1. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20021 Law 105 Communication and the law

2. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20022 The Australian legal system

3. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20023 What is “law”?

4. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20024 What is “law”? Regulates our behavior

5. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20025 What is “law”? Regulates our behavior A means of implementing political ideas into society

6. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20026 What is “law”? Regulates our behavior A means of implementing political ideas into society A tool for getting what you want

7. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20027 What is “law”? Regulates our behavior A means of implementing political ideas into society A tool for getting what you want A protection of our rights

8. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20028 The law changes… …in a way that reflects changes in society.

9. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 20029 Indigenous law English law Australian law

10. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200210 Common law – a legal system! Common law is the type of legal system that can be found in, for example, Australia, New Zealand, England, (parts of) Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Malaysia and the US. Contrasted to Civil law & Islamic law

11. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200211 Common law – a legal system! Examples of characteristics: Case law is binding

12. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200212 Common law – a legal system! Examples of characteristics: Case law is binding The use of Jury trial

13. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200213 Civil law – as contrasted to criminal law For example, contracts, torts, family law and administrative law. Simplified – civil law is all that is not criminal law. The party that seems to be right wins.

14. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200214 Characteristics of criminal law Governmental involvement as prosecution

15. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200215 Characteristics of criminal law Governmental involvement as prosecution Fines and imprisonment

16. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200216 Characteristics of criminal law Governmental involvement as prosecution Fines and imprisonment Presumption of innocence

17. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200217 Common law - as contrasted to legislation

18. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200218 Where does law come from?

19. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200219 Case law:

20. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200220 Case law: Doctrine of precedents

21. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200221 Interpreting case law: Distinguishing

22. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200222 Interpreting case law: ratio decidendi – the reason for the decision

23. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200223 Interpreting case law: ratio decidendi – the reason for the decision obiter dicta – NOT BINDING SPECULATIONS!

24. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200224 …causes the police force to devote their time to an investigation of idle charges, and thereby places other members of the public in risk of suspicion or arrest…

25. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200225 Should judges make law?

26. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200226 The Legislative process: Proposal

27. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200227 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet

28. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200228 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet Department

29. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200229 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet Department Parliamentary counsel - bill

30. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200230 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet Department Parliamentary counsel – bill First reading

31. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200231 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet Department Parliamentary counsel – bill First reading Second reading

32. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200232 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet Department Parliamentary counsel – bill First reading Second reading ‘Committee stage’

33. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200233 The Legislative process: Proposal Cabinet Department Parliamentary counsel – bill First reading Second reading ‘Committee stage’ Third reading and vote

34. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200234 Delegated legislation Why? Example: Supreme Court Rules

35. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200235 Law reform Experts researching particular areas of concern, and comes with suggestions as to how the law could be reformed. Slow and often neglected process.

36. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200236 Limits on legislative power Necessary?!!

37. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200237 Limits on legislative power Necessary?!! Constitution – divides the power between the states and the federal government.

38. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200238 Limits on legislative power Necessary?!! Constitution – divides the power between the states and the federal government. Territorial limitation

39. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200239 Limits on legislative power Necessary?!! Constitution – divides the power between the states and the federal government. Territorial limitation Constitution - very hard to change

40. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200240 The court system: State level Inferior courts – local courts dealing with minor cases Intermediate courts – serves medium size disputes in a larger region Supreme courts – original and appellate jurisdiction

41. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200241 The court system: Federal level High Court of Australia – normally in Canberra but may sit in other cities for certain times. Other federal courts – for example, the Federal Court, Federal Magistrate Court and Family Court of Australia.

42. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200242 General features of the courts: Notice Publicity Standard of proof Evidence Impartiality Trial by jury Right to Appeal Legal representation

43. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200243 Interpreting legislation: Legislator’s intention Literary meaning Social implications

44. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200244 Legal referencing: Legislation National Gallery Act 1975 (Cth) s 4

45. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200245 Legal referencing: Legislation National Gallery Act 1975 (Cth) ss 4 - 6

46. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200246 Legal referencing: Legislation National Gallery Act 1975 (Cth) s 4(2)(a)(i)

47. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200247 Legal referencing: Case law Dow Jones Company Inc v Gutnick [2001] VSCA 249

48. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200248 Legal referencing: Case law Dow Jones Company Inc v Gutnick [2001] VSCA 249 at 4

49. 1/06/2015Copyright, Dan Svantesson 200249 Readings for next week: The Law handbook p. 3 – 16 & 62 – 67