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INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM

Module code: LW264
Credits: 5
Semester: 1
Department: SCHOOL OF LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY
International:

	Overview
	With the end of the former Soviet Union, we now live in a unipolar world, and even if the world order does not remain unipolar, the American polity will remain highly significant to understanding modernity. Moreover, features of the American legal system, particularly its constitutional vision, have been exported to many legal systems worldwide. This course seeks to put the American legal system in its historical and modern global context, with a particular focus on American public law doctrine, including: federalism; separation of powers; enumerated and unenumerated individual rights; war & peace; presidential succession; and presidential powers. Likewise, this course will cover significant aspects of American (national and state) tort law and criminal law. Any aspect of this module (including the weighting of the module mark�s components between continuous assessment and University scheduled written examination) may be changed in any given academic year, subject to the discretion of the module lecturer.

Overview

With the end of the former Soviet Union, we now live in a unipolar world, and even if the world order does not remain unipolar, the American polity will remain highly significant to understanding modernity. Moreover, features of the American legal system, particularly its constitutional vision, have been exported to many legal systems worldwide. This course seeks to put the American legal system in its historical and modern global context, with a particular focus on American public law doctrine, including: federalism; separation of powers; enumerated and unenumerated individual rights; war & peace; presidential succession; and presidential powers. Likewise, this course will cover significant aspects of American (national and state) tort law and criminal law. Any aspect of this module (including the weighting of the module mark�s components between continuous assessment and University scheduled written examination) may be changed in any given academic year, subject to the discretion of the module lecturer.

	Learning Outcomes
	On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Find key American sources of law, including constitutional provisions, statutes, judicial authority, executive branch materials, and scholarly authority; Understand key bodies of American legal doctrine, both their current form and their historical development and context; Critically analyse the successes and failures of American legal doctrine in regard to solving societal problems.

Learning Outcomes

Teaching & Learning methods

Assessment

	Autumn Supplementals/Resits
	Are supplemental/resit registrations permitted? Yes 40% pass mark. Assessment options to be determined by lecturer.

	Timetable
	This timetable is not currently available, please contact the School Of Law And Criminology Department.

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Courses / Module

INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEM