Course Catalogue

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This course will provide an intensive overview of the core elements of Canadian constitutional law: Federalism, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Aboriginal Rights. Students will study the primary sources of Canadian constitutional law-the Constitution Act, 1867 and the Constitution Act, 1982-alongside the landmark judicial decisions that have interpreted and developed those texts over time. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to apply knowledge and understanding of Canadian constitutional law in practical legal analysis and argument.

11 lectures (50 minutes duration), 4 workshops per semester (60 minutes duration).

This course is available to LLB students (Common Law and Scots Law) and visiting students.

None.

None.

The summative assessment will be divided between a mid-term in-class test (Set Exercise) and a final exam (Written Exam).

15%: Class Test

The in-class test will include a battery of short questions on the sources of Canadian constitutional law and the federal division of power.

85%: Final Exam

This will last 90 minutes. Students will be given a choice of questions, covering the full content of the course.

This course aims to provide students with a broad understanding of Canadian constitutional law-the body of fundamental law pertaining to individual and Aboriginal rights and the relationship between federal and provincial powers in Canada's multicultural federation. Through sustained engagement with constitutional texts and landmark judicial decisions, students will develop sophisticated analytical skills for interpreting and applying constitutional doctrine. This knowledge has particular value for the substantial number of Glasgow LLB students intending to qualify in Canada through the NCA process, as the course covers the core content of the NCA's Constitutional Law examination. It will also enable all students to develop a comparative perspective on constitutional law, building on the study of UK constitutional law from Constitutional Law 1.

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

■ Explain the sources, structure, and key doctrines of Canadian constitutional law, including federalism, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Aboriginal and treaty rights.

■ Evaluate legal propositions in Canadian constitutional law by reference to constitutional texts, judicial interpretation, and relevant constitutional principles.

■ Apply Canadian constitutional law to realistic factual scenarios by identifying constitutional issues, articulating applicable rules, and reaching reasoned legal conclusions.