Part 1 General foundations: constitutions - what are constitutions?, what goes into constitutions?, why is there no written British constitution?, aspects of classification; the British constitution -characteristics, the rule of law and the separation of powers, sources of British constitutional law, conventions of the constitution, constitutional reform; the United Kingdom - the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, devolution; ultimate authority in constitutional law - parliamentary sovereignty, foundations of the constitutional order, parliamentary sovereignty surveyed, legal limitations on parliamentary sovereignty, what is an Act of Parliament?, practical limitations on the legislative power of Parliament; the United Kingdom and the European Union - the Union and constitutional law, political background, purposes and institutions, community law. Part 2 The executive: the Crown and the Royal Prerogative - constitutional monarchy, legal rules affecting the monarchy, the Royal prerogative; the Royal prerogative in external affairs - general, treaties and treaty implementation, conclusive Crown certificates, acts of state and legal proceedings, acts of state and individual rights; the Privy Council; the Prime Minister and the Cabinet - in general, choice of Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's powers, prime ministerial power - some correctives, ministerial committees and ministerial meeting, confidentiality of proceedings and papers; ministers, departments and civil servants -central government, matters historical and legal, ministerial responsibility, the civil service; constitutional position of the armed forces - structure and status, military law and the civil law, superior orders, civilians and courts martial. Part 3 Parliament and legislation: parliament - background and framework - some basic rules, the role of Parliament; the House of Commons - elections and members - the electoral system, members, electoral campaigns, election petitions; the House of Commons - functions and procedure - parties in the House, business of the House, legislation, legislative procedure, financial procedure, scrutiny of policy and administration; the House of Lords - composition, functions and work of the House, disagreements between the two Houses, judicial duties of the Lords, approaches to reform; parliamentary privilege - general, privilege of the Commons, parliamentary privilege and the courts; subordinate legislation - general, delegated legislation - functions and fears, statutory instruments, safeguards. Part 4 Justice and civil rights: the administration of justice - courts, independence of the judiciary, the executive and the administration of justice; the protection of human rights - fundamental rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, a new bill of rights?, racial discrimination, sex discrimination; citizens, aliens and others - background, the Immigration Act 1971, status within the United Kingdom of those having no ri
