Module LAW2153 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW2153: Law, Democracy and Populism: The Rise and Fall of Constitutional Democracy
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
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:
I. Theory
- Law, Constitutions and Constitutionalism
- The Rule of Law and the Idea of Constitutional Democracy
- The Populist Critique of the “Liberal” Component of Constitutional Democracy: Populism, “the People” and Popular Sovereignty
II. From Theory to Practice
- The Rise of Constitutional Democracy and the “End of History” (1989-2011)
- The Legal Implications of Contemporary Populism (I): Populism as a Constitutional Project
- The Legal Implications of Contemporary Populism (II): Populism and Courts
- Democratic Backsliding: The Fall of Constitutional Democracy?
- Rejuvenating Constitutional Democracy?
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 20 | 10 x 2-hour seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 2 | 2 x 1-hour lectures (i.e., introduction and further guidance on the assessment) |
| Guided independent study | 50 | Preparation for seminars (including reading time and preparation for discussion questions) |
| Guided independent study | 15 | Independent research and writing of formative essay / plan for summative essay |
| Guided independent study | 23 | Independent research and preparation for presentation (summative) |
| Guided independent study | 40 | Independent research and writing of summative essay |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay outline and draft introduction | 750 words | 1-7 | Written feedback and general class discussion |
| Group seminar presentation | 10 minutes | 1-4, 6-7 | Oral feedback and general class discussion |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 100 | 2,500 words | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,500 words) | 1-7 | August/September re-assessment period |
