LW106-4-AU-CO:
French Constitutional Law

The details
2025/26
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
07 August 2025

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

LW112, LW206, LW208

Key module for

LLB M123 Licence English and French Law (Double Degree)

Module description

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.

Module aims

The module aims at engaging students in French legal writing and thinking, and at providing them with tools to learn to work effectively in French law alongside the English legal system.


The aims of this module are:



  • To introduce students to the specific requirements of French constitutional law through the study of its related theory, with a strong emphasis on the Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

  • To enable students to appreciate current legal and societal questions (status of the French president, nature of the political system, etc…).

  • To equip students with the skills to analyse the French constitutional structure.

  • To develop their legal thinking and analysis.

  • To train students for the methodology of the dissertation juridique.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated French constitutional culture.

  2. Present, evaluate and interpret the theory and practice of the Fifth Republic.

  3. Understand the functioning of the French legal system.

  4. Master the methodological skills to write a dissertation juridique.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module is taught via:

  • Weekly 2-hour lectures and
  • Weekly 2-hour tutorials.

Bibliography

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)    100% 
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 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

Coursework Exam
20% 80%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
0% 100%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sophie Duroy, email: sophie.duroy@essex.ac.uk.
The Law Education Admin Team - lawschool@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 6 hours, 6 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Essex Law School

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