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Important Dates

Program Dates: March 8 - 16, 2025

Application Deadline: November 15, 2024

Deadline to Commit to the Program: November 20, 2024

Withdrawal Deadline: November 20, 2024

Final Program Fee Deadline: The program fee will be billed to your Kent State student account. The program fee deadline will be in accordance with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's Spring 2025 payment due dates. You should refer to the first Spring 2025 due date.

• Open to all KSU students and Non-KSU guest students
• Minimum 2.0 GPA

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

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’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s 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 Sèvres 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’s Tower, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford, and enjoy its stunning 360° 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’s Chapel. Explore the austere confines of the 18th-century Debtors’ 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’s 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’s 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’s 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’s 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’s Robing Room, Royal Gallery, Prince’s Chamber, Lords Chamber, Moses Room, Central Lobby, Members’ Lobby, Aye Lobby, Commons Chamber, St Stephen’s 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’t 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

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.’s 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 – museums, galleries, theater, iconic landmarks, street markets, pubs, trendy cafes – 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. 

The cost for accommodation is included in the fee. Students will stay in double-occupancy hotel rooms, with wireless internet included.

Breakfast each day plus a welcome and farewell dinner are included in the program fee. Students will be responsible for all other meals and snacks.