Module LAW1035 for 2016/7
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW1035: Constitutional and Administrative Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.
Module Aims
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, especially in relation to Europe, devolution, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.
- 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.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 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; |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 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, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline; |
Personal and Key Skills | 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 library-based and electronic 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. |
Module Content
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:
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The nature of constitutions and the purposes of constitutionalism.
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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.
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The impact of devolution on parliamentary sovereignty and the constitution of the United Kingdom.
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The protection of individual liberties within the constitutional framework of the UK. The Human Rights Act 1998.
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Introduction to the theory, origins and nature of administrative law
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Functions and characteristics of administrative powers and controls
The essence and practice of judicial review:
- ambit
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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58 | 242 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 58 | 22 x 1 hour Lectures 9 x 2 hour seminars and 9 x 2 hour surgeries |
Guided Independent Study | 18 | 9 x 2 hour interactive syndicate meetings |
Guided Independent Study | 18 | Lecture preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 18 | Syndicate meeting preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 11 | ELE study materials |
Guided Independent Study | 12 | Formative exercises |
Guided Independent Study | 18 | Consolidation of learning |
Guided Independent Study | 51 | Seminar Preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 86 | Exam Preparation |
Guided Independent Study | 10 | Formative Exam Preparation |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).