Course specification for HIS1115

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HIS1115 Legal History

Semester 1, 2020 Online
Short Description: Legal History
Units : 1
Faculty or Section : Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts
School or Department : School of Humanities & Communication
Student contribution band : Band 1
ASCED code : 090305 - History
Grading basis : Graded

Staffing

Examiner:

Requisites

Enrolment is not permitted in HIS1115 if LAW1114 or LAW1202 has been previously completed.

Rationale

This course is designed to introduce students to the broader historical and socio-political underpinnings of law in Australia, including the significant influences of English law and the Constitution of the United States of America. It includes a study of English legal history before and after European settlement in Australia, the American constitutional settlement, the impact of European settlement on Indigenous Australians, and the legal consequences of political and social changes in Australia. It also includes the development of skills relevant to legal study, including critical thinking and communication.

Synopsis

Law is shaped by its surrounding society. The study of history requires an appreciation of the effect changing social habits and attitudes have on law, and the study of law requires an understanding of social and historical setting in which political institutions and law developed. Students will address concepts that have affected the development of Australian institutions and law, and the historical circumstances that gave rise to constitutional principles such as the rule of law, sovereignty, the role of Parliament, the electoral franchise and the separation of powers. The impact of law on Indigenous Australians will also be included.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate:

  1. knowledge and understanding of the origins, social influences and broader historical contexts of the development of Australian law, and of fundamental Australian constitutional principles;
  2. thinking skills, including an emerging ability to identify, analyse and articulate the broader historical contexts for legal development and constitutional governance;
  3. communication skills, in particular the ability to respond to complex ideas and articulate the broader historical context within which law and legal institutions developed in an effective, appropriate and persuasive way.

Topics

Description Weighting(%)
1. The origins of the common law 8.00
2. Growth of the legal profession, the doctrine of precedent and law reporting 8.00
3. The English Revolutions: Parliament, king and courts in the 17th century 8.00
4. Responsible government, law and justice in 18th century England 8.00
5. The American constitutional settlement 8.00
6. Reform of the British Parliament and courts in the 19th century 8.00
7. Reception of English law in Australia 8.00
8. Self-government and law in colonial Australia 10.00
9. Indigenous Australia and the law in the colonial period 10.00
10. Federation 8.00
11. Australian constitutional independence and law in the 20th century 8.00
12. Indigenous Australia and the law in modern Australia 8.00

Text and materials required to be purchased or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2020&sem=01&subject1=HIS1115)

Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)

Vines, Prue 2013, Law and justice in Australia : foundations of the legal system, 3rd edn, Victoria Oxford ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Press, South Melbourne.

Reference materials

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.
Baker, John H 2010, Baker and Milsom sources of English legal history : private law to 1750, 2nd edn, Oxford ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Press, Oxford.
Baker, John Hamilton 2002, An introduction to English legal history, 4th edn, Butterworths LexisNexis, London.
Broome, Richard 2010, Aboriginal Australians : a history since 1788, 4th edn, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, N.S.W.

Student workload expectations

Activity Hours
Directed ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 39.00
Independent ¾«¶«´«Ã½app 126.00

Assessment details

Description Marks out of Wtg (%) Due Date Notes
ONLINE QUIZ 10 10 23 Mar 2020 (see note 1)
ASSIGNMENT 30 30 18 May 2020
COURSE ENGAGEMENT 20 20 08 Jun 2020
ONLINE EXAM 40 40 End S1 (see note 2)

Notes
  1. The Quiz will open on the date indicated above and remain open for 7 days. Details will be available on Moodle ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk.
  2. This will be an online exam. Students will be provided further instruction regarding the exam by their course examiner via ¾«¶«´«Ã½appDesk. The examination date will be available via UConnect when the Alternate Assessment Schedule has been released.

Important assessment information

  1. Attendance requirements:
    If you are an international student in Australia, you are advised to attend all classes at your campus. For all other students, there are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.

  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.

  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)

  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.

  6. Examination information:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: An Open Examination is one in which candidates may have access to any printed or written material and a calculator during the examination.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    This is a restricted examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the examination for this course are:
    1. writing materials. These must be non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination.
    2. an unmarked non-electronic translation dictonary (but not technical dictionary). A student whose first language is not English may take a translation dictionary into the examination room. A translation dictionary with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.


  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    Due to COVID-19 the requirements for S1 2020 are: The details regarding deferred/supplementary examinations will be communicated at a later date.

    Requirements after S1 2020:
    Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period.

  8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Student Policies:
    Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene ¾«¶«´«Ã½app policies and practices. These policies can be found at .

Date printed 19 June 2020