Syllabus LO 0705 Comparative Constitutions

 

LO 0705 Comparative Constitutions :

 

Objectives of the Course : This course aims to acquaint the students with scope and significance of comparative study of the constitutional law from the point of view of its making and it’s contemporary working. It will help the students to appreciate the constitutional developments from the national and international perspectives. It takes in its fold the basic principles of interpretation of Constitution. It will enhance the comprehension of Constitutional law as a branch of public law.

 

Module 01     Scope and Significance of Comparative Study of Constitutional Law : 1. Forms of Government - Parliamentary-Presidential-Monarchial

2.     Types of Constitutions

3.     Scope and significance of comparative study of Constitution in Constitution making

 

	4.     Significance of comparative study of Constitution in interpretation 5.     Common law of England 6.     American Constitution 7.     The Common law heritage 8.     Indian position
Module 02	History of Constitution Making and its Development in India : 1.     Applicability of foreign precedents in interpretation of the Constitution of India 2.     Fundamental Rights : Bill of Rights 3.     Instances of application of foreign precedents 4.     Instances of departures from foreign precedents 5.     Forms of Government : Article 74 and 75
Module 03	Federalism- Comparative Study : 1.     Principles of federalism 2.     Legal features of federalism 3.     Co-operative federalism 4.     Transition from comparative federalism to co-operative federalism 5.     Distribution of legislative and financial power in a federal system 6.     Federalism - Indo-U.S. comparative perspectives 7.     Separation of power : Checks and balance mechanism 8.     Amending power in India, U.S. and Australia: comparative perspective
Module 04	Judicial Review : 1.     Evolution and concept of judicial review 2.     Meaning of judicial review 3.     Characteristics of modern Constitutions and their impact on Judicial Review 4.     Constitutional growth in India under judicial review and its impact
Module 05	Justification and Limitation of Written Constitution : 1.     Incidents of written Constitution - a legal instrument 2.     Justiciability of written Constitution 3.     Written Constitutions which are not justiciable : France, U.S.S.R., China 4.     Indian Constitution : Justiciability and non-justiciability
Module 06	Interpretation of Constitution : 1.     Interpretation as a legal instrument 2.     Limitations of liberal interpretation 3.     Spirit of Constitution 4.     Indian Constitution and instances of interpretation
Module 07	Constitution as Higher Law : 1.     Higher law distinguished from ‘Rule of Law’ 2.     Elements of Rule of Law 3.     Parliamentary supremacy under the Indian Constitution 4.     Distinction between Constitutional Law and Ordinary law

    Module 08     Role of Judiciary and Doctrine of State Action :

1.     Court as guardian of the Constitution

2.     Exceptions to judicial review

3.     Special functions of judiciary in federation

4.     Constitutional Law as a branch of public law

 

Recommended Readings :

1.     D.D. Basu, Comparative Constitutional Law, LexisNexis Butterwoths Wadhwa, Nagpur.

2.     D.D. Basu, Comparative Federalism, Wadhwa and Company, Nagpur.

3.     Dr. Chakradhar Jha, Judicial Review of Legislative Acts, LexisNexis Butterwoths Wadhwa, Nagpur.

4.     M. V. Paylee, Constitutions of The World, Universal Law Publishing, Delhi, Vol.1&2.

5.     M.P. Jain, Indian Constitutional Law, Wadhva and Company, Nagpur.

6.     H.R. Khanna, Making of India’s Constitution, Eastern Book Co., Lucknow.