Please note: As part of a review of content, this course will be deleted from OpenLearn on 1st July 2021.This free course, The politics of devolution, which contains material from the current Open University second level Politics course DD203 Power, equality and dissent, is pitched at the intermediate level. It should take you about 8 hours to study if you attempt the recommended exercises and make summary notes of its key points. Doing so will allow you to practise the crucial academic skill of summary and prcis extracting the gist of an argument which will be of particular help if you go on to study in related areas: perhaps the related politics courses on the OpenLearn website or the Open University modules from which they come.

This free course, The Scottish Parliament and law making, explores the law making powers of the Scottish Parliament and examines its place in the UK’s constitution. It considers how, and why, laws are made by both the Scottish and UK Parliaments before exploring devolved matters, reserved matters, legislative competence, secondary legislation, and the work of MSPs and MPs. It discusses the characteristics of the constitution, the importance of the concept of the rule of law, how an Act of Parliament is structured and considers how and why members of the public are encouraged to become involved with the work of the Scottish Parliament.

This free course explores the law-making process in Scotland and considers how the legal system has been influenced by change. You consider how Scots law and lawyers have influenced advances in the law on a global, national and local scale. Throughout the course you consider how individuals and institutions have effected change. You explore how law has been used to respond to developments in society and whether it should influence them.

You consider how words and concepts such as principled, conscience, duty, justice, rights and fairness are often associated with law and their relevance in Scotland today.