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Study information

Constitutional and Administrative Law

Module titleConstitutional and Administrative Law
Module codeLAW1035
Academic year2024/5
Credits30
Module staff

Dr David Yuratich (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

12

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

420

Module description

The constitution of the UK is dynamic and developing incrementally  through changes in relationships with the European Union and the Council of Europe, devolution to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and human rights legislation. This module will help you to analyse and challenge some of the basic tenets of the constitution of the UK. You will also study developments in judicial review which will enable you to understand the relationship between judges and the government and the impact of this relationship on both the law and the state.

 This module will develop your analytical skills and your ability to understand the role of public law which although complex and technical allows for exciting discussion on issues which are both current and shifting.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to enable you to develop:

  • An understanding of the concepts, traditions and principles underpinning the constitution of the UK.
  • An understanding of the main recent constitutional reforms of the United Kingdom constitution.
  • An understanding of the nature, basis and continuing development of judicial review in the United Kingdom.
  • An ability to analyse the links between public law and the exercise of political and judicial power.
  • An ability to begin to use, analyse and critique materials and texts.
  • An ability to articulate and discuss issues relating to public law.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the law, institutions and procedures covered on the module, using appropriate concepts, interpretative techniques and terminology;
  • 2. identify and analyse (with guidance) the general concepts and principles relating to constitutional and administrative law, together with related theories and academic commentary;
  • 3. research a legal question and demonstrate competence in applying constitutional and administrative law in order to formulate and evaluate a response to it;
  • 4. demonstrate competent understanding of some of the relevant legal practice, social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural contexts within which constitutional and administrative law operate;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of legal rules, concepts, values and principles, and the ability to explain and discuss the relationships among them;
  • 6. make an informed judgement about the merits and relevance of particular information and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments;
  • 7. communicate technical legal information and argument effectively and concisely, in a manner appropriate to the discipline;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 8. take responsibility for own learning (with support), and to work effectively with others within a group, meeting obligations to the other members of the group;
  • 9. identify, retrieve and use efficiently a range of resources with some guidance;
  • 10. manage time efficiently in preparing for learning activities, and to work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • The nature of constitutions and the purposes of constitutionalism. 

  • The constitution of the United Kingdom: institutions; legal and non-legal rules; underlying  
    principles: parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law and separation of powers.  

  • The impact of European law on parliamentary sovereignty and the constitution of the United Kingdom.  

  • The impact of devolution on parliamentary sovereignty and the constitution of the United Kingdom.  

  • The protection of individual liberties within the constitutional framework of the UK; the Human Rights Act 1998. 

  • Introduction to the theory, origins and nature of administrative law.

  • Functions and characteristics of administrative powers and controls.


 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
582420

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities3020 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities2010 x 2 hour seminars
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities88 x 1 hour Q & A sessions
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities149Individual reading, research and study
Guided Independent Study62Summative assessments preparation
Guided Independent Study31Formative assessments preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Essay750 words1-10Individual written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
50500

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Examination (take-home, open book)501.5 hours intended duration (within a 24-hour submission window)1-10Individual written feedback
Essay502,000 words1-10Individual written feedback
0
0
0
0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Examination (take-home, open book)Examination (take-home, open book; same as above)1-10August/September re-assessment period
EssayEssay (2,000 words)1-10August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

  • John Stanton and Craig Prescott, Public Law (OUP): most recent edition
  • David Yuratich, Principles to Practice: Public Law (OUP): most recent edition

Key words search

Judicial review, human rights, constitution, rule of law

Credit value30
Module ECTS

15

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/10/2002

Last revision date

25/04/2023