Module LAW41630: The Community Legal Order

Department: Law

LAW41630: The Community Legal Order

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• to provide an overview view of the fundamental principles of European Community law. The course aims to provide a platform for further study of or research into the more specialized aspects of European Community law. The course will be taught in such a way that will enable students to acquire a proper grounding in basic principles, features and institutions of the European Community legal system and provide an opportunity to explore more advanced problems concerning these basic principles and features.

Content

• the Nature & Sources of the law of the European Community;
• the constitutional law of the European Union including the decision-making process;
• fundamental principles of EC law;
• direct enforceability of EC law in national courts by individuals;
• enforeceability of the rights and powers of Member States and European organs before the European Court of Justice.

Learning Outcomes

• have an understanding of the structure, features and fundamental characteristics of the European Community (EC) legal order;
• have an understanding of the role EC law plays within the national legal order of the Member States;
• be able to explain the way in which rules and principles of EC law are made and develop;
• be able to identify the key participants in the EC legal order and be able to explain the status and the roles that these participants play within the European Community legal order;
• be able to recognise EC law issues/problems and be able to construct arguments as to how these problems may be resolved;
• be able to demonstrate knowledge of the methods by which EC law is implemented.

• Understanding the EU legal order and the in particular the way it interacts with national and international legal orders
• Ability to navigate between complex and sometimes inconsistent case law and legislation

• understanding of complex materials
• ability to describe accurately and comprehensibly the arguments and analysis of other commentators
• ability to evaluate critically the arguments of others

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• lectures designed to provide a structure for the course and to introduce basic principles and features of the EC legal order.
• seminars will provide opportunity for the exploration and discussion of more complex issues and ideas.
• written work requires a demonstration of students' analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• The method of assessment provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and analytical skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

One assignment of approximately 2,000 words in Michaelmas Term.