Constitutional and Administrative Law

Part 1 General constitutional theory: the nature of the United Kingdom constitution - public and private law, constitutional and administrative law, federal and unitary constitutions - Scotland and Northern Ireland, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, colonies and Protectorates, The Commonwealth sources of the constitution constitutionalism - the rule of law and the separation of powers - Dicey's Rule of law parliamentary supremacy - the Enrolled Act Rule, Acts of Union, the Redefinition Theory, European conventions the European Communities - Community organs - the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice, the European Council, the Committee of Permanent Representatives, the Economic and Social Committee, Community law. Part 2 Parliament: the constitutional position of Parliament - function of Parliament, Westminster and Whitehall models, the High Court of Parliament the House of Lords - historical development, Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, composition of the House the House of Commons - historical development, the electoral system, The Boundary Commissions parliamentary procedure - the Speaker, legislative procedure, Parliament and public finance, parliamentary supervision of the executive. Part 3 The executive: the Crown the powers of the Crown - the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 ministers and departments - the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the Official Secrets Acts the Civil Service and the armed forces ad hoc bodies local government the police. Part 4 The judicial branch of the State: the judiciary tribunals and inquiries judicial control of the executive - substantive and procedural Ultra Vires, Habeas Corpus. Part 5 Civil liberties: general principles - the European Convention on Human Rights freedom of speech and assembly - censorship, civil wrongs, contempt of court, Public Order Acts 1936 and 1986 entry to and exclusion from the UK - British citizenship, acquiring citizenship, the Right of Abode, European Community nationals, the immigration rules emergency powers - the Royal Prerogative, statutory powers, scope of emergency regulation, anti-terrorist legislation police powers of arrest, search and detention.