Unit Outline

The Constitution is the fundamental law of our society and the fountainhead of all other powers, duties and responsibilities in our legal system. Given its status and importance, the Constitution is often at the centre of many high profile public debates and issues. Indeed, it is in the constitutional arena where the titans of our society - State and Federal governments, the Executive, politicians and corporations - resolve their disputes; most often before the High Court. The High Court also hears matters that affect the relationship between individuals and the State, defining important features such as rights and freedoms in our society. Constitutional law is relevant to all areas of law and all career paths. Lawyers must understand the Constitution because, put simply, the Constitution is the trunk from which all other laws branch. For instance, corporate law, tax, media & communications, human rights, environmental law (and even torts like defamation) find their source or limitations in the Constitution. For those of you planning a career in the public or political sectors this course will equip you with an understanding of the scope and limitations on institutional power and the capacity of the Government to operate in specific areas. Even if your planned career lies outside these paths, constitutional law will give you a much broader understanding of contemporary politics and help you make informed democratic decisions. Through this course we will teach the legal, theoretical and historical basis necessary for an informed analysis of the subject matter. Students also have an important role to play by participating in discussion and debate about the power and the politics arising from this ever relevant and always evolving area of law and practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Know and understand the rules and principles of Federal and State constitutional law, including the complex relationships between them.
2	Apply knowledge of constitutional law to contemporary problems, and reflect on the operation of constitutional law in social, economic and political contexts.
3	Present arguments addressing hypothetical constitutional problems. Communicate effectively.
4	Use feedback to inform the development of legal reasoning and writing skills.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	LAW253 Foundations of Public Law

Alterations as a result of student feedback

A small written assessment task has been created early in semester to prepare students for the more substantive tasks later in semester.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Assessment Task 1: Written Asessment	See the MyLO site for the due date	10 %	LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Assessment Task 2: Written Assessment	See the MyLO site for the due date	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Assessment Task 3: Written Assessment	See the MyLO site for the due date	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Assessment Task 4: Exam	See the MyLO site for the due date	40 %	LO1, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task 1: Written Asessment

Task Description:

Written submission

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate detailed knowledge based on the completion of readings and other required preparation, as well as a capacity to make connections between different aspects of public law	LO3, LO4
2	Demonstrate a capacity to apply and critically consider relevant legal principles and rules to hypothetical, and contemporary public law problems.	LO3, LO4
3	Engage in respectful and well-informed discussions and debates with other students	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Assessment Task 2: Written Assessment

Task Description:

Written submission

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge of relevant cases, principles and rules of federal and state constitutional law.	LO1, LO2
2	Solve hypothetical legal problems including through the application of law to facts, and the development of clear and compelling lines of reasoning.	LO3, LO4
3	Present legal arguments including by using appropriate written expression, formatting, references and conventions.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Assessment Task 3: Written Assessment

Task Description:

Written submissions

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge of relevant cases, principles and rules of federal and state constitutional law.	LO1, LO2
2	Solve hypothetical legal problems including through the application of law to facts, and the development of clear and compelling lines of reasoning.	LO3, LO4
3	Present legal arguments including by using appropriate written expression, formatting, references and conventions.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 4: Assessment Task 4: Exam

Task Description:

Exam

Task Length:

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge of relevant cases, principles and rules of federal and state constitutional law.	LO1
2	Solve hypothetical legal problems including through the application of law to facts, and the development of clear and compelling lines of reasoning.	LO3
3	Present legal arguments including by using appropriate written expression, formatting, references and conventions.	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.