MP110Zk Theory of State

Faculty of Law
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Ing. Mgr. Jaroslav Benák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. JUDr. Jan Filip, CSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Pavel Kandalec, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
prof. JUDr. David Kosař, Ph.D., LL.M., J. S. D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. Zdeněk Koudelka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Alžbeta Králová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. Mgr. Pavel Molek, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Jan Petrov, Ph.D., LL.M. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. Vojtěch Šimíček, Ph.D. (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)
Patrick Casey Leisure, J.D., LL.M. (seminar tutor)
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 22. 9. to Fri 19. 12. Tue 8:00–9:40 025
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
MP110Zk/01: Mon 29. 9. to Fri 19. 12. each odd Wednesday 18:00–19:40 131, J. Petrov
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 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 19/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The aims of the course are twofold: to equip students with some fundamental notions of public law (in order to prepare them for the study of constitutional law in the next semester) & to develop various skills necessary for legal studies and legal profession, most notably reading skills, ability to digest information from a given text, ability to take notes, critical thinking, ability to respond to a given topic with a short reaction paper.
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;
- 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. First edition published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2018, xii, 276. ISBN 9780198808145. info
    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 absolutely require active approach of students, i.e. their prior preparation (readings, position papers) and participation in class discussion.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Students will be evaluated in all 6 seminars, their ongoing active participation will represent 40 % of the final grade. The remaining 60 % will be determined in a final exam at the end of term.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
I look forward to our regular meetings!
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/autumn2025/MP110Zk