Law Theory (An Introduction)
Code
LL142.A
Department
Área de Ensino
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Ana Prata
Weekly hours
4.5
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
The aim of the course is to give students an introductory training regarding the most relevant general issues within Law theory, with particular emphasis on issues related to the various categories of rules, interpretation and the main issues concerning sources of the Law.
It is also an aim of the course to exercise with students legal reasoning through its application to simple cases appropriate to their level of knowledge.
Subject matter
1. Rules: what are they? And legal rules? Norms, standards and rules; enforcement; structures of legal rules; rules and principles; who is submited to the rules? Relationship amongst legal rules - the legal system. Public law and civil law.
2. Law sources; common law and statute law; European and national law; court´s decisions; law theory; hierarchy of lefgal rules; legal pluralism.
3. Law making: legislative powers; legal choices; drafting principles; law impact assessment.
4. The interpretation of the rules: principles, aims, techniques and outputs.
5. Law and territory: territorial and non territorial laws; globalization and the law.
6. Law and time: the problem of retroaction.
Bibliography
BOBBIO, Norberto, Teoria dell’ordinamento giuridico, Torino, Giappichelli Ed., 1960, pp.69 a 215; ENGISCH, Karl, Introdução ao pensamento jurídico, 9.ª edição, Lisboa, FCG, 2004, pp.21 a 197; FERRARA, Francesco, Interpretação e Aplicação das Leis, 4.ª edição, Coimbra, Arménio Amado Editor, 1987, pp.115 a 164 (tradução de Manuel Andrade); HESPANHA, António Manuel, O Caleidoscópio do direito, Coimbra, Almedina, 2007, pp.429 a 636; LARENZ, Karl, Metodologia da ciência do direito, 2.ª edição, Lisboa, FCG, pp.297 a 441; MACHADO, João Baptista, Introdução ao Direito e ao Discurso Legitimador, pp.93 a 113 e 175 a 205; GALLIGAN, D. J., Law in Modern Society, Oxford, OUP, 2007, pp.158 a 192; REALE, Miguel, Lições Preliminares de Direito, 10ª edição, Coimbra, 1982, pp.93 a 104 e 117 a 181; UNGER, Roberto Mangabeira, What Should Legal Analysis Become?, Nova Iorque, Editora Verso, 1996, pp.113 a 119.
Teaching method
Classes will be theoretical and practical, alternating periods of theoretical communication with dialogue with students about texts previously prepared the resolution of practical cases, the presentation of brief assignments by students which are appropriate to their level of learning, analysis of case law and other activities deemed appropriate to the subjects taught face.
Evaluation method
The evaluation consists of a final exam, written and individual. Every other way of participation in classes, both individual and collective, may get, according to criteria of quality and quantity, a majoration of 1, 2, or 3 points on the top of the exam's classification.