Legislative Structure
- Law
- 700 level
- 3 credit units
- 108 pages
- 6 units
This course deals with the structure of legislative sentences and how they are linked into legislative documents. It covers the design of outline plans for Bills, focusing on techniques for composing legislative provisions. The course explores methods for organizing rules and provisions to form complete legislative instruments. It includes practical examples and self-assessment exercises to enhance understanding and application of structuring techniques.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 39 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, practical
- Practical work
- Yes
- Assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of LED609, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
LED609 · UNIT 1: General considerations/Drafting sections
The following provisions illustrate the use of subsections to contain related legal propositions in a single section, of paragraphing to differentiate cases, of the use of more that one section to cover the necessary components of the proposition.
What you should be able to do
- Order and link legislative sentences into a logical structure.
- Design a legislative plan for drafting a short Bill.
- Make effective use of paragraphing in legislative sentences.
- Determine when provisions in other legislation should be linked or incorporated.
- Explain how to organize and divide a Bill into coherent parts.
What it prepares you for
- Legal Drafter
- Legislative Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Government
- Law Firms
- Regulatory Agencies
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: Ordering and Linking Sentences in a Section
Unit 3: Ordering and linking sentences in a section
Understanding the nuances of sentence ordering and linking requires a strong grasp of grammar and logical reasoning.
- Module 4: Linking Sections
Unit 4: Linking Sections
Incorporating provisions by reference demands careful attention to detail and a thorough understanding of both the original and new contexts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: General considerations / Drafting Sections
Unit 1: General considerations / Drafting Sections · 2 hours
Read the introduction to understand the scope and objectives of the course.. Familiarize yourself with the importance of structuring legislation.. Review the basic characteristics and guidelines for structuring legislation..
- Week 2Module 1: General considerations / Drafting Sections
Unit 1: General considerations / Drafting Sections · 2 hours
Study how to approach individual sections in legislation.. Learn how to identify matters that should be covered by the same section.. Understand the considerations for section length and note selection..
- Week 3Module 2: Using Paragraphs
Unit 2: Using paragraphs · 2 hours
Examine the use of paragraphs to separate distinct elements in legislative sentences.. Identify how paragraphing can highlight sentence syntax and indicate sentence components.. Practice using paragraphs to reduce repetition and avoid ambiguity..
- Week 4Module 2: Using Paragraphs
Unit 2: Using paragraphs · 2 hours
Analyze the factors to consider when drafting paragraphs, including syntax and grammar.. Identify common flaws in paragraphing and learn how to correct them.. Apply techniques to find and fix errors in paragraphing..
- Week 5Module 3: Ordering and Linking Sentences in a Section
Unit 3: Ordering and linking sentences in a section · 2 hours
Understand how sentences should be ordered within a section for logical flow.. Learn how to link sentences in a section to maintain coherence.. Discuss the use of provisos and explore alternatives for linking sentences..
- Week 6Module 3: Ordering and Linking Sentences in a Section
Unit 3: Ordering and linking sentences in a section · 2 hours
Determine when linking words between sentences can be dispensed with.. Practice ordering and linking sentences to create rational and coherent sections.. Review examples of effective and ineffective sentence ordering and linking..
- Week 7Module 4: Linking Sections
Unit 4: Linking Sections · 2 hours
Examine the differences when linking sections compared to linking sentences.. Learn how sections can be linked using labeling definitions and linking phrases.. Understand how cross-references should be drafted for clarity and precision..
- Week 8Module 4: Linking Sections
Unit 4: Linking Sections · 2 hours
Explore the concept of incorporation by reference and its applications.. Determine when provisions from other legislation should be linked with or incorporated into a Bill.. Analyze the benefits and cautions of using referential legislation..
- Week 9Module 5: Dividing Bills
Unit 5: Dividing Bills · 2 hours
Decide when a Bill needs to be formally divided into parts and divisions.. Explain how the parts and divisions should be organized for logical flow.. Understand the conventions used for dividing Bills and expressing division headings..
- Week 10Module 5: Dividing Bills
Unit 5: Dividing Bills · 2 hours
Examine the factors that influence the form a legislative plan should take.. Learn how to design a legislative plan for drafting a short Bill.. Practice organizing and structuring legislative content effectively..
- Week 11Module 6: How to design a legislative plan
Unit 6: How to design a legislative plan · 2 hours
Explore general considerations for designing a legislative plan.. Understand the advantages of creating a legislative plan before composing detailed provisions.. Learn how to draw up a legislative plan, including grouping and ordering items..
- Week 12Module 6: How to design a legislative plan
Unit 6: How to design a legislative plan · 2 hours
Review the factors that influence the form a legislative plan should take.. Practice designing a legislative plan for drafting a short Bill.. Consolidate knowledge of organizing and structuring legislative content effectively..
- Week 13Final Revision
Final Revision · 4 hours
Review all units and assignments.. Focus on key concepts and techniques for structuring legislation.. Prepare for the final examination by revisiting self-assessment exercises..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a detailed outline of key concepts from each unit.
- Practice rewriting sections of existing legislation to improve clarity and structure.
- Focus on understanding the relationships between different sections and how they link together.
- Review all self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked assignments.
- Allocate specific time slots for revision and practice drafting.
- Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 on linking techniques.
- Practice identifying and correcting flaws in paragraphing from Units 1-2 weekly.
Questions students ask about this course
What is LED609 about?
This course deals with the structure of legislative sentences and how they are linked into legislative documents. It covers the design of outline plans for Bills, focusing on techniques for composing legislative provisions. The course explores methods for organizing rules and provisions to form complete legislative instruments. It includes practical examples and self-assessment exercises to enhance understanding and application of structuring techniques.
How many units does LED609 have?
LED609, Legislative Structure, has 6 units across 1 module, over 108 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is LED609?
LED609 carries 3 credit units, at 700 level in Law.
Is LED609 hard?
LED609 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and practical work, and it has a practical component.
How long does LED609 take to study?
About 39 hours of study, spread across its 6 units.
How is LED609 assessed?
LED609 is assessed by assignments and final examination.
What can I do with LED609?
Legal Drafter, Legislative Analyst and Policy Advisor.