Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts (Volume 3 page 126)
Legal Studies subject : Next:733-103 | Search | Help
Credit points: 12.5 1st year
Coordinator: Roger Hawthorn.
Contact: Two 1-hour lectures and one 1-hour tutorial each week.
Timetable: First semester
Objectives:
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- understand the origins and structure of the Australian legal system, the historical development of the common law, the impact of the reception of British law into Australia, analyse judicial precedents and demonstrate an awareness of how the law develops through cases and judicial decision-making using aboriginal land rights as an example;
- evaluate the significance of the personal values, gender and socio-economic background of judges in the law-making process;
- understand the institutional structure of Australian government and the significance of the Constitution and the High Court within that structure;
- identify the ways in which individual human rights may be protected by constitutional law and through international treaties.
Content:
The origins and structure of the Australian legal system. The Australian Constitution and the system of representative government. Law making by parliament and the courts. Gender, values and law-making by the judges. The role of the High Court. A comparison between the Australian and U. S. Constitutions. The protection of individual human rights by constitutional and international law.
Assessment:
Written work 2,000 words (50%) and a 2-hour final examination (50%).
Prescribed texts:
Legal Studies subject : Next:733-103 | Search | Help
Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Arts (Volume 3 page 126)
Status: Official 1996 Date created: Oct 9 1995 Last modified: Oct 9 1995 Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Maintained by: Legal Studies, Faculty of Law.
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.