【Course Description】
The course will address a series of important current topics arising in the comparative study of constitutional systems of European Union Member States and the European Union.
First, the course will provide a foundation for systematically studying Constitutions in Europe, compare different types of Constitutions and analyze how Constitutions can be amended.
Second, the course will examine selected topics concerning the three branches of government, the Executive branch, Parliament and the Judiciary and the division of powers between these branches of government, concentrating on the constitutional structure of three of the largest countries in European countries, Germany, France, Great Britain, one of the smaller countries, the Netherlands, and occasionally the constitutional structure of the European Union. The course will include the study of the division of powers within the government, questions of integrity in politics, the rule of law and judicial independence, and the role of judicial review and constitutional courts.
The Course will encourage students to evaluate developments in different constitutional systems in Europe.


【Course Schedule】
Session 1: Introduction to comparative constitutional law
Session 2: Constitutional structures. Written and unwritten constitutions
Session 3: How Constitutions change. Constitutional amendments.
Session 4: Parliament. Status of members of parliament. Standards of Conduct in Parliaments in Europe and the European Parliament. Integrity in politics
Session 5: Executive branch. Comparing different government structures. Leadership in semi-presidential and parliamentary systems. Division of powers in the European Union executive institutions
Session 6: War Powers. Division of powers between Parliament and Government
Session 7: Rule of law and judicial independence. A case study of the constitutional conflict between the European Commission and Poland
Session 8: Foundations and structures of judicial review
Session 9: Constitutional Courts