MP110Zk Theory of State

Faculty of Law
Autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. JUDr. David Kosař, Ph.D., LL.M., J. S. D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Alžbeta Králová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Jan Petrov, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
JUDr. Bc. Zuzana Vikarská, MJur, MPhil, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. Ladislav Vyhnánek, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
JUDr. Marie Zámečníková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. PhDr. Robert Zbíral, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Bc. Jan Petrov, Ph.D., LL.M.
Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Andrea Špačková, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science – Faculty of Law
Timetable
Mon 21. 9. to Fri 18. 12. Tue 8:00–9:40 014
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
MP110Zk/01: Mon 28. 9. to Fri 18. 12. each odd Wednesday 18:00–19:40 148
MP110Zk/02: Mon 28. 9. to Fri 18. 12. each even Wednesday 18:00–19:40 148
Prerequisites
!NOWANY( MP121Zk Theory of State )
No prerequisites.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 57/40
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The course equips students with the knowledge of basic institutions of the state and fundamental concepts of public law (in order to prepare them for the study of constitutional law in the next term). The course focuses not only on their theoretical dimension but also on real-world significance. Students also develop basic skills for the study of law and legal profession - reading and analyzing legal documents, digesting information from longer legal texts, note-taking and case briefing, critical thinking, etc.
Learning outcomes
As for the substantive knowledge, at the end of the course the student will:
- understand the fundamental notions of theory of state and constitutional law;
- understand the structure and functions of modern state;
- be able to characterise the constitution, constitutionalism, democracy, self-government and their forms, the rule of law, and the separation of powers;
- understand the basics of human rights protection.
Key topics
    • The following topics will be covered in lectures and discussed in seminars:
    • the state and its purpose, the state and the society;
    • constitutionalism, positive and negative;
    • democracy, elections, electoral systems;
    • sovereignty, international cooperation;
    • subsidiarity, self-governance;
    • separation of powers, checks & balances;
    • state regimes, forms of state, forms of government;
    • rule of law vs. rule of men;
    • civil society and non-state actors;
    • parliaments, parliamentarism, law-making;
    • executive power, head of state, state administration;
    • judiciary & constitutional review;
    • human rights protection, domestic and international.
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • BARBER, N. W. The principles of constitutionalism. Oxford: OUP, 2018 (selected chapters)
  • BELLAMY, R., KING, J. (eds.). The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory. Cambridge: CUP, 2025 (selected chapters).)
    recommended literature
  • FILIP, Jan and Jan SVATOŇ. Státověda (Theory of State and Politics). 5th ed. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2011, 264 pp. ISBN 978-80-7357-685-1. URL info
  • RESCHOVÁ, Jana; Miluše KINDLOVÁ; Jan GRINC; Ondřej PREUSS and Marek ANTOŠ. Státověda : stát, jednotlivec, konstitucionalismus. Vydání první. Praha: Wolters Kluwer ČR, 2019, xxxiii, 44. ISBN 9788075526953. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
12 lectures and 6 seminars; the seminars require active in-class participation and prior preparation (readings, position papers).
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
The evaluation is based on student activity in seminars (40 % weight) and the final exam (60 %  weight).
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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