MVV15468Zk Introduction to USA Law

Faculty of Law
Spring 2004
Extent and Intensity
1/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Mark Gillis, J.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Dr. Mark Gillis, J.D.
Department of Constitutional Law and Political Science – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Hana Brzobohatá
Timetable
each even Thursday 16:40–18:10 129
Prerequisites (in Czech)
NOW ( MVV15468Z Introduction to USA Law - ex. ) || MVV15468Z Introduction to USA Law - ex.
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
This course offers an overview of the common law system, its structure and main institutions, as well as the most significant doctrines and principles. If provides a basis for comparison with the European continental law systems, particularly in terms of the different legal sources that apply in each and the role of judicial decisions in each. The course material is presented primarily through lectures and the study of cases, which allows students to better understand how the common law system functions in practice and provides them the opportunity to become familiar with the method of learning law through the study of court decisions. In addition to covering the fundamental features of the case law system, the course also covers the main current features of the constitutional systems in the UK and the US such as the separation of powers, the sovereignty of Parliament and constitutional conventions in the UK, and federalism and judicial review in the US.
Syllabus
  • Overview of the Anglo-American Legal System: History, Sources of Law, Contrast to Civil Law System; Case Law System: Stare Decisis, Ratio Decidendi, and Obiter Dicta; Case Law System: Demonstration by Case Reading; UK Constitutional Order - Traditions and Present Change, Development from, and Preservation of, a Monarchical System to Responsible Government, Basic Doctrines, Sovereignty of Parliament, Problems with this doctrine: 1911 and 1949 Acts, Reform of the House of Lords, Constitutional Conventions; Present Transformation of UK Constitutional Order - Sovereignty of Parliament challenged, European Communities. ECHR and Human Rights Act. Devolution; U.S. Constitutional Order - Federalism and Constitutional Review, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Comparison with UK Parliamentary System, Federalism. Present Resurgence of Federalism Limitations on Congress; Commonwealth of Nations, Original Relationship with the UK, Statute of Westminster and Patriation of Constitutional System, The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Canada as an Example; 20th Century Jurisprudential Trends in US: Realism. Law and Economics. Critical Legal Studies
Assessment methods (in Czech)
written examination
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Credit evaluation note: 3 kredity v bloku B, 2 kredity v bloku C.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2005.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2004, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2004/MVV15468Zk