LL4AQ Half Unit
Constitutional Theory
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Martin Loughlin
Availability
This course is available on the LLM (extended part-time), LLM (full-time), MSc in Law and Finance and University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Visiting Students. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Priority will be given initially to LLM, MSc Regulation and MSc Law and Finance students on a first-come-first-served allocation.
Spaces permitting, requests from all other students will be processed on the same first-come-first-served allocation from 10am on Thursday 2 October 2025
By submitting an application, students are confirming that they meet any pre-requisites specified. Providing an additional written statement will not aid a student's chances of being accepted onto a course, and statements are not read.
Deadline for application: Not applicable
For queries contact: Law.llm@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places and demand is typically high. This may mean that you’re not able to get a place on this course.
Course content
This course takes its cue from the fact that today, more than ever, the constitution plays a major role in regulating the political and social life of the nation. How has this come about? With what political and social consequences? And what have been the implications for contemporary jurisprudence? This course seeks answers to these questions. It pursues this task by examining the emergence in the modern era of the constitution as a document of higher-order law and considering the ways in which this understanding has acquired a heightened significance in recent decades. Course topics include: the invention of the documentary constitution, the ideology of constitutionalism, constituent power, constitutional rights, constitutional democracy, constitutional adjudication, constitutional recognition, and cosmopolitan constitutionalism.
Teaching
2 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
20 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
All students are expected to produce one 2,000 word formative essay during the course.
Indicative reading
Most of the reading for the course consists of texts available online and delivered through Moodle. Students will find it useful to have regular access to Martin Loughlin, Against Constitutionalism (Harvard University Press, 2022).
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Open book.
Key facts
Department: LSE Law School
Course Study Period: Autumn and Spring Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 12
Average class size 2024/25: 12
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
LL4AQ Constitutional Theory Course Guide Video https://youtu.be/eGpZoW7BYHE