Law of Democracy

Subject LAWS70367 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

May, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Coordinator

Prof Samuel Issacharoff

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject will examine some of the salient issues presented in cases from Australia and around the world. Principal topics will include:

  • Representation of minorities through proportional representation and drawing of district lines for constituencies
  • Apportionment of representation and redistricting of electoral constituencies
  • Party funding and the problem of how money influences politics
  • Limitations on who can participate in elections through eligibility requirements or party membership
  • The problem of hate speech and anti-democratic organisations in the electoral process.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Understand the tension between constitutional requirements and the scope of decision making left to politics
  • Understand the tension between rights-based jurisprudence and structural reviews of democratic rules
  • Have an appreciation for the constitutional cases from many countries that address how a democracy functions
  • Have an understanding of the problem of ensuring adequate minority representation in elections designed to create democratic majorities.
Assessment: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: 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.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

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