Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Contemporary Legal and Political Institutions

Contemporary Legal and Political Institutions
3
16226
3
Second semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,

Teaching staff


Email.

Introduction

The Legal and Political Institutions subject deals with knowledge of Catalan, Spanish, European and international institutional structure, its areas of action and powers. The first part is to familiarize students with current realities and institutional policies. The second part affects the application of these concepts to the field of communication and political journalism.

Pre-course requirements

No.

Objectives

  • To understand the main powers and institutions of the State, as well as their relationships with society and economic actors.
  • To understand the mechanisms of representation, participation, governance, and decision-making at different institutional levels.
  • To understand the role of institutions in protecting rights and freedoms, upholding the rule of law, and promoting the common good.
  • To analyse the relationships between public institutions, the media, and citizens.

Syllabus

I

INTRODUCTION

Item 1. The State.

  • Concept and items. State and nation. The rule of law, democracy. Type of political organization of states.

Item 2. Election and representation.

  • Constitution. The legal pyramid. Sovereignty.


II

THE POLITICAL WORLD


Item 3. International Organizations.

  • International treaties. Economic organizations. Defense agencies.
  • The United Nations system: structure and function.

Item 4. presidential and parliamentary systems.

  • The presidential model: the E.U.A.
  • The parliamentary model: the UK.
  • The semi-presidential model: France.

III

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Item 5: The European Union.

  • Historical backgrounds.
  • Origin and evolution of the European Union.
  • The integration of Spain in the European Union.
  • Community law: Community law originating and right derivat.
  • Relationship between Community law and the law of the Member States.

Item 6: The Community institutions.

  • The Council of the European Union.
  • The European Commission.
  • The European Parliament.
  • The Court of Justice.

IIV

STATE INSTITUTIONS 

Item 7. The Spanish state.

  • The rule of law.
  • Branches of government.
  • The form of government: parliamentary monarchy.
  • Representative and direct participation.
  • Party system.

Item 8. The Head of State and the Prime Minister.

  • The Head of State. The Corona. Functions.
  • The executive and the government. The appointment of the Government. Government functions.

Item 9. The legislative branch. The Parliament.

  • Bicameralism: composition of the Congress and Senate.
  • Congress: composition, electoral system, functions and organization and
  • camera operation.
  • The Senate: composition, electoral system and functions.

Item 10. Spain: Judiciary, Constitution and territorial organization.

  • Judiciary. Operation and agencies.
  • Constitution: constitutional control; constitutional reform
  • Models of territorial organization.
  • The autonomous state. Regional governments and statutes of autonomy.
  • Model review. Proposals for the XXI century.

V

LEGAL INSTITUTIONS AND POLICIES OF CATALONIA

Item 11. The political institutions of Catalonia.

  • The Generalitat and institutional system of self-government.
  • The President of the Generalitat.
  • The Government and the Administration of the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Item 12. The Parliament of Catalonia.

Organization and functions.
Catalan electoral law.

Item 13. The Catalan political party system.

VI

THE MEDIA AND POLITICS

   Item 14. The political power, MCM and citizens. DEMOCRACY.

Political communication. Conflict of interest. Intermediation function. The public interest. The agendas.
   Item 15. Information sources and context of the story. MEDIA.

Importance of information sources. Treatment according to reports. Selecting the news. Thematic interest. Influences. Development of information policy.

   Item 16. Election Scenarios. MATCHES.

Political marketing and strategies. Advertising and electoral propaganda. Opinion polls. Report on campaign. Electoral blocs. Financing.

    Item 17. Political Participation. CITIZENS.

The communication cycle. Representativeness. Social networks. Other equity.

   Item 18. Parliamentary Information. POWER.

Development of political news. Features and difficulties specialty. Subgenres opinion. Relations between politicians and journalists.

   Item 19. Customizing the policy. RULERS.

Importance of speech. The image, political instrument. Professionalization of politics. Public opinion. A democracy centered on the media?

Bibliography and resources

Abellán, V. i Vilà, B. (2005) Lecciones de Derecho Comunitario Europeo. Barcelona: Ariel

Díez de Velasco Vallejo, M. (2002). Las Organizaciones internacionales. Madrid: Tecnos

Enoch Albertí i altres: Manual de Dret Públic de Catalunya. Barcelona, IAE, 2000

Fossas Espadaler, E. i Pérez Francesch; JL. (1994) Lliçons de Dret Constitucional. Barcelona: Enciclopèdia Catalana.

Mangas Martín, A.; Liñan Noagueras, D. (2005), Instituciones y Derecho de la Unión Europea. Madrid: Tecnos

Morata, F. (1999),  La Unión Europea. Barcelona:  Ariel.

Mercè  Barceló, Joan Vintró (coord) Dret Públic de Catalunya Barcelona, Cedecs, 2001

Milian Massana, E. (2004). El Consell de l'Audiovisual de Catalunya : àmbit, funcions i potestats de l'autoritat de supervisió i control dels continguts audiovisuals a Catalunya. Barcelona : Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Relacions Institucionals i Participació, Institut d'Estudis Autonòmics.

Scotto, M. (1995) Las Instituciones europeas. Barcelona: Salvat

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