Political System of Slovenia

Politični sistem Republike Slovenije

Course credits:

6.00 ECTS / 60 (30 hours of lectures, 0 hours of exercises, 30 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

prof. dr. Miro Haček

Type:

Required

Language:

Slovenian

Semester:

Second semester

Study degree

1. level

Course execution:

• Undergraduate Programme of Defence Studies
• Undergraduate Programme of International Relations
• Undergraduate Programme of Political Science - Public Policies and Sdministration
• Undergraduate Programme of Political Science - Studies of Politics and the State

Prerequisits:

Students are allowed to participate in the course provided that they have completed the enrolment procedure.

Objectives and competences

The basic aim of the course is on methodologically systematic and comprehensive way acquaint the students with the content of the Slovenian political system, its institutions and structures. Students will gain competencies in expertise in the political system (theories, concepts and doctrines), at the individual and group work they will develop the competencies of professionalism, communication, analytical skills and the ability to synthesize. Students will be able to trasnfer the acquired knowledge to the practice and on their own initiative respond to the needs of the society. Students will be able to use the acquired knowledge to develop their own proposals and solutions to the problems related to the political system and its components.

Content (Syllabus outline)

The theoretical foundations of the political system, the classification of political systems and determinants of political systems, sovereignty and political system, stability and efficiency of the political system, democracy and democratization. Development of Slovenian constitutionality, constitutionality and legality, justice and constitutional justice. Political pluralism, representative parliamentary system, member of parliament and its mandate, the process of parliamentary decision-making, unity and separation of powers, the President of the Republic and the Government. Human rights and fundamental freedoms. Political culture. The principle of self-determination, Slovenian statehood and independence, Slovenia's relations with the European Union. The electoral system and process, the electoral system as a function of the political system, proportional and majority system, political participation. The role of the state administration (bureaucracy), local and regional government, centralization - decentralization.

Intended learning outcomes:

The course "Political system of the Republic of Slovenia", which is one of the fundamental political science courses, provides the students with the basic knowledge in the field of the political system and its elements, namely, to get to know and analyze the theoretical foundations of the political system, the classification of political systems and determinants of political systems, sovereignty and political system, stability and efficiency of the political system, etc. Students will be acquainted with the concept of democracy and processes of democratization and democratic transitions; development of Slovenian constitutionality, scope of constitutionality and legality; the judiciary system and the system of constitutional protection; political pluralism, representation, parliamentarism, parliamentary decision-making process, the principle of unity and separation of powers. Students will also acquire knowledge on the basic democratic Slovenian institutions, i.e. President of the Republic, the Government; Human rights and fundamental freedoms; political culture; the principle of self-determination, Slovenian statehood and independence, Slovenia's relations with the European Union; electoral system and process, electoral systems as a function of the political system, political participation; the role of the state administration (bureaucracy), the relationship between the national, regional and local levels of government and the relationship between centralization and decentralization. Knowledge that students will gain in this course will serve as a baseline knowledge for the different political contents in the future studies and also later during student’s careers in national, regional, local and supranational organizations.

Learning and teaching methods:

Lectures, seminars, group work with the teacher, pro et contra debate, oral presentation.

Assessment

The final course grade represents the score of the final written exam. Prerequisite for the exam are completed seminar works.

Obligatory literature

Additional literature