| Semester 1, 2020 Online | |
| Short Description: | Government Accountability |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts |
| School or Department : | School of Law and Justice |
| Student contribution band : | Band 3 |
| ASCED code : | 090999 - Law not elsewhere classified |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Other requisites
Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .
Rationale
Administrative law is a large and dynamic field of law relating to the supervision and correction of executive government action. It is an important modern application of the ‘rule of law’. This course, ‘Government Accountability’, builds on earlier administrative law study (that focused on core principles and citizen-driven accountability) to build a broader understanding of the more sophisticated and specialised executive accountability mechanisms, the operation of administrative law at the peripheries of conventional governmental activity, and the overall trajectory of relevant evolutions in Australian law. It also seeks to develop students with advanced understanding of key contemporary issues in the field. This content will be particularly useful for students intending to work in or for government, or in any highly regulated field. Students will further develop advanced communication and research skills through various items of assessment.
Synopsis
Government Accountability is available in the Master of Laws, Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programs. It explores at an advanced level the evolution of key principles and frameworks in Australian administrative law, and the problematic and now fading `public/private divide'. It examines the drivers, structures and core operations of the bourgeoning `integrity sector' in Australia - which includes auditors-general, anti-corruption bodies, public sector commissioners, freedom of information commissioners and ombudsman offices. The course also focusses in on select contemporary pressure points in current law and policy, and the broader patterns and trajectories that these reflect. It is delivered in four extended seminars (two seminars in each of two weeks), and will involve supervised research tasks and assignments.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- evaluate developments in chosen areas of Australian administrative law and policy (and government accountability more generally), and critically examine the relationship between those developments and contemporary theory and practice (PO 1).
- undertake, interpret and evaluate legal research on administrative law and policy (and government accountability) using advanced legal research methodologies and techniques (PO 3).
- articulate advanced knowledge of relevant law and policy in specific and broader written communications (PO 4).
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Overview and the public/private divide | 25.00 |
| 2. | Integrity frameworks and current issues in non-judicial review | 25.00 |
| 3. | Administrative law evolution and select current issues (part 1) | 25.00 |
| 4. | Administrative law evolution and select current issues (part 2). | 25.00 |
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=LAW8716)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
Reference materials
(or later edition.)
Student workload expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Assessments | 100.00 |
| Directed and Private ¾«¶«´«Ã½app | 65.00 |
Assessment details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Objectives Assessed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTED RESEARCH PROBLEM | 40 | 40 | 13 Apr 2020 | 1,3 | |
| RESEARCH PAPER (PROPOSAL) | 10 | 10 | 04 May 2020 | 1,3 | |
| FINAL RESEARCH PAPER | 50 | 50 | 03 Jun 2020 | 1,3 |
Important assessment information
-
Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility 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. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.) -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. -
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Not applicable. -
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 .
Assessment notes
-
Referencing in assignments: Students studying this course must use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC) style. For AGLC style guide enquiries, consult the AGLC manual from the USQ Library's referencing guide at or contact the Law librarian.