LAW10300 French Public Law 1(Introduction to French Constitutional Law)

Academic Year 2022/2023

The course constitutes the first French law module in the BCL (French Law Programmes). It is designed to provide students with an Introduction to French Constitutional Law. It is complemented in stage 2 with the course French Public Law 2 which provides an Introduction to French Administrative Law. Substantively, the course falls into three sections (3/3/6 weeks): General Issues which include the study of several key notions (i.e., State, Constitution, Democracy and Separation of Powers); Overview of the Main Foreign Political Systems (e.g., US, UK, Germany, Chinese); The French Constitution of the Fifth Republic. It is taught in French and closely reflects the way law is taught in French universities. Explanations through English are commonly used by the lecturer to ease the transition from Leaving Certificate level of French to level of legal French required for third-level law. In order to prepare the students for their studies in France (level 3 for BCL Law with French Law students and levels 3 and 4 for BCL/Maîtrise students), the course puts a strong emphasis on French methodology and examination techniques - technique of the 'plan' in particular. Students will be provided with a syllabus, a reading list and relevant materials for use in lectures and tutorials. This module will use Brightspace.

This module fits within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the UN, with SDG Number 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions in particular.

Further instructions will be given in the Module Handbook which will be posted on Brightspace one week before the first due class.

**Please note: Penultimate and Final year Law students are not permitted to register to this module as their In-Programme or Horizons elective.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, diligent students should: 1. have gained an accurate knowledge of French Constitutional Law and Political System 2. be able to relate Irish constitutional and political experience to a better understanding of the specificity of French Constitutional Law and Political System 3. have acquired basic research techniques in French Constitutional Law 4. have reached a satisfactory knowledge of French terminology through the study of primary materials in French Constitutional Law 5. have developed the ability to express themselves in French on French constitutional, political and current issues through the writing and presenting of a note de synthèse using the methodology of the plan (oral/written presentation) 6. have developed the ability to work individually and in small groups in person or remotely using appropriate technology.

**Please note: Penultimate and Final year Law students are not permitted to register to this module as their In-Programme or Horizons elective.

Indicative Module Content:

Substantively, the course falls into three sections (3/2/6 weeks): General Issues which include the study of several key notions (i.e., State, Constitution, Democracy and Separation of Powers); Overview of the Main Foreign Political Systems (e.g., US, UK, Germany, Chinese); The French Constitution of the Fifth Republic.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

12
Autonomous Student Learning

84
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Active learning approach during lectures and tutorials:
- Lectures: Students must come prepared having read before class lecture's notes available on Brightspace.
- Tutorials: Students must come prepared with their Oral/Written Presentation ready to deliver for those who present, and with their questions for the students who have been assigned to ask questions to the group of presenters.
- In both settings, active participation can be in person or online depending on the circumstances. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

For students on the French Law programmes, at least B+ Honours French at Leaving Certificate (or equivalent - eg. A or B in A-Levels) is required.

This module is taught in French. Explanations through English are commonly used by the lecturer to ease the transition from Leaving Certificate level of French to level of legal French required for third-level law.

For elective students, see Recommended Prior Learning.

Learning Recommendations:

For elective students, a strong level of French language competence is required, that is at least B+ Honours French at Leaving Certificate (or equivalent - eg. A or B in A-Levels).

This module is taught in French. Explanations through English are commonly used by the lecturer to ease the transition from Leaving Certificate level of French to level of legal French required for third-level law.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Oral/written presentation Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

40
Continuous Assessment: Tutorial participation Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10
Examination: Written end-of-trimester examination 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

50

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given on three occasions during T1 to students in LAW10300 French Public Law 1: - Prior to their Oral/Written Presentation (at least one week before their presentation date), students will be given individual feedback on the relevance of their chosen topic, their proposed 'plan' and preliminary bibliography. - After the delivery of their Oral/Written Presentation (no later than one week before T1 examination period), students will be given individual feedback on their 'plan', content, level of French (oral and written) with corrections of their most serious mistakes. - Post-examination, class feedback will be posted on Brightspace (indicative, not full model answers).