emerging Trends
Unit II: Government : Structure and Functions Hours: 12
1. Indian Parliament: Composition and Law-Making Procedure
2. The President of India: Powers and Position.
3. The Prime Minister and Council of Ministers: Powers and Position
4. The Supreme Court of India: Jurisdiction, Judicial Review and
Judicial Activism
Unit III: Major Political Institutions and their functioning Hours: 12
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1. Nature Role and Functioning of Election Commission in India, Electoral Reforms.
2. Constitutional Bodies: National Commission for SC and National Commission
for ST
3. Statutory Bodies: National Commission for Human Rights, National Commission
for Women
Unit IV: Emergence of Party System in India Hours: 8
1. Party System in India : Evolution from One Party Dominant System to Multiparty
System
2. Coalition Politics : Nature and Trends
3. Nature and Evolution of Regional Parties in India
Unit V: Major Political Issues in India Hours: 14
1. Ethnicity and Identity Politics
2. Role of Caste and Tribal issues
3. Gender Issues
4. Regionalism and Politics of Succession and Separation
Essential references:
1. N.G Jayal,(2001) ‘The State and Democracy in India or What Happened to
Welfare, Secularism, and Development’ in N G Jayal (ed.), Democracy in India,
New Delhi, Oxford University Press. Pp.2001 (sixth impression 2012). Pp.193-224.
2. S. Palshikar, (2008) ‘The Indian State: Constitution and Beyond’, in R. Bhargava
(ed.) Politics and Ethics of the Indian Constitution, New Delhi: Oxford University
Press, pp. 143-163.
3. R. Kothari, (2002) ‘The Congress System’, in Z. Hasan (ed.) Parties and Party Politics
in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp 39-55.
4. Y. Yadav and S. Palshikar, (2006) ‘Party System and Electoral Politics in the Indian
States, 1952-2002: From Hegemony to Convergence’, in P.R. DeSouza and E.
Sridharan (eds.) India’s Political Parties, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 73-115
5. M. John, (2011) ‘The Politics of Quotas and the Women’s Reservation Bill in India’,
in M. Tsujimura and J. Steele (eds.) Gender Equality in Asia, Japan: Tohoku
University Press, pp. 169-195.
6. Virginius Xaxa (eds), Social Exclusion and Adverse Inclusion. New Delhi: Oxford
University Press. pp. 23–35.
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Recommended references:
1. Rajni Kothari (1973), Caste in Indian Politics, Orient Longman, New Delhi
2. A Nandy. (1999) ‘A Critique of Modernist Secularism’ in Sudipta Kaviraj (ed.),
Politics in
India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp.329-341.
3. N. Chandhoke, (2010) ‘Secularism’, in P. Mehta and N. Jayal (eds.) The Oxford
Companion to
Politics in India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 333-346