One function of law is to regulate relationships between citizens and the state. In W201 you will learn about constitutional law - rules concerning how the state is legally organised. You will also study criminal law - rules of behaviour set out by the state, which citizens must follow or face punishment.
topIt is if you are interested in current affairs; in how government affects your life; and in issues to do with crime. It may help you to make more sense of your rights and responsibilities as a citizen, and to gain a deeper understanding of legal issues in everyday life. The subject matter of W201 is the stuff of daily news. The course can also be studied as part of a Law degree.
For a fuller description of the course content, see the Course Description.
We would usually recommend that you study W200: Understanding Law prior to this course.
This Course Calendar shows when the assignments (TMAs) are due and how the course is organised for 2006.
This extract from the Study Guide for 2006 gives more detail about the contents of the individual units and the structure of the course.
This Assessment Guide contains 2 sample assignments from 2005. There are also some sample questions for your consideration in the "What to do first" section below.
You might like to test your level of interest in the course by trying this multiple choice quiz.
Have a look at the following questions and discussion for examples of the kinds of issues you consider on this course.
Once you have registered on a course you will have access to Learning with the OU at www.open.ac.uk/learning. This link provides information on topics such as getting started, study strategies, personal and career development, planning studies and moving on.
