The University of New South Wales

go to UNSW home page

Handbook Home

PRINT THIS PAGE
Public Law - LAWS1140
Law Books

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 3
 
 
EFTSL: 0.06250 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Currently enrolled in a program in the Faculty of Law.
 
 
Excluded: JURD7140
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
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 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
  • 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.

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.