Outline

Overview

This unit of study is designed to introduce students to the principles and structures that underpin constitutional and administrative law in Australia. It is broader than either of these subjects because its focus is on generic issues of governance and accountability. The central theme of this unit is the accountability of government to the people, under the Australian constitutional system of representative and responsible government. The focus is on understanding the types of public power that exist under the Australian Constitution, identifying limits on those powers, the source/s of those limits and the legal avenues for challenging the purported exercise of those powers. We begin with an introduction to the Constitution, its history, and the structures established by it, together with consideration of how to change both State and Commonwealth Constitutions. The unit of study then moves to consider the three arms of government and related concepts. In relation to the legislature, the focus is on understanding the system of representative government. The discussion of the executive focuses on the different forms of non-statutory executive power. After addressing the source and scope of the executive power, we then move to look at different mechanisms for holding the executive to account: freedom of information; rule making accountability and integrity bodies. The consideration of judicial power focuses on the separation of judicial power and institutional integrity of the courts.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	LAWS5007
Academic unit	Law
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	LAWS1021
Prerequisites ?	LAWS5000
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Rayner Thwaites, rayner.thwaites@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Lukas Opacic, lukas.opacic@sydney.edu.au
	Rayner Thwaites, rayner.thwaites@sydney.edu.au
	Joel Harrison, joel.harrison@sydney.edu.au
	Grant Hooper, grant.hooper@sydney.edu.au
	Anne Twomey, anne.twomey@sydney.edu.au
	Elisa Arcioni, elisa.arcioni@sydney.edu.au
	Ghena Krayem, ghena.krayem@sydney.edu.au
	Peter Chiam, peter.chiam@sydney.edu.au
	Emily Hammond, emily.hammond@sydney.edu.au
	James Murphy, james.murphy@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Take-home short release)	Final exam 3 hours (plus 30 minutes reading time) final exam	70%	Formal exam period	3 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interim Short Release Assignment Written 2-part assignment: a problem and a short essay.	30%	Mid-semester break Due date: 28 Sep 2021 at 12:00 Closing date: 18 Oct 2021	2000 words; 4 days & 18 hours
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Interim assessment: The assignment will assess material covered in Topics 1-5. It will comprise a problem and a short essay/short answer. The word limit is 2,000 words. Released at 6pm on Thurs 23 September, due at 12 noon on Tues 28 September. Standard outcome of special consideration will be an extension, not a replacement assessment. No extensions granted past closing date: 12 noon Mon 18 October.
Final exam: Learning outcomes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are assessed: (i) in relation to the material covered in topics 1-10, weighted to topics 6-10; (ii) through an exam comprising two problems. The word limit is 3,500 words.

A student must make a satisfactory attempt at all assessment tasks set out for this unit in order to obtain a pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study. Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Completely answers the question. Contains striking originality of approach or analysis. Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required). Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed. Is otherwise exceptional in some way.
Distinction	75 - 84	Completely answers the question. Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues. Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument. Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument. Generally well expressed and free from errors. Has a clear structure and is well articulated.
Credit	65 - 74	Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question. Contains no significant errors. Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues. Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues. Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.
Pass	50 - 64	Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument. Contains some significant errors. Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues. Offers a descriptive summary of material relevant to the question. Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase. Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis. Adequate expression. Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.
Fail	0 - 49	Does not answer the question. Contains significant or numerous errors. Few or no identifiable arguments. Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant. Lack of research or analysis. Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure. Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Interim Assignment: The late submission of an assignment which has not been granted an extension will attract a penalty of 6 marks (20% of 30 marks) per day or part thereof. Final exam: Online exam deadlines are strictly applied. Late exam submissions will not be marked.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Key themes	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 01	Colonial origins; steps to independence	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	M&F restrictions on State legislative power	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	Constitutional amendment; M&F Practice Problems	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	The people and the Constitution	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	A representative parliament	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	A representative parliament (cont.); Practice Problems	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 06	Revision Practice Problem; A responsible executive	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 07	Non-statutory executive powers	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 09	Oversight of the executive; Practice Problems	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 10	An independent judicial power	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 11	An independent judicial power (cont.)	Seminar (4 hr)
Week 12	Practice Problems	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Revision class	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: All students are required to attend 70% of classes (or as otherwise specified by the Unit Coordinator) to satisfy the pass requirements for each unit of study. Attendance requirements may be satisfied by online attendance as specified by the Unit Coordinator. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a student being precluded from sitting the final assessment.

Word count penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will not be read beyond the word limit. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude bibliography; footnote numbers; footnote citation; cover page and include body text; headings and sub-headings; quotations; anything other than numbers and citations in footnotes.

Referencing guidelines: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer, and a link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this Unit can be accessed through Canvas on the Reading List tab.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the substantive content and operation of public law at the State and federal levels through a detailed examination of selected topics.
LO2. Identify and apply fundamental public law principles to factual situations to resolve legal problems.
LO3. Demonstrate an appreciation of the historical development of Australia's Constitution and its relevance to current public law issues.
LO4. Demonstrate the development of analytical skills, critical judgment and the ability to draw relevant distinctions in applying the law to fact situations.
LO5. Demonstrate the development of legal writing skills through the written articulation of how to resolve legal problems.
LO6. Demonstrate an appreciation of the legal, social and political context in which the Constitution operates and constitutional reform occurs.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback is taken into account each year in revising the unit of study and how it operates.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

LAWS5007: Public Law

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect