Public Law Lecture

Public Law Lectures

Dr Davis

Public law, broadly speaking, involves the study of rules, principles and practices relating to the way we are governed. We look at the relationships between the various institutions of state on the one hand and between the individual and the state on the other hand.

The former inevitably touches on history and politics, and requires us to understand what the institutions are and how they work before we can discuss how they inter-relate. The latter involves not just the topical and fascinating subject of individuals’ and groups’ entitlements to protection of their human rights and civil liberties, but also the process of judicial review of administrative action, the bread and butter of public law legal practice.

In the twenty-first century, the study of public law cannot be one-dimensional or fixed in time. International law, European law and the law governing devolved powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also require mention. The focus however will be on the public law of the United Kingdom, and more precisely, England and Wales.

Public law in the United Kingdom displays characteristics of both continuity and change. We will often see law and practice that dates from centuries past. However, we will not want to forget the processes and prospects for change – we are in the midst of one of the most important and active periods of legal and constitutional change in the history of the United Kingdom.

UK: not a real separation of powers

Executive power

Public Law is always linked to political powers, often regulates them

Magna Carta Libertatum (Medieval Latin for "the Great Charter of the Liberties"), commonly called Magna Carta (also Magna Charta; "(the) Great Charter"),[a] is a charter agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215.[b] First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to make peace between the unpopular King and a group of rebel barons, it promised...