How Did it Go?

Please leave your comments about the examination here!

Please remember that next semester we will be moving very fast so we can finish the syllabus and start full preparations for the examinations.

Assignments- Coming Soon...

I still have about 6 assignments that were sent to me later to mark. You will be receiving those in a day or two.

PUBLIC LAW EXAM - Details

Examination Guide:

The examination for public law will be held on December 4^th 2010. It will consist of 8 questions. Students will be required to answer four questions in 3 hours. The Exam will begin at 8:30 AM Sharp. Students are advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the class. All papers will be collected at 11:30 irrespective of the time the student started the exam. Remember - I will not be there to hear your appeals.

The following areas will be covered by the examination.

• The nature of the British Constitution
• Constitutional Conventions generally, and ministerial responsibility in particular
• The role and function of key constitutional institutions, and their relationship to the crown
• Parliamentary Sovereignty
• The Royal Prerogative
• The Rule of Law
• The Separation of Powers (especially arguments about the extent to which it exists in the UK constitution)

The questions will be based on your notes and from the study guide. Students are asked to pay particular attention to the exercises at the end of each chapter of the study guide, and within the bodies of the relevant chapters.

Remember, underline cases and state the year in which the case was decided.

Good luck

Greetings...

I hope you are studying hard for the  exams. Please feel free to leave any exam related questions here.

Cases – Public Law Class

Tutorial/Test on cases and Principles

Kindly familiarize yourself with the following cases for the family law tutorial on Friday, 19^th November 2010. A short, multiple choice quiz will be administered on Friday based on the cases and principles outlined below.

1. Sources of Constitutional Law:

State the statutory and common law sources of the UK Constitution

Identify the non-legal sources of the UK constitution

Identify the European sources of the UK Constitution

What are conventions? Give a few examples.

2. The Separation of Powers

What are the major institutions of the British State?

Understand the relationship between the major institutions of the British state as outlined in the following cases:

Executive & Judiciary Relationship:

• M v Home Office (1994)

• Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for Civil Service (1985)

Legislature/Judiciary Relationship

Pickin v British Railway Board (1974) on the power of judges to question the validity of legislation

Magor and St. Mellons RDC v Newport Corporation (1952) Power of judges to “make laws”

See also –

On the power of parliament to pass retrospective legislation

• Burmah Oil Co Ltd. V Lord Advocate (1965)

• R v R (1992)

• Waddington v Miah (1974)

3. The Rule of Law

- Definition of Rule of Law:

- Dicey and the rule of law: (Especially Dicey’s Rule 1)

• R v R (1992)

• Waddington v Miah (1974)

Practical Manifestations of the rule of law:

• Entick v Carrington (1765)

• The Rossminster Case (1980)

• Malone v Metropolitan Police Commissioner (1979)

• Malone v United Kingdom (1984)

• In Re M (1993)

• A v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2004)

The Principles of Natural Justice: “No man shall be a judge in his own cause”

• Dimes v Grand Junction Canal Proprietors (1852)

• R v Bow Street Stipendiary Magistrate, Ex Parte Pinochet (1999)

4. The Royal Prerogative

The power of the courts over the operation of the Prerogative

• The Case of Prohibitions (1607)
• BBC v Johns (1965)
• Attorney-General v de Keysers Royal Hotel (1920)
• R v Secretary of State ex parte Fire Brigades Union (1985)

5. Parliamentary Sovereignty

Parliament can legislate on any subject matter:

 Madzimbabuto v Lardner-Burke

No Parliament can be bound by its predecessor nor bind its successor

MacCormick v Lord Advocate

Nobody can challenge the validity of an Act of Parliament – including the courts:

• Jackson v Attorney-General (2006)

• Pickin v British Railways Board (1974) on the “enrolled bill” rule.

Friday Tutorial, Saturday Class

For Friday's Tutorial, please prepare to present the responses to the three questions that were assigned to the class 2 weeks ago. 

There will be a class on Saturday. Please read Chapter 8 of the Study Guide: "The Structure of Government"

LATE ASSIGNMENTS

Class:

The assignments were due on Saturday. I will not be accept any assignment that is emailed to me after 10pm tomorrow (Tuesday, 2nd November, 2010).

Victor Brobbey

REMINDERS FOR TODAY: NO CLASSES, ASSIGNMENT

I wish to remind you that there will be no class today, FRIDAY, 29th October or Tomorrow, Saturday, 30 October.

Students are reminded to hand in their assignments tomorrow as discussed.

Victor Brobbey

Tutorial Questions for 23 October 2010

Please prepare answers to the following questions for tomorrow's tutorial.


1. Under the United Kingdom's Constitution, constitutional conventions play a key role in maintaining flexibility. Their lack of a clear definition and uncertain application make reform essential.

Discus. What, if anything is your preferred option for reform.

2. Discuss the nature and importance of the doctrine of Separation of Powers making reference to the constitutional arrangements of the United Kingdom.

3. "The rule of law enforced by the courts is the ultimate controlling factor on which our constitution is based". (Lord Hope of Craighead in Jackson v Attorney-General)

Discuss

Definition of Conventions from Dicey & Marshall/Moody

Conventions are not easy things to define: Marshall & Moody Define Conventions as: 

rules of constitutional behaviour which are considered to be binding by and upon those who operate the constitution but which are not enforced by the law courts…nor by the presiding officers in the Houses of Parliament.

Also, the Noted Constitutional Law Scholar Albert Venn Dicey – Defines Conventions as:

The rules which make up constitutional law, as the term is used in England, includes two sets of principles or maxims of a totally distinct character. The once set of rules are in the strictest sense ‘laws’ since they are rules which …are enforced by courts; these rules constitute “constitutional law” in the proper sense of the term, and may for the sake of distinction be called collectively “the law of the constitution”

 The other set of rules consists of conventions, understandings, habits or practices which, though they may regulate the…conduct of the several members of the sovereign power…are not in reality laws at all since they are not enforced by the courts. This portion of constitutional law may, for the sake of distinction, be termed “conventions of the constitution” or constitutional morality”

Class On Friday (15 October 2010)

Students are reminded that there will be a class this Friday, 15th October 2010. We will be covering the Rule of law and finishing off Separation of Powers.

No Class On Saturday, October 2nd

Please be informed that the 1st Matriculation of Zenith University College students comes off on the October 2, 2010.

Venue: Forecourt / Car Park

Time:     8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Dress Code:  Anything Formal


Please endeavour to make it a point to attend as it is very important event on the school calendar.

All classes on that day have been rescheduled to a later date.

Thanks a lot.

Hajj Nasaru Abdul-Rahman

Snr. Assistant Registrar.

Zenith – Diploma in Public Law

2010 – 2011

Information Sheet

Lecture Time: Saturday, 8:30-11:30

Tutorials: Friday Evenings (Times to be decided)

Information on the class (announcements, reading materials etc.) will be made available to on the course email, which is:

++++++++++++DiplomainLaw2010 ( at) gmail.com++++++++

Password: zenithlaw2010

Additional Information will be made available on the class blog, which can be accessed at:

http://zenithpubliclaw.blogspot.com/

The lecturer can also be reached at 0266861752

Texts are preferred to phone calls, and STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CHECK THE COURSE WEBSITE AND BLOG BEFORE CONTACTING THE LECTURER IN RESPECT OF ROUTINE CLASS QUESTIONS. Students can also use the “Comment” feature of the Blog to discuss and ask questions about the reading materials. I WILL RESPOND.

Tutorials:

We shall have tutorials at least once a month, starting from the end of October. Please endeavour to attend.

Attendance:

Please Note that I am required to take an attendance register in respect of the class. Please check the blog to ensure that your name is spelled correctly on the register. If your name is not on the register, or is incorrectly spelled, please email the lecturer with those details.

Family Name	1st Name
Chukwuma	Stanley
Nwobi	Anthony
Olugbenga	Goodwil
Onyebuchi	Nnenna
Mantey-Larbi	Delories
Okobi	Esther
Ovunna Chingatu	Evulu
Olisah	Kelvin
Godknows	Christopher
Muale	Ethel
Akam	Susan
Folayan Foluke	Aisha
Agu Thankgod	Chinwendu
Abumere	Gloria
Amogu-Ogechinyese	Ogeemerald
Tuebi-Ekpekpei	Paul
Chinazom-Chukwuma	Sandra
Willox	Vincent
Nkrumah	Barbara
Okolo	Anunciata
Asekeme	Maris
Liyobong	Charles
Chinedu	Faith
Ngolube	Offertory
Enweani	Matilda
Ezeadi	Precious
Iwiodu Udo	Sampson
Onyenweaku	Bright
Njoku Chibuke	David
Nnarta	Nancy
Chikadi	Callistus
Osei-Mensah	Kwabena
Smart-Abbey	Michelle
Koranteng	Kofi
Buako	Winifred
Bediako	Derrick