This course is not currently offered, please contact the school or faculty of your program.

Course description

This course will be offered as the Level 2 POLS2116 in 2014 and will move to the Level 3 POLS3116 from 2015. Students who commenced their program prior to 2014 and who wish to obtain credit for this course as a Level 2 should enrol in this course in 2014. From 2015 students who complete this course will obtain credit as a Level 3 course. Please note: the course Levels are not interchangeable ¿ if the course is completed as a Level 2 it cannot be credited as a Level 3. This course will examine the political character of the legal system in Australia, including the political dimensions of how the courts' decision-making affects contemporary political issues. The first section of the course considers the legitimacy of the law, and the difference between formal and substantive conceptions of justice. The second section of the course considers the structure of the independent judicial system in the Australian constitutional system of governance, including the influence of international norms. The final section of the course investigates key policies and issues.