KEY TERMS .............................................................

     

 

  KEY  TERMS  ...................................................................................................................................................................................  3   COURSE  THEMES  .........................................................................................................................................................................  4   NATURE  OF  LAW  .......................................................................................................................................................................  10   POLITICAL  PHILOSOPHY  OF  LIBERALISM  ........................................................................................................................  12   COMMON  LAW  SYSTEM:  ORIGIN  AND  SOURCES  .............................................................................................................  16   AUSTRALIAN  CONSTITUTIONALISM  ..................................................................................................................................  19   PARLIAMENT  AND  LEGISLATIVE  PROCESSES  .................................................................................................................  21   LEGISLATIVE  INTERPRETATION  I    .....................................................................................................................................  27   LEGISLATIVE  INTERPRETATION  II  .....................................................................................................................................  36   THE  COURT  SYSTEM    ...............................................................................................................................................................  39   PRECEDENT,  LEGAL  CHANGE  AND  JUDICIAL  DECISION  MAKING  .............................................................................  43   ROLE  OF  THE  LAWYER  AND  ETHICS  ..................................................................................................................................  49   LIMITS  OF  LIBERALISM  ..........................................................................................................................................................  52        

 

                                           

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    KEY  TERMS  

Liberalism   Rule  of  Law   Separation  of  Powers  

Egalitarianism   Utilitarianism   Deontological   Teleological   Negative  Liberty   Positive  Liberty  

  The  rights  of  the  individual  come  before  the  rights  of   the  state/collective.  Equality  in  the  legal  system.   Courts  are  bound  to  follow  the  decisions  made  by   courts  before  them,  and  must  uphold  decisions  made   by  higher  courts.   Those  who  make  the  law  should  not  be  the  same  as   those  who  enforce  the  law.  With  this  in  mind,  there  are   three  separate  arms  of  government:  executive,   (crown),  who  are  in  charge  of  implementing  the  law,   judiciary,  (courts),  who  are  in  charge  of  applying  the   law,  and  the  legislative,  (parliament),  who  are   responsible  for  making  the  law.   All  humans  are  fundamentally  equal  and  should  have   the  same  political,  economic,  social  and  civil  rights.  It  is   essentially  a  reflection  of  the  natural  state  of  humanity.   So  long  as  actions  are  for  the  benefit  of  a  majority  of   people,  it  is  the  right  option.  Greatest  good  for  the   greatest  number  of  people.   Ethical  position  that  judges  follow  the  rule/s  as  it  is   their  duty  and  obligation  morally  to  do  so.  Libertarian   perspective.  INDIVIDUAL  COMES  FIRST.   The  ends  justify  the  means,  so  long  as  there  is  the   greatest  good  for  the  greatest  number.    SOCIETY   COMES  FIRST.   Freedom  from  interference  by  others,  (governmental   power),  and  encompasses  all  that  is  the  ‘free  man.’   Freedom  to  fulfill  ones  own  potential,  uninhibited  by   ones  self.  

             

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COURSE  THEMES     Legal  Liberalism:     Legal  liberalism  is  a  political  and  legal  theory,  which  indicates  that  politics   should  be  constrained  by  legal  constitutional  boundaries,  meaning  that,   while  the  law  can  be  changed,  courts  are  bound  to  follow  decisions  made  by   courts  higher  in  the  hierarchy.  It  is  related  very  strongly  to  the  rule  of  law.     Judges  should  base  their  decisions  on  the  law  as  it  is,  and  not  incorporate   personal  political  interests  and  beliefs.     Legal  liberalism  ensures  that  decisions  by  the  court  are  fair  and  equitable,  by   keeping  procedures  consistent  across  all  cases.  All  accusations  must  be  backed   up  by  evidence,  and  the  accused  party  must  have  the  ability  to  defend   themselves.  With  this  in  mind,  there  is  always  the  opportunity  for  them  to  be   acquitted.       With  all  this  in  mind,  it  means  that  the  rights  of  the  individual  are  put  before   the  rights  of  the  state.    As  liberalism  is  an  ideal,  it  means  that  while  society  may   accept  what  it  stands  for,  sometimes  in  practice  it  falls  slightly  short  of  liberal   outcomes.       Thomas  Hobbes  and  John  Locke  developed  two  theories  regarding  liberalism   and  the  social  contract.  While  they  were  similar  in  some  respects,  both  had  a   different  focus.  Thomas  Hobbes’  theory  promoted  a  life  without  government,  and   used  natural  law  as  a  backing.  We  have  a  right  to  everything  and  can  do  anything   because  we  are  human.  A  social  contract  exists  that  the  ascension  of    natural   rights  occur  in  return  for  protection.  Hobbes  encompassed  the  importance  of  a   powerful  sovereign,  in  accordance  with  the  pleasure/pain  principle  –  people   want  to  seek  pleasure  and  avoid  suffering  pain.  We  cannot  be  completely  in   control,  however  it  is  better  to  have  a  powerful  sovereign  than  a  governmental   body.       John  Locke,  however,  focused  primarily  on  the  rights  to  land,  and  the  role  of  the   individual  as  rational,  moral  and  free  beings.  Human  nature  is  inherently  selfish,   and  we  fear  each  other.  The  government  should  have  a  limited  role,  only  to  the   extent  necessary  to  preserve  the  life  and  property  of  the  individual.  There  is  a   distinct  separation  of  government  from  monarchy.                        

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Constitutionalism  and  the  Separation  of  Powers:     The  Australian  parliament  system  means  that  those  who  make  the  law  are  not   the  same  people  as  those  who  enforce  it.  There  are  three  separate  ‘arms’  of   government;  the  executive,  the  legislature  and  the  judiciary.   Judiciary:     Executive:   Legislative:   Courts.  They  are  in   Crown.  They  are   Parliament.  They  are  in   charge  of  administering   responsible  for  the   charge  of  making  the   justice,  and  applying  the   implementation  of  laws   law,  and  ensuring  that  all   law  to  cases,  through  the   and  regulation.  While   other  parties  abide  by   doctrine  of  precedent.  It   parliament  may  make  the   the  law.  It  is  the  role  of   is  their  job  to  interpret   law,  it  is  for  the  crown  to   parliament  to  set  the   the  laws  and  uphold  the   decide  whether  to  pass  it,   precedent  for  other   constitution  and  the  rule   in  order  to  make  it   courts  to  follow  and   of  law.  They  are  the  ones   enforceable.   obey.   who  hear  evidence  and   punish  offenders.  Courts   are  the  regulators  of  the   government.  Determine   the  power  of  parliament   and  the  crown.     The  High  Court  of  Australia  is  essentially  the  guardian  of  the  Constitution,  as  well   as  the  primary  interpreter.  It  is  the  cornerstone  that  holds  the  Australian  legal   system  together.   Judicial  Activism  is  the  nation  that  in  deciding  a  case,  the  judges  may  reform  the   law  if  the  existing  principles  or  rules  appear  to  be  effective.  This  goes  against  the   doctrine  of  precedent.  Merely  because  judges  make  the  law,  does  not  mean  that   they  are  justified  in  becoming  judicial  activists.  They  can,  instead,  extend  the  law   through  the  development  of  pre-­‐existing  legal  principles.  This  is  also  to  ensure   that  the  personal  opinions  of  the  judges  presiding  over  the  case  are  not   incorporated.     Judicial  Restraint,  however,  is  the  opposite.  It  is  a  theory  that  encourages  judges   to  limit  the  exercise  of  their  own  powers.  Judges  should  consult  the  legislature   and  past  cases  to  make  a  decision,  and  should  hesitate  before  eliminating  laws,   unless  they  are  obviously  unconstitutional.     The  powers  of  federal  parliament  are  somewhat  limited  by  both  the  executive   and  the  rule  of  law.  While  it  is  the  role  of  federal  parliament  to  regulate  state   parliaments,  sections  of  Australian  federal  policies  demonstrate  that  decisions   made  are  “subject  to  the  Constitution”  and  “exclusive  to  the  Commonwealth.”     The  Australian  Constitutional  Government  is  a  hybrid  system,  which   incorporates  aspects  of  the  British  Colonial  system  and  USA  constitutional   system.  They  act  within  the  rule  of  law,  applying  judicial  measures  and   interpretations  in  order  to  dictate  the  boundaries  of  State  power,  as  well  as  in   the  development  and  implementation  of  laws  and  procedures.      

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Formalism  and  the  Rule  of  Law     Formalism  argues  that  law  is  separate  from  all  other  rules  and  principles   implemented  by  other  political  and  social  institutions.  This  being  said,  there  has   to  be  some  sort  of  relationship  between  the  law  and  other  facets,  such  as  religion   and  economics.  Such  values  are  more  especially  used  when  establishing  whether   the  decision  is  reasonable.       The  rule  of  law,  on  the  other  hand,  applies  the  law  to  every  person.  It  establishes   that  no  person  is  above  the  law,  and  every  citizen  is  subject  to  the  law.  This   comes  into  some  conflict,  particularly  with  religious  law.  The  rule  of  law   however  does,  as  a  whole,  separate  law  from  other  factions,  however   components  of  it  can  still  be  called  into  question.     Law  is  not,  however,  truly  neutral.  Particularly  in  terms  of  Indigenous  Australian   laws,  as  reflected  within  the  Mabo  case,  law  can  be  manipulated  in  order  to  favor   the  interests  of  a  particular  party.  The  rights  for  land  and  property  in  particular   are  contentious,  when  both  parties  can  potentially  have  a  partial  claim.    The   Mabo  case  was  one  in  which  the  justices  did  not  agree,  particularly  regarding   native  title.     Formal  equality  is  when  two  people,  with  equal  status,  come  into  dispute  they   must  be  treated  equally.  It  is  the  absence  of  direct  discrimination,  and  is  a  basic   approach  to  equality  of  opportunity.  Even  though  this,  in  theory,  is  an   appropriate  method  to  allow  for  equality  in  the  eyes  of  the  law,  it  is  still  possible   for  wealthier/well  off  parties  to  be  favored.     Substantive  equality  however  is  a  much  more  broad  and  expansive  concept.  It   deals  with  indirect  discrimination,  however  has  been  described  as  being   unstable.    It  is  regarded  as  being  “true  justice.”  If  you  commit  a  crime,  you  are   punished  for  it.  Why  you  committed  an  offence  is  not  as  important  as  the  fact   that  it  occurred  in  the  first  place.     While  both  forms  of  justice  are  put  in  place  in  varying  degrees,  it  can  be   established  that  a  form  of  formal  equality  is  more  universal  and  easily   implemented,  as  it  encompasses  all  aspects  of  the  case  at  hand,  as  well  as  being   less  controversial  than  substantive  equality.                            

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  Sources  of  Law  and  Sovereignty     Legislation,  also  known  as  statutory  law,  is  created  by  the  legislature,   (parliament).  It  is  then  debated  upon  and  amended  until  all  are  content  with  it,   before  it  is  made  law.  While  governments  make  the  law,  it  is  the  role  of  the  court   to  interpret  them.  The  doctrine  of  precedent  indicates  that  courts,  in  the   interpretation  of  the  law,  must  follow  the  precedents  and  decisions  made  by   courts  higher  in  the  hierarchy.  The  pinnacle  of  the  court  pyramid  is  the  High   Court  of  Australia.     Judicial  Reasoning     The  role  of  a  judge  is  to  preside  over  a  court  and  ultimately  make  the  final   decision  regarding  a  case.  The  Governor-­‐General,  who  acts  on  the  advice  of  the   government,  appoints  judges.  A  judge  can  leave  office  through  either  resignation   or  retiring.  They  are,  however,  entitled  to  remain  in  their  position  until  they  are   70  years  old.  Judges  may  also  be  removed,  on  the  grounds  of  proved  misbehavior   or  incapacity.     Judges  do  ‘make  law’  to  a  certain  extent.  Their  role  is  to  apply  the  law,  however   in  this  application,  they  can  widen  pre-­‐existing  laws  in  order  to  encompass  the   bounds  of  the  case  at  hand.  The  doctrine  of  precedent  is  the  prevailing  constraint   on  the  role  of  judges  in  determining  and  developing  the  common  law.     The  decision  made  by  the  judges  regarding  a  case  should  not  incorporate  any   personal  beliefs  or  notion.  Their  role  is  to  apply  the  law,  and  the  law  alone.  With   this  in  mind,  community  standards  and  judges  own  values  do  not  play  a  large   role  in  judicial  reasoning  and  the  decision  making  process.                                            

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