Key Terms And Themes Notes

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 PAGE 2 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. PAGE 3

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