What is the legal structure of the state in the United Kingdom? How is the power of the state encoded? What is the authority of government to act and what are the legal limits on those powers? You will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of public law, the key legal concepts deployed in this field and an insight into the procedural requirements that deliver accountability. You will engage in a critical introduction to the key features of the state and learn about the legal powers government exercises. You will develop your ability to identify the key concepts of the constitution through your study and analysis of major constitutional cases, academic literature and parliamentary documents. You will learn to interpret the open-ended nature of constitutional reasoning in an uncodified constitution. You will also enhance your ability to critique the reasoning and conclusions of judgments in the cases that you analyse, which will equip you with an understanding of the mechanisms of legal accountability of public bodies and provide you with a repertoire of key legal concepts in the public law domain.
Lectures 16 hours, Seminars 16 hours
Test. Assessment Details: Multiple Choice test (MCT). Worth 30% of the total marks for the module.
Examination. Assessment Details: Examination (2 hours). Worth 70% of the total marks for the module. This Assessment is Pass Compulsory.
Reassessment Method: Like-for Like.
For current reading list see the detailed module information on moodle.
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1) Describe the key legal powers of government and other public bodies
2) Identify and describe the institutional structures of the state and the principles that underpin them
3) Explain the main mechanisms of legal accountability of public bodies
4) Apply legal reading, writing and research skills
5) Analyse leading public law cases.
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