Module Identifier LA37610  
Module Title REGIONAL LEGISLATURES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Ms Ann P Sherlock  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Co-Requisite LA16220 or LA36220  
Course delivery Lecture   14 Hours One two hour and two one hour lectures in weeks 1-3. Two one hour lectures in week 4  
  Seminars / Tutorials   3 Hours Seminar. Three one hour seminars during the semester  
Assessment Semester Assessment   Dissertation: Submission of dissertation - maximum of 4000 words required in week 12   80%  
  Semester Assessment   Report: Short Plan of The Dissertation Required in week 7   20%  
  Supplementary Assessment   Resit by submission of dissertation    
Professional Exemptions Not Required for Professional Purposes  

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- explain general constitutional principles and practice regarding the division of power within states
- discuss the division of power between the various assemblies / parliaments within the UK
- discuss the role and powers of the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament
- discuss the way in which business and members are regulated in the different bodies
- carry out research on a legal topic
- discuss issues of particular significance in the individual bodies / jurisdictions
- evaluate the impact of devolution on the UK Constitution

Brief description

1998 saw the passage of legislation to establish devolution in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, and providing for a legislative body in each of these jurisdictions. This module examines those bodies - the National Assembly for Wales, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Scottish Parliament - in relation to their powers and working methods. In this way, the module provides an opportunity to students interested in public law to consider in detail some of the very profound changes which have taken place in recent years on the British constitutional landscape.

Aims

Aims of the module:
The aim of this module is to build upon the general introduction to devolution which was provided in the Constitutional Law module (LA16220) and to provide an opportunity for students to examine legal aspects of the devolution arrangements in the United Kingdom in greater depth and breadth.

Content

Teaching
Teaching will be through lectures (14) and seminars (3). The lectures will be concentrated at the beginning of the semester and will aim to set out the basic issues and highlight themes to be pursued by students in their mini-dissertation (see section on assessment). Seminars will be used for discussing work being undertaken by students for their mini-dissertation.

Syllabus
Introduction and General Material: different models, federalism, unitary states. Comparative material regarding general classifications. Legal and practical arrangements concerning the division of power within states.

Introduction to regional legislatures in the UK: Historical background; devolution in Northern Ireland 1922-1972; proposals in the 1970s; background to devolution in the 1990s.

An examination of the legislative bodies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in relation to the following:
- powers and functions
- structures within the body, with special reference to the executive and its relations with the rest of the body
- openness and transparency
- accountability
- sleaze, integrity and members' interests
- consultation with the people
- inclusivity
- sensitive issues eg language, religion etc
- the extent to which 'traditional' constitutional norms and practices are tested.