Constitutional Law PG (11437.1)
Please note these are the 2021 details for this unit
Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
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View teaching periods | ||
EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Business, Government & Law |
Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
Canberra Law School | Post Graduate Level | Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905) Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
This unit will provide students with an understanding of the principles of Commonwealth constitutional law. The unit examines the operation of the Constitution in its social and political context. Students will gain familiarity with the composition of Parliament; the relationship between the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary; the legal and political relationship between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories; the implications of constitutional doctrine for the rights of individuals; the significance of the Constitution for Indigenous Australians; and current debates on constitutional reform.
This unit may be co-taught with an undergraduate version of this unit.
1. Explain and evaluate Australia's adherence to fundamental constitutional principles including federalism, the rule of law, separation of powers, representative and responsible government through class discussion and persuasive writing tasks;
2. Interpret the historical background of the Constitution and assess competing theories of constitutional interpretation through group activities;
3. Apply distinctive methods of constitutional interpretation through group activities and a written problem-solving task to determine the constitutional validity of Commonwealth, State or Territory laws; and
4. Appraise the role of the Constitution and public institutions in Australia's social and political landscape through group activities and a persuasive research and writing task, including the special role of the courts, the utility of express and implied rights in the Constitution, and the potential for Indigenous reconciliation.
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Students must have passed 11431 Foundations of Laws and Justice G or equivalent.
This unit may be co-taught with an undergraduate version of this unit.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Explain and evaluate Australia's adherence to fundamental constitutional principles including federalism, the rule of law, separation of powers, representative and responsible government through class discussion and persuasive writing tasks;
2. Interpret the historical background of the Constitution and assess competing theories of constitutional interpretation through group activities;
3. Apply distinctive methods of constitutional interpretation through group activities and a written problem-solving task to determine the constitutional validity of Commonwealth, State or Territory laws; and
4. Appraise the role of the Constitution and public institutions in Australia's social and political landscape through group activities and a persuasive research and writing task, including the special role of the courts, the utility of express and implied rights in the Constitution, and the potential for Indigenous reconciliation.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
This unit is only available to students in the Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, Master of Legal Studies, Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies or Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies courses.Students must have passed 11431 Foundations of Laws and Justice G or equivalent.
Corequisites
None.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
7226 Constitutional Law GAssumed knowledge
None.Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
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Not available
Required texts
Luke Beck, Australian Constitutional Law: Concepts and Cases (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
Participation requirements
Participation is desirable, but not mandatory.
Required IT skills
None
Work placement, internships or practicums
None