Module LAW1091: UK CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Department: Law

LAW1091: UK CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Tied To

• M101: Law
• M103: Law (with Year Abroad)

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide a general understanding of the basic institutions, concepts and principles relating to the constitution of the United Kingdom.

Content

• (1) The nature of the UK Constitution (including introduction to constitutionalism; sources, especially constitutional conventions; structures of government including devlotuion; comparisons; development and reform; (2) The Rule of Law, including case study on prerogative powers; (3) Parliamentary sovereignty including the impact of EU law; (4) Separation of powers; and judicial independence.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of constitutional law and principles of the United Kingdom.

• Students should be able to ability to apply the constitutional law of the United Kingdom and analyse and understand its development.

• Students should be able to demonstrate basic analytical and writing skills, including the ability to work independently and take responsibility for their own learning.

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

• Lectures are used primarily to impart knowledge - and also to suggest approaches to evaluation and critical analysis;
• Tutorials will be used to develop and enhance students capacity for legal-problem solving in a particular factual situation, evaluative critical analysis and their appreciation of laws' linkage with broader fields of enquiry;
• The assignment (formative) is used both to develop problem-solving skills, the ability to engage in sustained evaluation of proposed schemes of reforms, and the ability to evaluate the law in a critical and contextual way
• The summative essay is a skills-based exercise, testing students' ability to engage in statutory interpretation by using fictional legislation, as well as applying the legal principles governing parliamentary sovereignty (topic 3 under Content, above) in order to solve a series of practical problems.
• The examination questions will provide the means for students to demonstrate the acquisition of subject knowledge (topics 1, 2 and 4) and test their ability to make coherent, critical arguments evaluating different aspects of the UK constitution in a contextual manner.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

One essay of 1500 words.