Spring Semester (March 1 - May 31, 2022)
Course
Introduction to Comparative Legal Systems 2022
Prof. Vincenzo Zeno-Zencovich
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This syllabus is for students enrolled in the Studying Law at Roma Tre programme. It is shorter than the “Comparative Legal Systems” course which is part of the “Global Legal Studies” programme because it brings 7 ECTS instead of 9 ECTS.
Course description:
The course cuts across traditional – and by now outdated – divisions between public law and private law, between substantive law and procedural law, and between the so-called civil law/common law divide. The course is focused on the Western Legal Tradition and explains the pitfalls of comparisons with non-Western systems.
The course is divided in nine modules with the following content:
I MODULE: DEMOCRATIC SYSTEMS US
presidentialism. - British parliamentarism. - Semi-presidential models. - EU concentration of powers. – Electoral systems.
II MODULE: VALUES
Constitutionalism. - Bill of rights, fundamental rights, human rights. - Constitutional adjudication. - Rule of law. - Universalism vs Relativism. - The religious factor
III MODULE: GOVERNMENT
The structure of Government. - Administration. - “Independent Agencies”. - Public participation in administrative procedures. - Judicial control over Government
IV MODULE: THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION
Private autonomy. - Legal entities. – Insolvency. – Regulation. - State aid
V MODULE: THE “WELFARE STATE”
Taxation. - Social services. - Labour relations and legislation
VI MODULE: REPRESSION OF CRIMES
Substantive law vs. Procedural law. - What is a crime? - Who establishes crimes? – Sanctions. - Investigation, prosecution, trial. - Offenders and victims
VII MODULE: JUDGES AND JURISDICTION
Status of judges. - Judicial organization. - Rules of procedure. - Judicial power. - Legal education. - Judges and/as literature
VIII MODULE: MODELS FOR A GLOBALIZED WORLD
International conventions. - Uniform laws. - Lex Mercatoria. - International institutions. – Comparative international law.
Class schedule
Lessons will begin on Tuesday, March 1st, and will be held every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 pm to 6 pm, excepting public holidays and when academic activity is suspended, following the topics listed in the course description (above). It is expected that lessons will end towards mid-May.
- Lessons will be in hybrid mode: both in presence and online, in streaming on the Teams platform, for those who are not attending in presence. Please excuse, in advance, any technical inconveniences and glitches that you may encounter.
- Lessons will be recorded and made available on the YouTube platform.
Objectives
The course aims at introducing students, with a holistic perspective, to what a legal system is, what are the main differences between them, how to compare them. They main aim is that of showing the extreme complexity of contemporary legal systems and the continuous circulation of models between them.
Course Learning Activities
The course consists of lectures on the main aspects of a legal system. Each module will be supported by seminar on specific topics, using legal material (legislation, decisions, statistical data, legal writings).
Assessment tools
The final exam will consist in a written essay in which students will be asked to answer to one hypothetical case (out of a choice of several) which draws on the topics presented during the classes.
Attendance policy
Class attendance is compulsory. Students are allowed a maximum of 7 (seven) absences, whatever the reason of the absence. Course textbook: V. ZENO-ZENCOVICH, Comparative legal systems. A short and illustrated introduction (second edition), Roma TrE-Press, 2019 (the volume in open access is downloadable from the Roma TrE-Press website:
Comparative legal systems. A Short and Illustrated Introduction | Roma 3 press (uniroma3.it)