Students

LAW 314 – Constitutional Law

2019 – S1 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Jemimah Roberts
Contact via jemimah.roberts@mq.edu.au
6 First Walk Rm 521
1-2pm, Monday
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
6cp in LAW or LAWS units at 200 level and (admission to LLB or BAppFinLLB or BALLB or BA-MediaLLB or BA-PsychLLB or BBALLB or BComLLB or BCom-ProfAccgLLB or BEnvLLB or BITLLB or BIntStudLLB or BMediaLLB or BPsych(Hons)LLB or BScLLB or BSecStudLLB or BSocScLLB)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit introduces students to fundamental principles of constitutional law and practice in Australia, including the basic structures of representative and responsible government, the structure and content of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia and the relationship between the Commonwealth and the States. The unit places constitutional principles and doctrines in a wider context by exploring some of the questions that arise in relation to the framework for law and government in Australia. These include: federalism; democracy and citizenship; the rule of law; parliamentary sovereignty; and the relationships among the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

General Assessment Information

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Word limits will be strictly applied and work above the word limit will not be marked. 

All assessments in the unit are to be submitted electronically. Plagiarism detection software is used in this unit.

Moderation

Detailed marking guidelines will be made available on iLearn. The convenor moderates all assessments. All Fail research essays and take-home exams are double marked.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Tutorial Participation 10% No On-going
Research Essay 40% No Monday, 29 April, 5pm
Take-Home Examination 50% No Tuesday, 18 June, 9am-1pm

Tutorial Participation

Due: On-going
Weighting: 10%

Internal and external students will be assessed on their participation in tutorial debates, problem-solving, appropriate questioning, and understanding of the materials.  This will require preparation before the tutorial – ie completing the required reading and preparing thoughts/answers to the tutorial materials.

Internal students will be assessed for participation across the session.  External students will be assessed during the on-campus session.  More information on the structure of the on-campus session will be provided before the session via iLearn.

A detailed marking guideline for tutorial participation will be provided on iLearn.  


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

Research Essay

Due: Monday, 29 April, 5pm
Weighting: 40%

Essays must be submitted in double line spaced text, 12 point font.  The word limit is 2,000 words, excluding footnotes.  Footnotes should only be used for references, with no further discussion.  Content over 2,000 words will not be marked. A bibliography should not be provided.

The essay must comply with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed).  The Guide is available here <https://law.unimelb.edu.au/mulr/aglc>

All work is to be submitted via Turnitin on iLearn.

The essay question and assessment guidance will be released via iLearn.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.

Take-Home Examination

Due: Tuesday, 18 June, 9am-1pm
Weighting: 50%

This is a take-home examination.  It will consist of two questions: one fact pattern problem, asking you to apply constitutional law to a new set of facts; one general essay question asking you to develop an argument appealing to constitutional doctrine, principles, and theory.  The questions are equally weighted. The exam can cover any material in the unit.

Students will be able to access the examination paper on iLearn from 8:45am, Tuesday 18 June (15 minutes reading time, if chosen) and must submit their answers by 1pm, Tuesday 18 June. All work is to be submitted via Turnitin on iLearn.

This is a timed assessment and no late submissions will be accepted.

A bibliography is not required.  Footnoting is not required.  Rather, a student should provide references for the examination in this manner:

e.g. ‘The High Court has held that the race power permits the Commonwealth to pass laws for the benefit or detriment of indigenous persons (Kartinyeri).’

e.g. 'As Goldsworthy argues, "[Quote]".'  OR 'As Goldsworthy argues, [paraphrase].' [Here, there is no need to reference the source.]

The word limit for the examination (including both questions) is 2,500 words.  This is a limit, rather than a target. If a complete answer is given in less than 2,500 words, that is acceptable.

Further details and assessment guidance will be provided via iLearn.

As with all Law units, Law 314 has an exception to the assessment policy allowing a take-home examination during the formal exam period.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

Delivery and Resources

Each week, one lecture or set of lectures will be pre-recorded and available to students on iLearn. A second on-site lecture will then be given on Mondays, 12-1pm.  These will take place Week 1 to Week 12. While the on-site lecture will be recorded via Echo, you are encouraged to attend in order to ask and answer questions.  The schedule of topics to be covered in the lectures, and notes on required readings, will be available in detail on iLearn.  A list of covered topics is provided below in the Unit Schedule.

Weekly one hour tutorials begin in Week 2 and finish in Week 13.  Required readings will be notified on iLearn.

External students have a compulsory two day on-campus session.  The dates are available via timetables.  The two days will mirror most of the tutorial classes.

The required text is: George Williams, Sean Brennan and Andrew Lynch, Blackshield and Williams Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials (Federation Press, 7th ed, 2018). It is available from the Macquarie University Co-op Bookshop. Additional readings will be available via iLearn or else they will be linked to a publicly available source.

Students require access to a computer and a secure and reliable internet provider.

Unit Schedule

(1) Introduction

(2) Interpretation and Federal Heads of Power

- Constitutional Interpretation; Engineers

(3) External Affairs Power

(4) Corporations Power

(5) Federalism 

- Federal Theory and Financial Relations

- State Constitutions; State and Federal Law Inconsistency

(6) Executive Power

(7) Judicial Power 1

- Separation of Powers; Chapter III; Boilermakers First Limb

(8) Judicial Power 2

- Boilermakers Second Limb; State Courts and the Incompatibility Doctrine

(9) Limits on Power 1: Express Rights and Bills of Rights

(10) Limits on Power 2: Implied Rights and Freedoms 

(11) Limits on Power 3: Freedom of Interstate Trade (s 92) and Intergovernmental Immunities

(12) Constitutional Change

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Moderation

Detailed marking guidelines will be made available on iLearn. The convenor moderates all assessments. All Fail research essays and take-home exams are double marked.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Take-Home Examination

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

Assessment tasks

  • Research Essay
  • Take-Home Examination

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Take-Home Examination

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Analyse central constitutional law concepts, structural features, and implications arising from the constitutional text.
  • Identify constitutional law principles within cases.
  • Assess different theories of constitutional interpretation and understand their relationship to different doctrinal positions.
  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.
  • Apply constitutional law to new fact problems.

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Participation
  • Research Essay
  • Take-Home Examination

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Evaluate what is necessary for a constitution, assessing current deficiencies and strengths in the Commonwealth Constitution.

Assessment tasks

  • Tutorial Participation
  • Research Essay

Changes from Previous Offering

Please note that there is a new set textbook for this session (2019) and going forward. The new text is:

George Williams, Sean Brennan and Andrew Lynch, Blackshield and Williams Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials (Federation Press, 7th ed, 2018)

Changes since First Published

Date Description
24/04/2019 Please note that following faculty approval due to an exam clash, the date for the final take-home exam has been changed to Tuesday, 18 June 9am - 1pm.