Constitutional Law in the United Kingdom

Constitutional Law in the United Kingdom

This course explores one of the most influential legal systems in the world and its relationship to the global legal order within the context of American and European politics. It focuses on London and the United Kingdom鈥檚 relationship to the common law system, including an examination of its relatively new UK Supreme Court and its legal interpretations in the context of the English and U.S. court systems.

Coming soon! This program is expected to go again in Spring Break 2027! Information about the Spring Break 2027 program will be added here soon. Reach out to edabroad@kent.edu to receive an email once the program opens for application!

Location

London, England

Term

Spring Break

Housing

Hotel

Program Highlights

Spend Spring Break across the pond in England! If you want to truly understand the differences between American and British legal systems, then there鈥檚 no better way than to set a foot in each camp.

You鈥檒l use your theoretical knowledge of law, courts and justice to evaluate how these play out in daily life in England.

Your international learning experience will also include visits to the most famous attractions in London such as Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, and the UK Supreme Court.

Program Contact Information

Desiree Dube

Sr. Education Abroad Advisor

Email: ddube1@kent.edu

Office Phone: 330-672-7989

Important Dates & Billing

Important Dates

Program Dates: TBA

Application Deadline: TBA

Deadline to Commit to the Program: TBA

Withdrawal Deadline: TBA

Final Program Fee Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your 青年涩导航 student account. The program fee deadline will be in accordance with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's Spring 2027 payment due dates. You should refer to the first Spring 2027 due date.

Application Process

You will need to complete a 青年涩导航 Education Abroad application. These quick steps will help walk you through the process.

1. Start an Education Abroad Application

When you click the "Apply Now" button (located towards the top and bottom of this page), you will be brought to the Education Abroad application system where you can view program costs and start an application. Be sure to submit your application before the deadline!

2. Guest Application (If applicable)

Are you a student at another university? To apply for a 青年涩导航 education abroad program, you will first need to apply for admission to 青年涩导航 as a 鈥�Guest Student鈥�. Please apply as either an 鈥淯ndergraduate Guest Student鈥� or as a 鈥淕raduate Guest Student鈥�, depending on your course level.

Once you have applied and been accepted as a 青年涩导航 student, you will receive an email with your FlashLine login credentials. Activate your account and then proceed to the next step, which is to apply to the Education Abroad program of your interest. You can return to this page and follow the 鈥淎pply Now鈥� button to start that application.

You can also refer to the FAQs for Guest Students if you need further help.

3. Wait for Acceptance

Once you have submitted your study abroad program application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leader. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. You should hear back from us within one month.

4. Commit to the Program

If you are accepted, you need to log back into your application by going to and clicking LOGIN. Once you see the name of your program, you need to click on it and commit (i.e., accept your offer of admission).

青年涩导航

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: POL 40995 The Politics of London Law and Courts

Number of Credit Hours: 1

KSU Sponsoring College: College of Arts & Sciences

Program Language of Instruction: English.

Course Description:

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

1. Evaluate the similarities and differences between political systems in America and England within their respective cultural milieus.

2. Understand political jurisprudence and legal theories relating to law, courts and justice in American and British adversarial legal systems.

3. Compare the political significance of the U.S. and English trial court processes in regard to civil and criminal litigation.

4. Distinguish between legal professions in the U.S. and U.K., and how each delivers justice in common law systems.

5. Analyze the nature and application of constitutional law and judicial review in the context of the appellate jurisprudence of the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.K. Supreme Court.

6. Comprehend the role of law and courts and their underlying salience to the global legal order.

Faculty Contact Information

Name: Professor Christopher P. Banks

Email: cbanks6@kent.edu

Phone: 330-672-0908

Tentative Itinerary

This program is designed to take place over Spring Break.

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence and sites are subject to changes in availability and cost.

Day 1:

Traveling to London, England

Day 2:

Welcome to London! This world capital has been among the finest cities on earth for centuries, and today's London is as deep as it is broad. Whether you are seeking urban bustle or a lush park, ancient history or modern art, fish and chips or tikka masala, you'll find the best of the best here in London.
London Eye: Built as part of the year 2000 millennium celebrations, the London Eye is now one the most popular attractions in London. The London Eye is situated right at the heart of London along the River Thames; each rotation of the wheel soars 135m high and takes 30 minutes to complete. The attraction was originally sponsored by British Airways, so rides are called flights and offer visitors commanding views, up to 25 miles on a good day!
Thames River Cruise: Take a leisurely cruise along the River Thames. Our cruise starts in London's city center and ends in Greenwich. Enjoy sightseeing as we pass by London Eye, St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral, Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern Museum, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, Canary Wharf, and more. A full Westminster to Greenwich cruise takes approximately 1 hour, and a return cruise is approximately 2 hours.

Day 3:

Westminster Walking Tour: Explore the Westminster area of London with your Blue Badge Guide as you learn about many of London's most iconic sites including St. James's Palace, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing St, the Churchill War Rooms, and more.
Westminster Abbey & Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries: Participate in a guided tour of one of the world's greatest churches. Westminster Abbey has been used as the site for all coronations since 1066 and has been the location for several weddings of the British royal family. The Abbey also serves as the final resting place of seventeen monarchs and thousands of others, including Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Darwin, and Sir Isaac Newton. Continue your guided tour by climbing the Weston Tower to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries. High above the Abbey floor, the Galleries in the beautiful 13th century triforium display our greatest treasures and tell the story of our thousand-year history.

Day 4:

Windsor Castle: Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. It is open to visitors all year round. Founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, it has since been the home of 39 monarchs. Today The Queen spends most of her private weekends at the Castle.

Day 5:

Supreme Court of the UK: You will be shown around the beautiful courtrooms as well as the magnificent Justices' Library. The tour will give you an introduction to the Court's role in the UK justice system, explain about the history and artwork of the building, give interesting examples of cases heard by the Court. Where possible the tour will include all three of the courtrooms but, in the event that one of them needs to be used for an urgent court matter or event, the tour route might be amended slightly, whilst still covering all the same subject matter.
Buckingham Palace: Enjoy special access to Buckingham Palace at this time of year without the crowds, with this guided tour of its magnificent State Rooms. With gilded ceilings and glittering chandeliers, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace provide a perfect setting for many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including S猫vres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. In the company of an expert guide, you will be taken on a tour through these magnificent rooms when the Palace is not usually open to the public.

Day 6:

Oxford Walking Tour: Discover the vibrant history of the oldest university in the English-speaking world on the only official University of Oxford walking tour. Learn how Oxford grew from a small market town to become the city of dreaming spires. Starting and ending at the Weston Library, you will see beyond the remarkable spaces of the Bodleian Library in this walking tour, taking in the historic streets of Oxford and following in the footsteps of famous authors, scientists, politicians and film stars. Developed by the Bodleian Libraries, in partnership with the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides, our popular city of Oxford walking tour will take you on an entertaining journey that will reveal the secrets of this historic city. As part of the tour, you will see inside the oldest teaching room in the University: The Divinity School; as well as the exterior of the Bodleian Library, the Radcliffe Camera and the streets surrounding the central Bodleian site.
Oxford Castle & Prison Tour: Climb the Saxon St George鈥檚 Tower, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford, and enjoy its stunning 360掳 panoramic views over the historic city of Oxford. Descend deep underground into the dark atmosphere of the 900-year-old crypt, the only surviving remains of St. George鈥檚 Chapel. Explore the austere confines of the 18th-century Debtors鈥� Tower and Prison D-Wing. Scale the Mound of the 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle. Groups can explore Oxford Castle & Prison from a different perspective on an Outdoor Walking Tour. Embark on a journey of discovery with a costumed guide; climb the castle mound to enjoy stunning views of the dreaming spires and learn more about the incredible castle buildings and their role in over 1,000-years of Oxford鈥檚 past.

Day 7:

Royal Courts of Justice: Enjoy a tour of the Royal courts of Justice where you will see the legal costume exhibition and continue to Court four (if space permits it), where the Lord Chief Justice sits. Here you can listen to a criminal appeal.
London Legal Walk with Criminal Defense Lawyer: Enjoy a 3.5-hour tour of London鈥檚 legal hotspots. Meet your lawyer guide and discover where London's lawyers meet to discuss cases and sit in on an actual court case as it鈥檚 being heard. Visit the Old Bailey, perhaps the most famous courtroom in the world. The Crown Court and The Old Bailey (The Crown Court deals with the most serious criminal cases and includes the Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey). Westminster Magistrate鈥檚 Court (Located on Marylebone Road, the Senior District Judge of England and Wales presides over the court, including all extradition and terrorism-related cases). You'll also visit the British Law Society, pausing for a tea/coffee break in their magnificent building. Go through the Inns of Court, passing the spot where former Prime Minister Tony Blair had his cloisters (law offices) prior to entering politics. Walk through the lovely Temple Gardens and visit the Temple Church.

Day 8:

Palace of Westminster: This tour includes Westminster Hall, Norman Porch, Queen鈥檚 Robing Room, Royal Gallery, Prince鈥檚 Chamber, Lords Chamber, Moses Room, Central Lobby, Members鈥� Lobby, Aye Lobby, Commons Chamber, St Stephen鈥檚 Hall. You will be guided with an expert guide throughout the House of Lords and House of Commons.
Globe Theater & Shakespeare Walking Tour: The tour will take you in the part of London that Shakespeare knew and loved; walk the same streets as the Bard. Starting at The Globe Theatre you'll follow the River Thames and learn why the river created the City of London and, consequently, created the environment for William Shakespeare to thrive. Then, in Southwark we will join the throngs of undesirables who weren鈥檛 allowed into the city. You'll make a visit to Southwark Cathedral to pay respects to Shakespeare's brother, visit a local pub where the Bard definitely had a pint and discover who the Bishops of Winchester were and what exactly they considered to be 'entertainment!' Finally, you'll explore London's old theatre district where The Rose, The Swan, The Globe and The Hope Theatres operated. You'll find out who exactly used to go to the theatres here and what the experience was like when they did!
Farewell Dinner

Day 9:

Return to Ohio

Location & Transportation

London, United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales (which together make up Great Britain) and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is a separate country and is part of the European Union.

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. Each of the countries within the UK has a distinct culture and a fierce sense of national pride. Although the English pound is the most common currency in circulation, banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland also issue currency in the same denominations, which look similar and mainly circulate within their respective countries. English, Scottish and Northern Irish pound notes are equal in value. Keep in mind that if you plan to travel to the Republic of Ireland, the Euro is their official currency.

As the U.K.鈥檚 capital, London is where history meets modernity, with traditions from thousands of years ago to dynamic startups and global firms. As far as sights and activities go, you can spend years living there and still never see it all. On your study abroad trip to London, try to pack in as much as you can 鈥� museums, galleries, theater, iconic landmarks, street markets, pubs, trendy cafes 鈥� your only limitation is hours in the day!

Transportation

Coach transportation and a weekly public transportation pass (zones 1-2) are included in the program fee.

Airports

Students will travel between Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) and London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) on a group flight.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

It is possible to use your federal financial aid to go on 青年涩导航-approved education abroad programs. You can learn more on the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center website.

It is also possible to use most 青年涩导航 scholarships for education abroad costs. You can find education abroad scholarships on ScholarshipUniverse.

If you have any questions about using your financial aid and scholarships for study abroad, you can contact the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center.

Health & Safety

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

international travel procedures;
in-country resources;
health and safety resources and information;
culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

All students are encouraged to register with the prior to departure.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we鈥檝e pulled together for you on our 鈥�Before You Go鈥� page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the .

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center.

Costs and Funding

Costs for the program will differ for every student. You can use our Cost Calculator to get an estimate of what you might expect for your program.

We also encourage you to meet with your Education Abroad Advisor and reach out to the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center to see how your aid may apply to an international program.

Trevor Walton

Political Science

"Studying abroad is not just about finishing your credit hours in a foreign country or a r茅sum茅 builder, but an intrapersonal revelation. It expands students鈥� horizons and challenges their past biases, beliefs, and life philosophies."

Your Journey is Just Beginning

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