6 ECTS credits
160 h study time
Offer 2 with catalog number 1002507ANR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.
This course studies the origins, development and functioning of public institutions and constitutional law in six states of paramount importance: France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Russia and China. An introductory part focuses on the development of public law, as well as relations between states. The latter are considered from a public international law, European and global history perspective. This implies the accessory treatment of other states as well.
Part I will be taught using videos (Panopto), which students will have to study by themselves. If the corona measures make it impossible to teach physically for the whole group, courses will be livestreamed. If practical exercises cannot take plase physically, they will be dispensed online through MS Teams.
Next, evolutions within the selected states are examined from the point of view of fundamental rights and freedoms, federalism and the separation of powers (trias politica). Throughout the lectures, several themes are treated (parlementarism, decentralisation, elections…), in order to provide insight in diverse state structures and legal systems, specific terminology, political and legal culture.
Lectures will be close to international news, and illustrated using primary sources (text, image, video). Students are encouraged to follow the news. Every week, a question on matters treated or scheduled to be so, is presented in the course, using PollEverywhere.
The practical exercises stimulate students to engage in discussions in small groups.
Ex cathedra teaching (75%)
Handbook can be procured from the VUbtiek.
The electronic platform Canvas provides teaching support, inter alia through an optional prerequiqite test. Part I will be taught using videos and self study.
Students are encouraged to consult the international press, which can be done for free on the internet. See the websites and apps of Le Monde, The Economist, Der Spiegel or The New York Times. Additional: consulting videos, illustrations or source texts on the internet mainly through www.europeana.eu.
If the Corona measures preclude physical teaching for the whole group, lectures will be livestreamed through Panopto.
Nine hours of evening classes are scheduled for working students. If the Corona measures make it impossible to teach physically, these classes will move to MS Teams.
Practical Exercises (25%)
Source texts, available through Canvas.
Working students take exactly the same amount of practical exercices as daytime students.
If these exercices can't take place physically, they will be offered on MS Teams.
Students engage actively in discussions with each other and can take a point of view on fundamental principles, stimulating critical reflection.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 75% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 25% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Lectures (75%)
Written exam based on open questions. 50% of marks on smaller knowledge- and comprehension questions, 50% of marks on three open questions. Duly motivated absences result in an oral replacement exam.
If the coronameasures prevent us from organising a physical exam, the exam will take place as a multiple choice test on Canvas.
Seminars (25%)
Written test at the end of the seminar cycle (20%) combined with continuous assessment during the term (5%). The test measures critical capacities as trained during the exercises (critical reflection, discussion on the basis of a self-prepared text). A resit consists of a written test measuring the critical capacities mentioned above.
If the corona measures prevent the organisation of a physical test, this will move to Canvas as a multiple choice test.
Marks obtained for the partial exam and the seminars can be transferred to the resit examination if superior to 2,5/5. If the student desires to renounce his or her earlier result, he or she will contact the teaching assistants through inbox on Canvas, at the latest on 15 July.
Seminar marks can be transferred to the following academic year if superior to 2,5/5. If a student wishes to attend seminars again, he or she has to contact the teaching assistants through inbox on Canvas, at the latest in the first week before the start of seminars.
Preceding the main resit examination, a special written test is organised. The marks obtained in this test will be regarded as the participant’s seminar marks.
Attendance and active participation during seminars is mandatory as this constitutes an integral part of the learning process guiding the student towards the desired learning results of this course module.
In case of absence, students contact the teaching assistants through inbox on Canvas. If a proof of force majeure is lacking, the student will be downgraded 0,5/20 per session unlawfully absent. If the student fails to attend any seminars without producing a legitimate justification for seminars missed, he or she will be prohibited from participating in the first exam session. Participation in the special written test will be compulsory to gain admission to the resit examination.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Laws: default (only offered in Dutch)