Political Science

SUB Code: BALW 1003

Course Introduction:
Political Science is a very useful social discipline. Its concepts, theories and methods are the
outcome of a long academic tradition that started twenty five hundred years ago with Aristotle
and Plato. Since then many philosophers and scholars like Machiavelli, J. S. Mill, Rousseau,
Hegel, Marx and Gandhi have contributed theirs theories and enriched the subject. The concepts
like state, sovereignty, power, authority, legitimacy, liberty, equality, democracy, justice have
been analyzed in a scientifically as well philosophically and political theories have been
formulated.
The understanding of these theories can be very useful for our students of law who will be
confronting these concepts in coming days.Political science provides students the understanding
of the processes of politics… at the national and International level. Such an understanding is
very useful in many ways .In the first place, the political participation of such people who
understand the processes of politics is much higher than those who don’t understand it. Secondly,
the study of political science enlightens the people about basic elements of politics and makes
the process of reconciliation easy as the politics involves resolutions of conflicts. The failure to
recognize these basic elements of politics creates various confusions in society.
Course Objective:
At the conclusion of this course, having completed the various learning activities and
assessments, student should be able to:

1. Explain the most important concepts like state, the concepts like state, sovereignty,
power, politics, authority, legitimacy, liberty.
2. Explain the relation of law with all these concepts like liberty, equality rights etc.
3. See the relevance of all these concepts like equality, liberty, justice etc. in our society.
4. See the real nature of politics and its importance in resolving conflicts in our society.

Course Outcome:

1. A student who successfully completes this subject will have a general understanding of
the political theory and its different concepts; state, politics, political power, authority,
legitimacy etc.
2. Understand and be able apply the knowledge of these concepts to his understanding of
our society and its different systems like social, political and economic.
3. Demonstrate awareness of the politics, political processes, and political activities and
political power.
Module-I Meaning Nature& Political System

 Meaning and definition of political Science

 Nature, scope of Political Science
 Relation of Political Science with other social Sciences; History,
 Indian Political System

Module-II Constituent Assembly and the Constitution of India:

The Preamble to the Constitution of India: Ideological Basis and philosophical dimensions
Salient features of the Indian Constitution: Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles;
federalism, parliamentary system; amending procedures; judicial review

Module-III Fundamental Rights and Duties:

Constitutional provisions and political dynamics: Judicial interpretations and socio-political
realities; Fundamental Dutie

Module-IV The Union Executive:

President, Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, Constitutional provisions/framework
and political trends.

Module-V The State Executive:

Governor, Chief Minister and the Council of Ministers; Constitutional Provisions and Political
Trends.
Module-VI Parliament: The Legislature
Powers and functions of the Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha; Parliamentary Committees; Functioning
of the Parliamentary System in India.
Module-VII The Judiciary:
The Supreme Court, High Court and Subordinate Courts; Judicial Review, Judicial Activism,
Public Interest Litigation; Judicial Reforms
Module-VIII Defections in Indian politics & Challenges to Indian Democracy:
Text & References:
1. Granville Austin, Indian Constitution Cornerstone of a Nation, Oxford Publication
2. Granville Austin (1999) - Working Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience, Oxford
Publication. 3. Durga Das Basu (2006) – An introduction to the Constitution of India, Prentice
Hall, New Delhi, 2006. 4. W. H. Morris Jones - Government and Politics of India
5. A.C. Kapoor - Principals of Political Science
6. O. P. Gauba (2009) - An Introduction to Political Theory. Macmillan India Pvt Ltd.
7. J. R. Siwach (1990) – Dynamics of Indian government and politics, Sterling Publishers, New
Delhi 8. J C Johari (2001) - Indian Government and Politics, Shoban Nagin Lal & Co
9. J C Johari (2004) - Constitution of India (3rd Revised Edition), Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,
New Delhi 10. J C Johari (2009) - Indian Polity, Lotus Press Publisher, New Delhi
11. J C Johari, Reflections on Indian politics; A critical commentary on development and decay
of the Indian political system, Sultan and Chand publications
12. Rajani Kothari - Politics in India
13. A S Narang - Indian Govt. and Politics
14. M.P. Singh and Himanshu Roy - Indian Government and Politics
15. M P Singh and Satish K Jha (2006) - Indian Government And PolItics : A Political
Commentary
16. P. C. Gupta (2009) – Indian Government & Politics, Sublime Publication
17. Archana Chaturvedi (2006). Indian Government and Politics, Commonwealth Publisher
18. K.K. Ghai (2007)- Indian Government and Politics, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.