Constitutional Law and Theory of State

The aim of this PhD program is to deepen knowledge of constitutional law, constitutional theory, theory of the state, and doctrinal as well as social science methods of legal research. PhD program in Constitutional Law makes the student familiar with the place of Constitutional Law in the legal system (term, subject, sources), with theory of constitution and values on which is based, with constitutional bases of state form (territory of organization, state regime, state authority), legal order and legal system (law formation, legal regulations, publication of legal regulations, relation of Constitutional, International and Transnational law, constitutional bases of law interpretation), with law regulation of state authority and its organization (division of powers, particular constitutional bodies, their position, rules, elections), with bases of relation of state and an individual (citizenship, human rights and freedoms, their protection, constitutional bases of position of foreigners). Mastering the Constitutional Law of the Czech Republic assumes the detailed knowledge of theory of state and political science as general basis. The common denominator of the doctoral study in the discipline of Constitutional Law is learning the methods of scientific work, as well as critical legal thinking during the analysis of practical problems of Constitutional Law with regard to legislation and judicature of the Czech Republic and in other countries.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the graduate is able to:

• Be familiar with constitutional law and political science, relevant literature and case law, and be able to process and interpret them further.
• Evaluate current trends in constitutional law and political science, particularly in the specific area in which the graduate will prepare their dissertation.
• Sort and compile the data obtained, interpret the results achieved, present your findings, and defend them in the appropriate forum.
• Compare specific methods of legal analysis and understand their application.
• Develop, evaluate, and formulate theories, concepts, and methods in multidisciplinary legal research.
• Evaluate new knowledge and ideas, taking into account the long-term social consequences of their use.

Graduates of the program can work primarily as academic or scientific staff (post-docs) at universities – not only in the Czech Republic, but also in comparable positions abroad.

The program also provides its graduates with competencies usable outside the academic sphere in positions requiring insight into constitutional law issues with a comparative overlap (analytical departments of courts, governmental and other public authorities, international law offices, EU institutions and the Council of Europe).

Practical training is not a part of the course of study.

The content and formal requirements concerning theses in the current doctoral degree programs are regulated by the regulation of the Doctoral Council of 27 June 2014. The text of this regulation is available