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| Unit name |
Democracy and Legitimacy in the European Union |
| Unit code |
LAWDM0082 |
| Credit points |
30 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Syrpis |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit aims to give students an understanding of the democratic and legitimacy challenges faced by the EU. It assumes that students have some prior knowledge of EU law, and are familiar with the role of the major political institutions and the European Court of Justice. The unit examines whether the EU can and should be judged according to the same criteria as Member States in terms of its democratic accountability and legitmancy of its actions; the ramifications of the Community's governance debate for legal legitimacy; and various other aspects of EU constitutionalism.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, the student will be able, to a degree commensurate with the level to be expected from a postgraduate law student, to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in their constitutional, political and economic context.
- Make a personal and reasoned judgment based on an informed understanding of standard arguments in the areas covered in the unit, in particular relating to various theories of democracy and legitimacy, and their application in the EU context.
- Summarise the current state of doctrinal debate on the matters covered in the unit.
- Bring together materials from primary and secondary sources dealing with topics presented in the module and present them coherently.
- Discuss the policy choices facing the decision-making actors in the areas covered in the unit.
- Interact with other members of the seminar group, offering views, receiving information and modifying responses where appropriate. The assessment regime, which involves a combination of examination and coursework, enables students to demonstrate both research skills, and easy familiarity with the material covered in the unit, as measured by their ability to formulate answers to theoretical questions within tight time constraints.
Teaching Information
10 x 2 hour seminars
Assessment Information
One three-hour closed book examination in May/June, in which students answer 3 questions (worth 67%); and one 3,000 word piece of coursework (worth 33%)
Reading and References
- P. Craig, The Lisbon Treaty: Law, Politics and Treaty Reform (Oxford, OUP, 2010);
- P. Craig and G. de Burca, EU LAW (OUP 5th ed, 2011); N. Walker, Sovereignty in Transition (2004, Hart)
