Rethinking Australian Democracy and Law
Subject LAWS40084 (2012)
Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.
Credit Points: | 12.50 | ||||||||||||
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Level: | 4 (Undergraduate) | ||||||||||||
Dates & Locations: | This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012: Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Seminars. Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here. | ||||||||||||
Time Commitment: | Contact Hours: A 2-hour lecture per week. Total Time Commitment: 108 hours. | ||||||||||||
Prerequisites: | Legal Method and Reasoning; Principles of Public Law; Constitutional Law; or in each case equivalent subjects. | ||||||||||||
Corequisites: | None. | ||||||||||||
Recommended Background Knowledge: | None. | ||||||||||||
Non Allowed Subjects: | 730-421 Rethinking Democracy and the Law. | ||||||||||||
Core Participation Requirements: |
For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills, and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to providing support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/. |
Coordinator
Mr Glenn PatmoreContact
Melbourne Law School Student Centre
Email: law-studentcentre@unimelb.edu.au
Tel: +61 3 8344 4475
Subject Overview: |
This course will describe and analyse the legal rules governing Australian constitutional democracy and raise broader questions of democratic and political philosophy. Democratic principles remain vital aspirations and frame contemporary debates. How does the Constitution establish and maintain our system of democratic government? How should the law respond to challenges of re-imagining the institutions of democratic government, engaging with human rights and improving Australia’s relationship with its indigenous people?
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Objectives: |
Students will be introduced to applied political, historical and legal theory relevant to Australia. Students will become familiar with interdisciplinary approaches to public law. Students will gain a thorough knowledge of the legal framework of democracy and constitutionalism. Students' critical skills will be enhanced by dealing with a diverse subject matter, challenging legal issues and by considering the possibilities and difficulties of constitutional and democratic renewal. On completion of this subject, students should:
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Assessment: |
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Prescribed Texts: |
Blackshield and Williams, Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials (Federation Press, 4th edition 2006) (abridged edition) Other materials that students may access online:
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Recommended Texts: | Glenn Patmore, Choosing the Republic (UNSW, 2009). |
Breadth Options: | This subject is not available as a breadth subject. |
Fees Information: | Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date |
Generic Skills: |
On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
In addition, on completion of the subject, students should have developed the following skills specific to the discipline of law:
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Notes: | The essay in this subject is regarded a substantial piece of legal writing for honours purposes. |
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