LL4Z6 Half Unit
Comparative Constitutional Law
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Jo Murkens
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
Course content
Comparative Constitutional Law has emerged as a vibrant discipline attracting interdisciplinary interest in how constitutions are formed, designed, and function across diverse societies. LL4Z6 examines central constitutional issues across multiple jurisdictions through critical and contextual perspectives.
Part I explores comparative law as a distinct legal discipline with its own methodology, focusing on how constitutional ideas and ideologies transfer across national boundaries.
Part II investigates fundamental constitutional concepts, including the historical origins of fundamental law, constituent power, the origins and comparative theory and practice of judicial review, and an exploration of the British constitution from a comparative perspective.
Part III addresses constitutional design challenges, with particular emphasis on parliamentarism and presidentialism, and constitution-making processes in deeply divided and authoritarian societies.
The course offers both a rich historical account of Western constitutional traditions and examines their contemporary application in non-Western contexts. In doing so, it develops a critical perspective on mainstream liberal thought that often idealises constitutions as normative constraints on politics or essentialises constituent power.
A central question we'll examine is whether formal constitutions genuinely facilitate democratisation and political change, or whether they can sometimes undermine democracy by entrenching ruling elites. Rather than merely comparing constitutional codes across legal systems, LL4Z6 approaches comparative constitutional law comprehensively and contextually, enabling students to deepen their understanding of law as methodology while making independent connections to other disciplines.
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
One 2,000-word essay.
Indicative reading
There is not a set book for this course. All materials will be made available in advance on Moodle.
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 150 Minutes in the Spring exam period
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: 13
Average class size 2024/25: 13
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:
LL4Z6 Comparative Constitutional Law Course Guide Video https://youtu.be/YNhg2uhW2W4
Personal development skills
- Communication
- Specialist skills