Constitutional law [DROIB102]
- 5 credits
- 75h+6h
- 1st and 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: French / FrançaisTeacher: Vuye Hendrik
Objectives
The objective of the constitutional law course is to enable students to acquire an understanding of the Belgian institutional landscape and the organisation of the State at all levels of power, as well as the problems that this organisation through law may entail. It includes a general introduction, an analysis of the constitutional norm, a deepening of the regime of the different political communities (State, federated entities and decentralised entities), a presentation of the hierarchy of norms and of the means of recourse open against the norms.
Content
Introduction 1. The state and the general constitutional framework ; 2. The birth of the Belgian State and the Constitution ; 3. Belgium, a federal state ; 4. The constituent power ; 5. The distribution of competences ; 6. Legislative power ; 7. The executive branch ; 8. The Constitutional Court ; 9. The courts and other constitutionality reviews ; 10. The hierarchy of norms ; 11. The public liberties of Title II of the Constitution.
Teaching methods
The course is given ex cathedra. The constitutional law course is based on current political events, which are particularly rich in this area, and encourages students to use their critical thinking skills. In addition to the course, several practical assignments are given throughout the year, organised in small groups. They allow students to deepen the subject matter of the lecture and/or to acquire transversal skills, to put theory into practice and to practice for the exam thanks to an interactive and participative teaching method. The team offers self-learning methods through which students acquire skills essential to legal studies, while developing their sense of autonomy. Innovative teaching tools are made available to them, such as the videos made by the Faculty of Law on the use of the code, on comparison, on definition, on the electoral system and on the effective reading of a text. These videos are available on the UNamur Youtube channel and/or on Webcampus. Visits to institutions are organised. Throughout the year, a project to help students succeed is set up through formative assessments, on-call sessions and information and training sessions before each examination session.
Evaluations
The evaluation takes the form of a written examination for the different sessions. The aim is to test the students' mastery of the fundamental notions studied and the practical exercises, on the one hand, and to test their ability to carry out research in the Code, on the other. The exam requires skills in memorization, manipulation of legal texts, reasoning, thinking, writing and application of the material. Students must be able to • Restate the elements of theory. • Apply these elements of theory in practice, particularly in the context of solving a case. • Master the important dates. • Finding information in legislative instruments. • Summarise, with precise and adequate vocabulary, the case law seen in the course. • Use legal vocabulary appropriately. • Write a clear, precise and complete (and linguistically correct) answer. • Fill in the relevant legal basis whenever it exists.
Recommended readings
• Slides available on Webcampus. • Practical work documents available on Webcampus. • Videos available on Webcampus and on youtube. • Additional documents, related to current events or offering useful and efficient tools to students, posted on Webcampus. • Documents related to the project of accompaniment towards success, deposited on Webcampus.
Language of instruction
French / FrançaisLocation for course
NAMUROrganizer
Faculté de droitRue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR
