LW1PL1-Public Law 1

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Restricted to LLB students
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Mrs Shweta Band
Email: s.band@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module aims to introduce students to the essential features of the British constitution and of UK and European legal and political institutions. In addition, key features of the English legal system will be explored in their constitutional context.

Aims:
The module aims to introduce students to the essential features of the British constitution and of UK and European legal and political institutions. In addition, key features of the English legal system will be explored in their constitutional context.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:

• recognise the extent to which Constitutional Law underpins the working of the legal system and its importance for the enactment, enforcement, change and application of laws;


• discuss the underlying principles and doctrines of the constitution;


• explain how the most important institutions of the constitution operate and relate to one another;


• appraise and assess recent constitutional reforms and proposals for reform;


• use oral communication skills and work in a team to make a presentation.

Additional outcomes:

To develop students' IT and legal research skills by the use of web resources and databases.

Outline content:

• Defining constitutions


• Key constitutional doctrines


• Constitutional institutions in outline


• Devolution and practical arrangements for the distribution of power within the state


• Parliament and its functions


• The judiciary, the court system and judicial independence


• The executive and its constitutional role


• Controlling the executive


• Key constitutional statutes

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

There will be 38 lectures over two terms, some of which may be delivered online or supplemented with online content;Ìýdetailed handouts with an indication of required and additional reading will be provided for every lecture topic. There will be 8 tutorials over the Autumn and Spring Terms. In addition there will be a team presentation in the tutorial 7 slot. Tutorial sheets indicating the questions to be prepared for tutorial discussion will be provided. There will be no formal teaching on one topic. Work on this topic will be undertaken by personal study and by a 25 minute team presentation in tutorial 7 on a set question on the topic. Each tutorial group will be divided into two teams of five/six students for this purpose. One week in the Spring Term will not have lectures to allow for this task. In addition to the presentation, each team will be required to provide a group reflective blog of the exercise. Use of electronic sources to research this topic will be expected.