Module description
Events of recent years, from the Scottish independence referendum, to Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic, have thrown into sharp relief the strengths and weaknesses of the UK’s constitutional arrangements. This course studies selected issues in UK political and constitutional affairs, paying special attention to current reform proposals, policies of the political parties at Westminster, and ideas about sovereignty, representation and accountability.
Seminar topics will include, for example, monarchy in the next reign, political and judicial controls of prerogative powers, the future of the House of Lords, the nature and importance of House of Commons procedure, voting and electoral reform including repeal of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, and proposals for greater popular participation in politics. The state of the Union and prospects for Scottish independence, and future UK relations with Europe including the European Court of Human Rights, will be considered. Seminars will familiarise students with the key literature and writers who have shaped the terminology and concepts of modern constitutional theory, such as Bagehot, Dicey, Jennings and Hailsham; and with the key foundation documents of the constitution, such as Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, Act of Union and the Representation of the People Act.
Assessment details
8,000 word research dissertation (100%)
Educational aims & objectives
This module aims to introduce students to the principles of Advanced Constitutional Law. The module focuses on selected topics in the law and working of the British Constitution
Learning outcomes
- Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the complexities of the aspects of constitutional law studied throughout the course
- Understand the interactions and relationships between different sources of constitutional rules and between different areas of the UK constitution
- Consider and critically evaluate arguments for constitutional reform. Engage with and critically analyse a range of primary and secondary sources, including legislation, case-law, parliamentary reports and academic writing
- Undertake legal research into a defined area of constitutional law
- Produce high-quality original academic written work, exploring a research question agreed between the student and module leader
- More confidently participate in group discussions and oral presentations
Teaching pattern
Weekly 2hr seminars - Dissertation supervision meetings in non-teaching weeks