Citizenship and the Rule of Law

“Be you so high, the law is above you.” This principle, part of the Rule of Law, has come to represent the powerful idea that even politicians and monarchs are bound by the law. However in an age of powerful corporations, international cyber-crime and popular support for authoritarian leaders, the Rule of Law is under threat worldwide.This course, run by the Bingham Centre of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, will provide an introduction to headline issues around the Rule of Law. Each week we will tackle aspects of the Rule of Law and discuss how they are impacted by current events. The course will use video lectures, recommended reading, discussion questions and activities to enable you to develop your own perspective on the Rule of Law. Though this course sits at the intersection of law and politics, participants do not require any formal educational background in either of these subjects to join. The course will take place over 6 weeks with approximately 3 hours of content each week.

• By the end of this course, you should be able to engage critically with the core requirements of the Rule of Law

• By the end of this course, you should be able to explain why and how the Rule of Law is best protected

• By the end of this course, you should be able to apply Rule of Law principles to issues in everyday life

• By the end of this course, you should be able to construct and evaluate arguments about justice

Syllabus

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
A Potted History of the Rule of Law
Week 2
Judges: Independence, Tenure and Appointment
Week 3
What does it mean to be equal before the law?
Week 4
Access to Justice
Week 5
An International Rule of Law
Week 6
Business, Human Rights and the Rule of Law

FAQ

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Where can I find out more about the organisations involved in delivering the course?

The Bingham Centre’s website is located at binghamcentre.biicl.org.

The British Institute of International Law website can be found at biicl.org.

What is the Bingham Centre set up to achieve?

The Bingham Centre works to make the Rule of Law a practical and tangible entitlement of all across the world.

Are there opportunities for me to follow the Bingham Centre?

The Bingham Centre is active on social media at https://twitter.com/binghamcentre. Sign up for our newsletter too here: https://binghamcentre.biicl.org/enews-signup

Reviews

This course has help me so much in terms of teaching me more in depth regarding the rule of law.

It really showed me how the rule of law has been applied throughout the world and it also changed my perspective of the matter. Thanks.

Very informative. The reading materials are quite heavy and long but very good.

Its a quite comprehensive course. I have learned a lot of new Laws & Responsibilities.