onlincourse

Fundamentals of the UK Constitution: Introduction to Law for Non-lawyers

Gain a clear understanding of the UK legal system, court structures, and legal professions. Ideal for professionals working with legal teams or in law-adjacent roles.

Duration

4 weeks

Weekly study

2 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

Learn more

Develop a solid understanding of the UK legal system

Gain confidence in your understanding of the UK legal system with this four-week course from the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).

This is part of a series of courses designed with non-lawyers in mind. You’ll gain an understanding of the UK Constitution, legislative power, executive authority, and the judiciary. You’ll also gain insights into the legal profession’s unique culture and terminology, helping you confidently navigate legal discussions.

Explore the foundations of the UK constitution

You’ll start by examining the key principles of the UK constitution, including parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.

Comparing the UK’s unwritten constitution with written constitutions around the world, you’ll analyse its historical and political influences.

Understand how legislative and executive powers shape legal frameworks

Diving into legislative power, you’ll explore the roles of the House of Commons and House of Lords to understand how bills become law and the impact of primary and secondary legislation.

You’ll then examine the executive branch, including the Prime Minister, Cabinet, and civil service. Through this exploration, you’ll understand how government ministers interact with the Crown and how the Ministerial Code ensures accountability.

Unpack judicial power and the role of case law

Finally, you’ll explore the judiciary’s role in the legal system. This will help you understand how judges interpret laws, set precedents, and maintain judicial independence.

Through real-world examples, you’ll assess how court decisions shape the legal landscape and why a diverse, independent judiciary is vital for democracy.

Week 1
Nature of the UK Constitution
- Introduction
  Welcome to the course.
- The nature of constitutions
  Why does a nation need a constitution? Essentially, a set of rules and guiding principles are required in complex modern societies.
- Sources of the UK constitution
  The UK’s constitution derives from many different sources.
- The key principles of the UK constitution
  The fundamental principles of the UK constitution are parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. They are not laws as such, though they may impact on legal rules and legal rules may impact upon them.
- Summary and confidence check
  9 key points relating to the UK constitution. Check your confidence in understanding this topic.
- Knowledge check
  Now for a quick quiz to check your understanding.
Week 2
Legislative Power
- The location of legislative power: Parliament
  The key function of the legislature is to make laws. The UK Parliament in Westminster, London, passes laws which affect all four countries in the UK: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Primary legislation
  Primary legislation is the term used to describe the main laws which are passed by the legislative bodies in England and Wales.
- The creation of an Act of Parliament
  We will consider ﬁrst the procedure in the House of Commons followed by the procedure in the House of Lords. Many Government Bills commence in the House of Lords and are then considered by the House of Commons.
- Secondary legislation
  Secondary legislation is legislation which provides the detail of how the Acts of Parliament will operate. It is sometimes called delegated legislation because it is less important than Acts of Parliament.
- Summary and confidence check
  15 key points relating to legislative power. Check your confidence in understanding this topic.
- Knowledge check
  Now for a quick quiz to check your understanding.
Week 3
Executive Power
- Introduction
  Key terms and confidence check.
- The Prime Minister
  The Prime Minister is the head of government in the United Kingdom. In constitutional terms, the Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch, and the choice is his.
- The Cabinet
  The Cabinet comprises the Prime Minister and other senior ministers (most heading government departments) appointed by the King upon the advice of the Prime Minister.
- The Civil Service
  The day-to-day functions of departments are exercised by civil servants.
- Accountability
  There are various political mechanisms through which the executive is held to account.
- Summary and confidence check
  12 key points relating to executive power. Check your confidence in understanding this topic.
- Knowledge check
  Now for a quick quiz to check your understanding.
Week 4
Judicial Power
- Introduction
  The role of the judge and case names.
- The hierarchy of the courts
  In order to understand how case law operates, it is essential to be aware of the relative importance of the different courts.
- Ratio decidendi and obiter dicta
  In later cases, the judges will review the earlier judgment and seek to identify the ratio decidendi and the obiter dicta.
- Judicial independence and impartiality
  Judges must be independent from the parties to a case. This is to ensure that a judge can act as a neutral arbiter. A judge should be impartial in a dispute, and free from bias.
- Summary and confidence check
  10 key points relating to judicial power. Check your confidence in understanding this topic.
- Knowledge check
  Now for a quick quiz to check your understanding.