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Constitutional Law
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:7.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:29:00
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | JF_404 | LQF level: | Level 6 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 4.00 | ECTS: | 6.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Law | Target Audience: | Juridical Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Uldis Ķinis | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 10 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 20 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 6 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 12 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 32 | ||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.2 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 10 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 20 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 6 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 12 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 32 | ||||||||
| Part-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 8 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 16 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 2 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 4 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 20 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | Legal Theory. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The purpose of the study course is to enable students to acquire knowledge of the role of the Satversme (Constitution) of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter – the Constitution) and other legislation of constitutional rank in the statehood of the Republic of Latvia; to develop skills in application of legislation of the highest legal validity and to develop the attitude that promotes respect for and protection of the values of a democratic and legal state. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | History of the development of constitutional law. Classification of law. The role of constitutional law in the legal system. The Constitution as the Basic Law of the State. State and its constitutive elements, sovereign power, nation, territory. The concept of sovereignty in democratic society. Models of government of the State territory and forms of the state authority. State authority and functions of the state authority. | Lectures | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | The concept of sovereignty in democratic society. Models of government of the State territory and forms of the state authority. State authority and functions of the state authority. | Lectures | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | The concept of sovereignty in modern society. Sovereignty in cyberspace. | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Principles of constitutional law. Introduction to the Constitution and its significance within the conception of the Constitution. General description of Chapter 1 of the Constitution. Article 1 of the Constitution and the constitutional and general principles of law resulting from it. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | The sovereign power, territory, official language and the flag of the State of Latvia. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | On constitutional and general principles of law. | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | The concept of the principle of separation of powers and its role in democratic society. The principle of separation of powers included in the Constitution, constitutional authorities and chain of legitimacy. | Lectures | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | The Saeima (Parliament) the procedure for its election, the status of a Member of the Parliament. The President and his functions. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | The President’s institute, its functions, President elected by the people. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Executive power, its authorities and functions, local governments and their limits of action. Independent State institutions and their control. State Audit Office and its functions. The judiciary and its functions. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Legislators and their competences. The Saeima (Parliament) and its election procedure, the status of a Member of Parliament. The concept and stages of the legislative process. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Principle of separation of power. Article 64 of the Constitution, doctrine of ultra vires. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | The concept of translation of the Constitution, types of translation. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 14 | The Constitutional Court, its functions and its interpretation of the Constitution. Violation of fundamental rights and the concept of a constitutional complaint. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 15 | Violation of constitutional rights, terms, abstract constitutional control. | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 16 | The fundamental rights included in Chapter VIII of the Constitution and their general description. The role of the EU law and international human rights in the application of the fundamental rights included in Chapter VIII of the Constitution. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 17 | Violation of fundamental rights. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 18 | Methodology for the evaluation of the restriction of fundamental rights included in Chapter VIII of the Constitution, the positive obligation of the State. The purpose of the norm and the legitimate aim of the restriction of fundamental rights. | Lectures | 3.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 19 | Application of the fundamental rights limitation test. | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 20 | A constitutional complaint, its elements. Criteria laid down in the Constitutional Court Law for the submission of the constitutional complaint, the types of infringement of rights. | Lectures | 3.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 21 | Reasons for refusal of a constitutional complaint in the practice of the Constitutional Court Boards. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Topic Layout (Part-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | History of the development of constitutional law. Classification of law. The role of constitutional law in the legal system. The Constitution as the Basic Law of the State. State and its constitutive elements, sovereign power, nation, territory. The concept of sovereignty in democratic society. Models of government of the State territory and forms of the state authority. State authority and functions of the state authority. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | The concept of sovereignty in democratic society. Models of government of the State territory and forms of the state authority. State authority and functions of the state authority. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | The concept of sovereignty in modern society. Sovereignty in cyberspace. | Classes | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Principles of constitutional law. Introduction to the Constitution and its significance within the conception of the Constitution. General description of Chapter 1 of the Constitution. Article 1 of the Constitution and the constitutional and general principles of law resulting from it. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | The sovereign power, territory, official language and the flag of the State of Latvia. | Lectures | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | On constitutional and general principles of law. | Classes | 0.25 | ||||||
| 7 | The concept of the principle of separation of powers and its role in democratic society. The principle of separation of powers included in the Constitution, constitutional authorities and chain of legitimacy. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | The Saeima (Parliament) the procedure for its election, the status of a Member of the Parliament. The President and his functions. | Lectures | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | The President’s institute, its functions, President elected by the people. | Classes | 0.25 | ||||||
| 10 | Executive power, its authorities and functions, local governments and their limits of action. Independent State institutions and their control. State Audit Office and its functions. The judiciary and its functions. | Lectures | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Legislators and their competences. The Saeima (Parliament) and its election procedure, the status of a Member of Parliament. The concept and stages of the legislative process. | Lectures | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Principle of separation of power. Article 64 of the Constitution, doctrine of ultra vires. | Classes | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | The concept of translation of the Constitution, types of translation. | Lectures | 0.50 | auditorium | |||||
| 14 | The Constitutional Court, its functions and its interpretation of the Constitution. Violation of fundamental rights and the concept of a constitutional complaint. | Lectures | 0.50 | auditorium | |||||
| 15 | Violation of constitutional rights, terms, abstract constitutional control. | Classes | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 16 | The fundamental rights included in Chapter VIII of the Constitution and their general description. The role of the EU law and international human rights in the application of the fundamental rights included in Chapter VIII of the Constitution. | Lectures | 0.50 | auditorium | |||||
| 17 | Violation of fundamental rights. | Classes | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 18 | Methodology for the evaluation of the restriction of fundamental rights included in Chapter VIII of the Constitution, the positive obligation of the State. The purpose of the norm and the legitimate aim of the restriction of fundamental rights. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 19 | Application of the fundamental rights limitation test. | Classes | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| 20 | A constitutional complaint, its elements. Criteria laid down in the Constitutional Court Law for the submission of the constitutional complaint, the types of infringement of rights. | Lectures | 0.50 | ||||||
| 21 | Reasons for refusal of a constitutional complaint in the practice of the Constitutional Court Boards. | Classes | 0.25 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Preparing an individual written assignment according to the topics given and requirements set for during classes; independent study of the specified legal literature and practice materials. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | The assessment of full-time studies is determined by a percentage sum of two criteria that the moodle system will convert into whole numbers: 1) practical part of the course – participation in discussions, seminars, tests, essay, and review – up to 50% 2) written exam – 50% | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | On completion of the study course, students will have developed understanding of the main research objects of the constitutional law (the head of the state, parliament, executive power, court, constitution and constitutional control) and their interaction, including within the scope of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia (Satversme). | ||||||||
| Skills: | Able to analyse and focus on the content of the constitutional law sector and to distinguish between the most important basic concepts, to use the acquired theoretical knowledge in solving legal cases and analysing laws and legislation by applying legal research and law interpretation methods. They acquire skills to interpret and apply the rules included in the Constitution, to clarify the content of general principles of law, to understand democratic and legal values of the State. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Able to understand the applicability and the role of the constitutional law. Opportunity to develop reasoning and polemic skills, analytical, critical and abstract thinking. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Latvijas Republikas Satversme | ||||||||
| 2 | Saeimas vēlēšanu likums | ||||||||
| 3 | Pašvaldības domes vēlēšanu likums | ||||||||
| 4 | Saeimas kārtības rullis | ||||||||
| 5 | Valsts pārvaldees iekārtas likums | ||||||||
| 6 | Valsts Prezidenta ievēlēšanas likums | ||||||||
| 7 | Par tiesu varu | ||||||||
| 8 | Satversmes tiesas likums | ||||||||
| 9 | Par tautas nobalsošanu, likumu ierosināšanu un Eiropas pilsoņu iniciatīvu | ||||||||
| 10 | Dišlers K. Ievads Latvijas valststiesību zinātnē. Ar zinātnisko redaktoru piezīmēm. Rīga: Tiesu namu aģentūra, 2017. | ||||||||
| 11 | Pleps J., Pastars E., Plakane I. Konstitucionālās tiesības. Tiesu iekārta Rīga, TNA, 2021 | ||||||||
| 12 | Pleps J. Satversmes iztulkošana. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2012. | ||||||||
| 13 | Eglītis V. Ievads konstitūcjas teorijā. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2006. | ||||||||
| 14 | Jānis Neimanis Satversmes tiesas procesa tiesības | ||||||||
| 15 | Cilvēka tiesības pasaulē un Latvijā. I. Ziemeles zin. red. Otrais pārstrādātais izdevums, TNA, 2021 | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Dišlers K. Latvijas valsts varas orgāni un viņu funkcijas. Rīga: Tiesu namu aģentūra, 2004. | ||||||||
| 2 | Pleps J., Pastars E., Plakane I. Konstitucionālās tiesības. – Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2004. | ||||||||
| 3 | Pleps J., Pastars E. Saeimas atlaišana. Rakstu krājums. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2009. | ||||||||
| 4 | Lēbers (Loeber) D.A., Bišers I. Ministru kabinets. Komentārs Latvijas Republikas Satversmes IV nodaļai „Ministru kabinets”. – Rīga: Tiesiskās informācijas centrs, 1998. | ||||||||
| 5 | Vildbergs H.J. (Hans Jurgen Wildberg), Feldhūne G. Atsauces Satversmei: mācību līdzeklis. Rīga: Latvijas Universitāte, 2003. | ||||||||
| 6 | Ziemele I. Starptautiskās tiesības un cilvēktiesības Latvijā: abstrakcija vai realitāte. Rakstu krājums. - Rīga: Tiesu namu aģentūra, 2005. | ||||||||
| 7 | Valsts prezidenta Konstitucionālo tiesību komisija. Viedokļi: 2008-2011. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2011. | ||||||||
| 8 | Iļjanova D. Vispārējos tiesību principu nozīme un piemērošana. – Rīga: Ratio iuris, 2005. | ||||||||
| 9 | Latvijas Republikas Satversmes komentāri. VIII nodaļa. Cilvēka pamattiesības. Autoru kolektīvs prof. R.Baloža zinātniskā vadībā. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2011; | ||||||||
| 10 | Latvijas Republikas Satversmes komentāri. VI nodaļa. Tiesa. VII nodaļa. Valsts kontrole. Autoru kolektīvs prof. R.Baloža zinātniskā vadībā. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2013 | ||||||||
| 11 | Latvijas Republikas Satversmes komentāri. Ievads. I nodaļa. Vispārējie noteikumi. Autoru kolektīvs prof. R.Baloža zinātniskā vadībā. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2014 | ||||||||
| 12 | Latvijas Republikas Satversmes komentāri. III nodaļa. Valsts prezidents. IV nodaļa. Ministru kabinets. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2017 | ||||||||
| 13 | Pleps J. Latvijas valsts konstitucionālie pamati. “Latvieši un Latvija”, III sējums “Atjaunotā Latvijas valsts”. Rīga: Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija, 2013 | ||||||||
| 14 | Robežlīgums: Spriedums. Materiāli. Komentāri. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2009. | ||||||||
| 15 | Rodiņa A. Konstitucionālās sūdzības teorija un prakse Latvijā. Rīga: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2009. | ||||||||
| 16 | Lēbers D. A.(ed.), Latvijas tiesību vēsture (1914-2000), Rīga: Fonds Latvijas Vēsture: Rīga, 2000 | ||||||||
| 17 | Crawford J. Creation of States, Oxford University Press Inc., New York, 2006 | ||||||||
| 18 | Krūma K., Plepa D. Constitutional law in Latvia. The Netherlands: Kluver Law International BV, 2016 | ||||||||
| 19 | Sanita Osipova Nācija,valoda,tiesiska valsts: Ceļā uz rītdienu. TNA, 2020 | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | Žurnāls: Jurista Vārds | ||||||||
| 2 | Interneta resursi: Satversmes tiesas mājaslapa (www.satv.tiesa.gov.lv), normatīvie akti (www.likumi.lv). | ||||||||
