Contributor(s): Professor Vernon Bogdanor | Is the 2015 election different from earlier ones or is the pattern set? Is Britain moving towards more coalitions and fewer one-party governments? Professor Vernon Bogdanor considers the conduct and outcome of historic and recent general elections within the context of the 2015 contest.

Contributor(s): Professor Simon Hix | These two lectures will consider the UK’s formal relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other European institutions. Europe has had massive impacts on UK politics which affect domestic politics, with a continuing debate about the country’s relationship with the EU.

Contributor(s): Professor Simon Hix | These two lectures will consider the UK’s formal relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other European institutions. Europe has had massive impacts on UK politics which affect domestic politics, with a continuing debate about the country’s relationship with the EU.

Contributor(s): Professor Simon Hix | These two lectures will consider the UK’s formal relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, and other European institutions. Europe has had massive impacts on UK politics which affect domestic politics, with a continuing debate about the country’s relationship with the EU.

Contributor(s): Richard Bacon MP | Richard Bacon MP looks at the accountability of government to Parliament in the light of Parliamentarians’ belief there is a need for more effective scrutiny of the executive, in particular in relation to failures of procurement contracts and/or IT systems. The role of the Public Accounts Committee is examined in detail.

Contributor(s): Professor George Jones | Professor George Jones examines the evolution of Parliamentary select committees within the UK Parliament, in particular the reforms initiated in the early 1980s. How have select committees evolved and what are their key functions today?

Contributor(s): Professor Charlie Beckett | We consider the way the press, TV and radio have traditionally been seen as a key feature of British government and politics. Can new media sustain investigative journalism and expose wrong-doing in government? Statutory restrictions on the media and the way politicians relate to powerful media organisations will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Charlie Beckett | We consider the way the press, TV and radio have traditionally been seen as a key feature of British government and politics. Can new media sustain investigative journalism and expose wrong-doing in government? Statutory restrictions on the media and the way politicians relate to powerful media organisations will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Ed Page | Will consider the ways policy is made and the processes it goes through prior to implementation. Party election manifestos, the use of special advisors, independent inquiries, think tanks, lobbyists and other elements in the evolution and delivery of government policy will be considered.

Contributor(s): Professor Ed Page | Will consider the ways policy is made and the processes it goes through prior to implementation. Party election manifestos, the use of special advisors, independent inquiries, think tanks, lobbyists and other elements in the evolution and delivery of government policy will be considered.

Contributor(s): Professor Jim Gallagher | This theme will explore the future of Scotland within the UK in the context of the 2014 independence referendum. The long-evolved case for independence will be examined alongside the arguments for staying within the Union. Devolution to Edinburgh has created a radically separate political and governmental system since 1999, with further fiscal reform due to take place in the aftermath of the 2014 referendum. How will Scotland's position in relation to the UK be affected by further devolution and are there implications for Wales, Northern Ireland and England?

Contributor(s): Professor Gerry Stoker | Reforms to Parliament and other key institutions, including issues such as the number of MPs and constituencies, changes to Parliamentary procedures, new types of committee and reform of the House of Lords will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Conor Gearty | Judges, the court system and wider justice arrangements are a major element in the British constitutional arrangements. European institutions also have a role. This lecture will consider the institutions concerned, recent reform and the range of views about possible future change.

Contributor(s): Professor Patrick Dunleavy | The development of political parties will be described as will party loyalty and bases of support. Protest voting and extremist parties will be analysed. The voting systems used in UK national and local elections will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Patrick Dunleavy | The development of political parties will be described as will party loyalty and bases of support. Protest voting and extremist parties will be analysed. The voting systems used in UK national and local elections will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Patrick Dunleavy | The development of political parties will be described as will party loyalty and bases of support. Protest voting and extremist parties will be analysed. The voting systems used in UK national and local elections will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Patrick Dunleavy | The development of political parties will be described as will party loyalty and bases of support. Protest voting and extremist parties will be analysed. The voting systems used in UK national and local elections will be examined.

Contributor(s): Professor Tony Travers | Examines the way taxation is determined and levied, and how public expenditure is planned and controlled. The operation of the Treasury as Britain’s ‘finance ministry’ within the context of the Parliamentary and legislative frameworks is described.

Contributor(s): Professor Tony Travers | Examines the way taxation is determined and levied, and how public expenditure is planned and controlled. The operation of the Treasury as Britain’s ‘finance ministry’ within the context of the Parliamentary and legislative frameworks is described.

Contributor(s): Professor Tony Travers | The importance of 19th century municipal development and the subsequent decline of local government power will be examined, along with its constitutional implications. Devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be analysed.