UNSW Handbook Course - Principles of Public Law

Principles of Public Law - LAWS8126


	Faculty: Faculty of Law
	School: Faculty of Law
	Course Outline: See below
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Postgraduate
	Units of Credit: 6
	EFTSL: 0.12500 (more info)
	Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9220, 9231, 5750 or 5231.
	Excluded: LAWS8274
	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 and Constitutional Change.

Credited Programs

Please note this course is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Legal Studies, Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies, Master of Business Law or
Graduate Diploma in Business Law

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Learning Outcomes

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

Constitutionalism and the Fiji crisis
The Westminster system
Federation to popular sovereignty
Indigenous peoples and the question of sovereignty
The Australian federal system
The Federal Parliament
The separation of judicial power
State constitutions
The executive
Human rights and Bills of Rights
Changing the constitution and the republic

Assessment

Research Essay 30%
Exam 50%
Class Participation 20%

Course Texts

To be advised

Resources

Refer to the course outline which will be provided by the lecturer at the beginning of the semester.

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© 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.