Law of Political Money

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The regulation of money in politics raises challenging questions for liberal democracies, implicating contested understandings of equality, liberty, corruption and the role of political parties. This subject will adopt a cross-national approach to understanding the regulation of political money by examining various countries, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Taught by two leading experts in this field, the subject will draw out the tensions and dilemmas in regulating money in politics.

Principal topics will include:

• Key principles and theories relating to the regulation of political money
• The regulation of:
  • Private funding in politics
  • Public funding in politics
  • Political spending
• Constitutional issues relating to the regulation of political money
• The challenge of effectively enforcing such regulation.

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:

• Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the key principles and theories relating to the regulation of political money in various countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States;
• Be able critically apply these principles and theories to a range of contexts;
• Undertake advanced research into the regulation of political money – such research is expected to demonstrate:
  • Expert skills in researching this topic;
  • A mastery of the complex body of knowledge relating to this topic; and
  • An advanced ability to communicate such knowledge.

10,000 word research paper (100%) (10 July) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.