Last modified: 25 May 2018 11:16
This course is an introduction to the law about government. The course covers three main areas of law: constitutional law; human rights law; and, to a lesser extent, administrative law. Major topics include parliamentary sovereignty, Britain's membership in the European Union, the rule of law, the separation of powers, devolution (especially in Scotland), the Human Rights Act, freedom of expression, and the right to protest. This area of law is fast-moving, and an effort is made to address current issues such as prisoner voting, the deployment of armed forces, and the impact of the referendum on Scottish independence.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | None. | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course will cover: the concept of constitutional law and constitutions; human rights as a control on government; UK constitution and sources of the UK constitution; Parliamentary supremacy; the rule of law; the separation of powers; Human Rights Act 1998 & European Convention on Human Rights and their operation in practice; freedom of information; composition, powers and functions of the UK Parliament and government; devolution and its impact on the UK; composition, powers and functions of the Scottish Parliament and government; local government in Scotland; right to protest; role of the courts in public law; freedom of expression.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (75%) and continuous assessment (1500-word essay) (25%).
There are no assessments for this course.
Summative assessment essay feedback is to be provided on an individual basis by comments on each student's essay. A feedback sheet will be produced that will contain details of the appropriate approach and information concerning commonly encountered errors. There will also be a feedback session for the whole class where the feedback will be discussed and questions answered.
Individual feedback on exam performance is available on request.
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