LW106-4-AU-CO:
French Constitutional Law
2024/25
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
01 July 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
LW112, LW206, LW208
LLB M123 Licence English and French Law (Double Degree)
This module will provide students with a first insight into French legal studies through the study of French constitutional law. Constitutional law deals with the concept of state, the interpretation and implementation of the Constitution, and the relations between the state and its various organs.
During the course of the module, students will be presented with an overview of French constitutional law, including elements on the general theories of the concept of state, the functioning and the role of French institutions, the protection of the Constitution and the protection of human and fundamental rights by the French constitutional court, the Conseil constitutionnel.
The module will also focus on the techniques of legal writing specific to French law and French legal culture: la dissertation juridique. Students will acquire an in-depth understanding of the style of reasoning necessary to write a dissertation juridique, one of the techniques they will have to understand and master before going to France.
The module aims at engaging students in French legal writing and thinking, and at providng them with tools to learn to work effectively in French law alongside the English legal system.
At the end of the module, students will:
1. understand the specific requirements of French constitutional law through the study of its related theory, with a strong emphasis on the Constitution of the Third and the Fifth Republic.
2. Appreciate current legal and societal questions (status of the French president, question of the legal status of Corsica…)
3. Be able to critically analyse the French constitutional structure
4. Be able to develop their legal thinking and analysis
5. Master the methodology of the dissertation juridique
Upon completion of the module, students should be familiar with French culture and have gained an understanding of the functioning of the French legal system. They should also have mastered the skills to write a proper dissertation juridique.
No additional information available.
This module is taught via weekly lectures and tutorials as well as pre-recorded videos and other learning tools available on the Moodle platform. The module teaching team will produce and make available on Moodle short guidance notes. The notes will also contain tips designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the lectures to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your tutorials. Your tutorials will enable you to discuss the material covered in lectures and the required readings, obtain feedback on your pre-class preparation and deepen your understanding of key concepts. To help you prepare in the best possible way for your tutorials, you will be completing regular small assessed activities to enable you to reflect upon and track your progress, understand what you are doing well, and give you clear feedback to help you manage your studies and your progress.
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‘Dalloz.fr (journals)’ (no date). Available at:
https://www.dalloz.fr/dalloz.
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Pauline Türk (no date) Les institutions de la Vème République. 17ème édition (2024/2025). Edited by Gualino Lextenso.
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Dominique Chagnollaud De Sabouret (2024) Droit constitutionnel contemporain 2: La Constitution de la Vème République.
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The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Practical |
Continuous Assessment (LW106 Droit constitutionnel) |
|
50% |
| Written Exam |
Mid-Term Exam (LW106 Droit constitutionnel) |
|
50% |
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during January
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sophie Duroy, email: sophie.duroy@essex.ac.uk.
The Law Education Admin Team - lawschoolug@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
Dr Marie-Luce Paris
University College Dublin
Associate Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 116 hours, 22 (19%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
94 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Essex Law School
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