| The aim of this unit, which covers the Priestly 11 requirements, is to impart an understanding of the fundamentals of Australian federal constitutional law through the study of key concepts and institutions including constitutionalism, the rule of law, responsible and representative government, federalism, separation of powers, the Parliament, the Executive, the Judiciary, and the nature of judicial power.
Students will achieve an appropriate level of professional mastery of specific aspects of Commonwealth, State and Northern Territory constitutional structures, principles and case law; and will analyse the operation and relationships between the different arms of government (eg. inconsistency of Commonwealth and State laws, intergovernmental immunities, the distribution of fiscal powers, and the control of economic and commercial activities).
Topics examined in this unit include:
- State constitutions and constitutional systems.
- The Commonwealth Constitution and constitutional system.
- The constitution and operation of the legislature, executive and judiciary.
- The relationship between the different institutions of government and the separation of powers.
- The relationship between the different levels of government.
This unit will include a comparative transnational and/or international element, where appropriate.
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