LAW 1504 - Principles of Public Law

An introduction to the role and content of public law in the Australian legal system. Selected topics will include: introduction to Federal and State Constitutions, both written and in common law; historical background and theories of constitutionalism, including an introduction to the doctrine of separation of powers and the nature of legislative, executive and judicial power at both Commonwealth and State levels; the exercise of judicial power and the role of the judiciary; the roles of and interactions between courts, parliaments and the executive; representative and responsible government, including the relation of citizens and their parliaments and the structure of government administration; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the Constitution; and the protection of human rights in Australia. The course provides a foundation for Australian Constitutional Law and Administrative Law.