Constitutional Law in Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

• Understand the way in which constitutional disputes arise
• Have an overview of the issues involved in the management of constitutional litigation
• Be familiar with the documentation used in constitutional litigation
• Be familiar with the remedies for relief in constitutional litigation and their potential use
• Understand the doctrinal impediments to litigation: Jurisdiction of courts, standing, justiciability
• Understand and be able to analyse and apply the principles of constitutional interpretation used by the High Court
• Understand the relevance of international and comparative law in constitutional litigation
• Be familiar with oral advocacy techniques in the High Court
• Be familiar with the consequences of invalidity of legislation in particular contexts.

Syllabus:

The objectives of the subject will be pursued through a series of lectures (including expert guest lecturers) and case studies. Principal topics will include:

• Initiating a constitutional case
• Bases of jurisdiction
• Remedies
• Applications for special leave
• Written submissions
• Oral argument
• Use of comparative and international materials
• Interpretation and overruling
• Interventions and amicus curiae
• Consequences of invalidity.

The case studies will be based on recent major constitutional litigation before the High Court. Issues to which attention will be paid in relation to each case study include:

• The basis of the decision to litigate
• Any impediments to litigation
• The jurisdiction of the High Court, including the need for special leave
• Standing
• Justiciability
• The choice of remedy or remedies
• Forensic strategy
• Methodology of the High Court, as revealed by decision
• Reflection on the nature of judicial review.

• Practical exercise (100%) (7 September)
  • Alternatively, with special permission from the subject coordinator, a research paper 10,000 words (100%) (15 October) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

• Understand the way in which constitutional disputes arise
• Have an overview of the issues involved in the management of constitutional litigation
• Be familiar with the documentation used in constitutional litigation
• Be familiar with the remedies for relief in constitutional litigation and their potential use
• Understand the doctrinal impediments to litigation: Jurisdiction of courts, standing, justiciability
• Understand and be able to analyse and apply the principles of constitutional interpretation used by the High Court
• Understand the relevance of international and comparative law in constitutional litigation
• Be familiar with oral advocacy techniques in the High Court
• Be familiar with the consequences of invalidity of legislation in particular contexts.

Syllabus:

The objectives of the subject will be pursued through a series of lectures (including expert guest lecturers) and case studies. Principal topics will include:

• Initiating a constitutional case
• Bases of jurisdiction
• Remedies
• Applications for special leave
• Written submissions
• Oral argument
• Use of comparative and international materials
• Interpretation and overruling
• Interventions and amicus curiae
• Consequences of invalidity.

The case studies will be based on recent major constitutional litigation before the High Court. Issues to which attention will be paid in relation to each case study include:

• The basis of the decision to litigate
• Any impediments to litigation
• The jurisdiction of the High Court, including the need for special leave
• Standing
• Justiciability
• The choice of remedy or remedies
• Forensic strategy
• Methodology of the High Court, as revealed by decision
• Reflection on the nature of judicial review.

• Practical exercise (100%) (7 September)
  • Alternatively, with special permission from the subject coordinator, a research paper 10,000 words (100%) (15 October) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)