LAW2111 - Constitutional law - 2018

The unit examines the Victorian and Commonwealth Constitutions; advanced principles regarding separation of judicial powers at State and Commonwealth levels; Australian federalism and inter-governmental relations, including the distribution of legislative and fiscal powers between the Commonwealth and the States, inconsistency of laws, and intergovernmental immunities; some principal Commonwealth legislative powers; limitations on governmental power, including selected express and implied constitutional rights and freedoms; and critical analysis of techniques and principles of constitutional interpretation.

At the successful completion of this Unit students will be able to:

1. Describe, discuss and analyse Commonwealth and State constitutional law and practice.
2. Evaluate judgements on Australian constitutional cases demonstrating particular attention to the interpretive techniques used and the principles/policies underlying the judgements and doctrines.
3. Assess the constitutional validity of Commonwealth and Victorian legislation and executive actions.
4. Evaluate and apply constitutional law and interpretative principles of constitutional law to generate appropriate legal responses.

1. Tutorial attendance: 5%
2. Tutorial participation: 10%
3. Written Assignment (1,250 words): 25%
4. Final Examination (2 hours writing time plus 30 minutes reading and noting time): 60%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information