The course is designed to review the ever-changing scope and operation of the executive power inherent in the Australian Constitution. It is set against the background of the UK development of the concept (largely by the courts). But its primary focus is on s 61 of the Constitution and relevant decisions of the High Court. It draws also on available literature.
Because of the large expansion of executive power in recent years it then moves on to explore current issues. These are associated with powers relating to migration and 'terrorism', the trend towards republicanising the legal system
The course content uses an historical, analytical and topical approach to enable the potential of the concept of executive power in Australia to be appreciated and in particular focuses on:
- the emergence of the concept of an Australian executive power and the consequential progressive reduction in reliance on prerogative power as a useful concept
- the conventions and law governing the exercise of executive power (by Governor-General, Ministers, Cabinet and administrators)
- the constitutional grounding of responsible government and its effectiveness in the 21st century
- the narrowing of the traditional immunities and privileges the common law extends to the Crown and the impact of the practice by the executive of privatising and contracting out
- federal issues relating to executive power, including the issues that arise if there is a conflict between the exercise of Commonwealth and State executive power
- the unique position of the executive in the ACT
- challenges to the protection, through the rule of law, of individuals, using as examples counter-terrorism law and migration law.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Heightened awareness of the complexity of the law relating to executive power
- An understanding of the implications of the sometimes not altogether unanimous views of the judges
- Facilitation of the exercise of executive functions according to law, with an understanding of both its scope and its limitations
Indicative Assessment
Students must rely on the Approved Assessment which will be posted to the course homepage on the ANU Law website, prior to the commencement of the course.
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
26 Contact Hours (Intensive Delivery)
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There is no readily available dedicated text book. The best coverage of the topic is found in Blackshield and Williams, Australian Constitutional Law and Theory: Commentary and Materials, Federation Press, 4th ed (2006). It is the prescribed text and the abridged version contains most (but not all) of the chapters that will be referred to. The unabridged version will be used in class.
Preliminary Reading
First two chapters of Blackshield and Williams would be useful, and a glance at ch 12 (Executive Power).
Further readings will be contained in the Course Outline, and there is useful additional reference in Blackshield and Williams.
Assumed Knowledge
It will be assumed that students have gained some appreciation of the nature of executive power either through earlier legal studies or through the Fundamentals of Government and Commercial Law course, and of the general working of the federal system.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1626 | |
| 2014 | $2808 | |
| 2013 | $2808 | |
| 2012 | $2808 | |
| 2011 | $2778 | |
| 2010 | $2718 | |
| 2009 | $2670 | |
| 2008 | $2670 | |
| 2007 | $2670 | |
| 2006 | $2646 | |
| 2005 | $2298 | |
| 2004 | $1926 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $2916 |
| 2014 | $3762 |
| 2013 | $3756 |
| 2012 | $3756 |
| 2011 | $3756 |
| 2010 | $3750 |
| 2009 | $3426 |
| 2008 | $3426 |
| 2007 | $3426 |
| 2006 | $3426 |
| 2005 | $3234 |
| 2004 | $2916 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Spring Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8649 | 19 Sep 2014 | 19 Sep 2014 | 03 Oct 2014 | 22 Nov 2014 | In Person | N/A |