Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module, diligent students should:
1. have gained a general knowledge of comparative law and comparative constitutional law methodologies and approaches;
2. be able to relate Irish (or another referent system) legal system and constitutional (and political) experience to a broader range of legal and constitutional systems;
3. have acquired research skills in comparative law and comparative constitutional studies;
4. have developed the ability to express themselves on comparative law and comparative constitutional legal issues in writing, and orally through the presentation of a group project;
5. have further developed the ability to work individually and as part of a group.
Diligent students should also be able to study in situ (face to face) or remotely (online) using appropriate technological means including Brightspace.
Indicative Module Content:
Substantively, the course falls into three parts: examination of Comparative law methodology (first part); examination of comparative constitutional law methodology; exploration of key constitutional issues in a comparative perspective such as constitutional foundations (i.e., definition and classification of constitutions, constitutional design and reform), the organisation of power (i.e., principle of democracy, separation of powers principle, national sovereignty, parliamentary and presidential systems, federal and unitary states), aspects of constitutional justice (i.e., structure and role of the judiciary, rights of citizens with models of rights protection, comparative forms of judicial review) (second part) in order to help with the writing of the group project (third part).
Guest speakers specialised in the comparative study of law may be invited to deliver a guest seminar as part of the trimester schedule.