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  6. LS4072: LAW, ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY

LS4072: LAW, ELECTIONS AND DEMOCRACY (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:34


Course Overview

Democracy depends upon elections which in turn require to be regulated by law. This course considers the content of those laws and the constitutional processes by which governments, parliaments and courts share the task of regulating elections. It asks how the law could be reformed to improve the quality of our electoral democracy. Topics include voting rights (the prisoner voting ban); controls on candidacy (affirmative action and equality law); regulating money (donations, ‘big money’ and campaign spending); election crimes and corruption (voting fraud);  modernizing the law  (e-voting) and representation (diversity in parliaments; recalling MPs).

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 25 credits (12.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Heather Green

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Course Aims: The course is available also to MA Legal Studies students as a 30 credit option, involving an additional element of assessment (one 1,500 word essay). Main Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding:
  • Know how the law of the United Kingdom regulates the core institutions of electoral democracy;
  • Know the content of the main legislative provisions of election law;
  • Know about key judicial decisions concerning voting and elections;
  • Know about theories of democracy pertinent to election law content and design;
  • Understand the relations between legislative, executive and judicial roles in the regulation of electoral processes;
  • Understand the place and roles of election law within the wider constitutional law context;
  • Understand the context of democratic values and principles within which election law operates. Subject Specific Skills and Concepts Students will develop skills concerning:
  • Handling of primary legal materials, especially complex statutory rules
  • Locating current law from electronic sources
  • Understanding structure and content of legal comment and argument in relevant scholarship
  • Understanding the role of legal scholarship in debates about law reform
  • Offering reasoned oral and written arguments about the law and the principles informing it
  • Critical analysis and reflection on the content of current law
  • Understanding of the wider political context in which the law operates Key Skills (Transferable) The course seeks to contribute to the development of the following skills:
  • Oral and written communication;
  • Working independently;
  • To organise and manage time to achieve tasks;
  • Critical analysis;
  • Logical argument;
  • An ability to synthesise and organise complex materials and arguments;
  • Conduct formal and informal oral presentations;
  • Make appropriate use of technology in research and writing;
  • Reflect on own learning and to seek and make use of feedback. Content: Topics covered in seminars are:
  • Election Law in the UK: legislation, policy-making and reform: what is election law? Who makes it? How is it designed? What democratic principles is it based upon?
  • Elections, Human Rights and European Law: the ECHR right to free elections and the electoral rights of EU citizens
  • The Franchise: Who has the right to vote? Who should (not) have the right to vote?
  • Crimes and Punishments in Election Law: fraud, corruption and other offences
  • Judges and Elections: the role of courts in the electoral process
  • Candidates, Representatives and the Law: regulating the rights to stand for and to sit in parliaments

    • Further Information & Notes

    The course is available also to MA Legal Studies students as a 30 credit option, involving an additional element of assessment (one 1,500 word essay).

    Contact Teaching Time

    Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

    Teaching Breakdown

    More Information about Week Numbers


    Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

    Summative Assessments

    1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (75%); continuous assessment by essay of 3,500 words (25%). Resit: None.

    Formative Assessment

    An additional element of assessment in the form of 1,500 words essay for MA Legal Studies students.

    Feedback

    Feedback will be provided on the feedback form within three weeks from the date of submission.

    Course Learning Outcomes

    None.
     

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