UNSW Handbook Course - Public Law

Public Law - JURD7140


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: Faculty of Law
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Postgraduate
	Units of Credit: 3
	EFTSL: 0.06250 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: Academic Program must be 9150.
	Excluded: LAWS1140
	CSS Contribution Charge:Band 3 (more info)
	Tuition Fee:See Tuition Fee Schedule
	Further Information: See Class Timetable

Description

This course aims to introduce students to the study of public law, including its methods of reasoning, history and fundamental principles. It asks students to engage with introductory principles and theories of constitutional and administrative law as they apply to the essential features of our system of government. Specific topics which students will be required to learn and analyse include the Westminster System, Federation, Indigenous Peoples and the Question of Sovereignty, the Federal Parliament, the Separation of Powers, Human Rights and Bills of Rights. This course introduces students to concepts which are crucial to their later study of Administrative Law and Federal Constitutional Law, and associated electives.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, students will have developed:

An understanding of core public law principles
Knowledge of the Australian system of government
A preliminary grasp of constitutional and administrative law frameworks
An appreciation of topical arguments in favour of and against various proposals for public law reform
An ability to cogently discuss these concepts in a scholarly and persuasive manner

Main Topics

Introduction and Constitution Exercise
Constitutionalism, Coups and Judicial Review
The Westminster System
Dicey, Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Rule of Law
Federation to Popular Sovereignty
Indigenous Peoples and the Question of Sovereignty
Voting Rights and Election to the Federal Parliament
State Constitutions
The Executive
The Separation of Judicial Power
Human Rights and Bills of Rights

Assessment

Class participation - 20%
Mid-semester progress exercise - 0%
Final exam - 80%

Course Texts

Prescribed
Tony Blackshield and George Williams, Australian Constitutional Law & Theory: Commentary and Materials (5th ed, Federation Press, 2010)

Recommended
Refer to Course Outline provided by lecturer.

Order from UNSW Bookshop

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.