MVV15468Z Introduction to USA Law-exercise

Faculty of Law
Spring 2003
Extent and Intensity
0/1. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Joe Vosicky (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Dr. Mark Gillis, J.D.
Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science – Faculty of Law
Timetable of Seminar Groups
MVV15468Z/01: each odd Thursday 16:40–18:10 129
MVV15468Z/02: No timetable has been entered into IS.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
NOW ( MVV15468Zk Introduction to USA Law )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Law (programme PrF, M-PPV)
Course objectives (in Czech)
This course serves as an introduction to the basic foundations of the Anglo-American legal system, in particular the origin origin of the common law, historical development, and its main components. It considers the workings of the system of precedent and gives students initial practical training in how to work with and interpret precedents. It covers the current situation of the constitutional order in the United Kingdom (such as the institution of constitutional conventions and the foundational principle of parliamentary sovereignty, as well as the gradual inroads into that traditional principle) and the United States (in particular, the separation of powers and checks and balances in the presidential system, as well as federalism, its decline and rebirth), but also makes some reference to the situation in certain Commonwealth countries. Finally, some time will be devoted to an overview of key legal fields developed by common law (contract and tort), which will afford students additional opportunity to work with case precedents.
Syllabus (in Czech)
  • 1. Overview of the Anglo-American Legal System: History, Sources of Law, Contrast to Civil Law System; 2. Case Law System: Stare Decisis, Ratio Decidendi, and Obiter Dicta; 3. Case Law System: Demonstration by Case Reading 4. UK Constitutional Order, Traditions and Present Change: Sovereignty of Parliament and Problems with this doctrine (1911 and 1949 Acts), Reform of the House of Lords, Constitutional Conventions, Development from, and Preservation of, a Monarchical System to Responsible Government; 5. Present Transformation of UK Constitutional Order, Sovereignty of Parliament challenged, European Communities, ECHR and Human Rights Act, Devolution 6. U.S. Constitutional Order: Federalism and Constitutional Review, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Comparison with UK Parliamentary System, Present Resurgence of Federalism and Limitations on Congress; 7. U.S. Court Systems and Federal Law; 8. 20th Century Jurisprudential Trends in US: Realism, Law and Economics, Critical Legal Studies 9. Commonwealth of Nations: Original Relationship with the UK, The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Statute of Westminster, Patriation of Constitutional System; 10. Tort Law 11. Contract Law.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2002, Spring 2004, Spring 2005.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2003, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2003/MVV15468Z