Contemporary Issues in Constitutional Law (LLM502)

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate a command of, and coherent understanding of, the detailed principles and cases in the selected individual contemporary topics in Australian constitutional law;
2. refine and apply legal skills of constitutional interpretation, characterisation and recognition of the constitutional judicial role in selected individual contemporary topics in Australian constitutional law;
3. critically analyse majority and minority High Court judgements concerning selected constitutional provisions and principles with a clear appreciation of the present development, identifiable and likely consequences of the decisions and possible future evolution of constitutional law;
4. develop a clear and critical appreciation of the interrelationship of the High Court's final interpretive role with the scope of Parliamentary and Executive Power in Australia and their relationship to both the citizen and in the continuing evolution of Federal and State legal and political relations;
5. appreciate the legal, political, public policy and historical contexts and interests in which High Court constitutional adjudication occurs; and
6. appreciate the range of judicial choices available in constitutional adjudication and development and the formative influences upon High Court justices in discharging their Chapter III judicial role, including interpretive constitutional reform in that role.