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| DROI1286-1 | Parliamentary and election law
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| Duration : | 30h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Frédéric Bouhon |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the second semester |
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Course contents :
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| This course examines a number of processes in the democratic system by studying the rules that govern the composition and operation of elected assemblies.
First, the curriculum will take a look at the laws that regulate the entire electoral process (requirements for voter and candidates, candidate selection, access to the media during the electoral campaigns, funding of political parties, voting system, etc.).
Then, it will analyse the rules that deal with the operation of assemblies (credentials, status of elected officials, internal organisation of assemblies, etc.), as well as their relations with other institutions.
The course focuses on the Belgian legal system and its components, but it also deals with the European Parliament and offers additional perspectives in comparative law. |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| The course's objective is twofold:
- Develop the students' knowledge and understanding of positive law in a specific branch of public law.
- Encourage students to reflect on the role of legal rules in the organisation of representative institutions and, more generally, on the evolution of the democratic system. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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| Students must master the basics of Belgium's constitutional law. |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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| A comprehensive summary of the teaching methods is provided in the next section. |
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| The course is organised in three phases:
- The eight first classes (given in February and March) are dedicated to a general presentation of the subject. Interaction with students is encouraged.
- By the eighth class at the latest, each student will have agreed with the teacher on a question related to the issues tackled during the course, and will produce a brief paper on this question (up to 5 pages). During the 9th and 10th weeks of the term (i.e. before the Easter vacation), classes will be suspended so that students can write their papers. During these two weeks, the teacher will be available to answer students' questions during the class' usual hours. Papers will be emailed to the teacher on a date to be determined.
- During the last classes, each student makes an oral presentation of their research in order to start a discussion with their classmates; the teacher will contribute by adding their own questions and information. |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Students must have a book of public and administrative law, which must include the Belgian constitution, the electoral code and the Walloon code of local democracy and devolution.
Students must obtain and read the following book, which will fuel their reflection on the course: Nicolas Grimaldi, Le crépuscule de la démocratie, Paris, Grasset, 2014, 160 pages (approx. 11 EUR).
Other documents can be provided by the teacher during the term in order to complete the students' resources. |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Students are evaluated based on two performances:
- the paper mentioned in the section entitled "Mode of delivery" above (40 % of the overall score);
- an oral exam on the entire course's content, during which students can consult any materials they need (60 % of the overall score) |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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| Classes are given during the second term, on Tuesdays from 8.30 am to 10.30 am. |
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Contacts :
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| Students may contact the teacher by email (f.bouhon@ulg.ac.be) |
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