Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 13:43
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the methods and purposes of comparative constitutional law, to explain how the powers of government are allocated in different jurisdictions and to analyse how constitutional rights are protected. The topics include constitutional borrowing; federalism; presidential and parliamentary systems, the types of judicial review; different approaches to constitutional interpretation and some substantive rights.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Courses dedicated to the doctrinal study of law traditionally focus on the law of a specific jurisdiction. The proposed course, by its very nature, deviates from this pattern. It will introduce students to the comparative method and analyse different jurisdictions' laws and legal institutions.
The course will build on the Foundations of Public Law. It assumes that students are already familiar with the institutions of constitutional democracies. The course aims to demonstrate the huge variety constitutions and constitutional rules worldwide.
The topics, covered by the course will include:
1) The methodology of comparative constitutional law and the universe of constitutions
2) Constitution-making and constitutional change
3) The allocation of constitutional authority
4) The modalities of constitutional interpretation
5) Comparative Human Rights Law
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 19,20 | Feedback Weeks | 23 | |
| Feedback |
Duration: 2 hours Feedback will be provided to all students within three weeks of submission, in accordance with the University’s policy. Feedback will take the form of brief comments to be entered into MyAberdeen, combined with an offer to all students to discuss their feedback via email in the first instance, and in person in the second. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Display a capacity for critical analysis of texts discussing the institutions and methods of constitutional law. |
| Procedural | Apply | Display knowledge and understanding of the methodology of comparative constitutional law and the capacity to apply general concepts and principles to specific jurisdictions. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 15 | Feedback Weeks | 18 | |
| Feedback |
Word Count: 1,500 Feedback will be provided to all students within three weeks of submission, in accordance with the University’s policy. Feedback will take the form of brief comments to be entered into MyAberdeen, combined with an offer to all students to discuss their feedback via email in the first instance, and in person in the second. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Display a capacity for critical analysis of texts discussing the institutions and methods of constitutional law. |
| Procedural | Apply | Display knowledge and understanding of the methodology of comparative constitutional law and the capacity to apply general concepts and principles to specific jurisdictions. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 49,50 | Feedback Weeks | 52,53 | |
| Feedback |
Duration: 2 hours. Feedback will be provided to all students within three weeks of submission, in accordance with the University’s policy. Feedback will take the form of brief comments to be entered into MyAberdeen, combined with an offer to all students to discuss their feedback via email in the first instance, and in person in the second. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Apply | Display knowledge and understanding of the methodology of comparative constitutional law and the capacity to apply general concepts and principles to specific jurisdictions. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Display a capacity for critical analysis of texts discussing the institutions and methods of constitutional law. |
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