Aims

This course deals with the federal system and the division of powers, competencies and means which the system organises. It looks into the institutional scope of the Federal Belgian State, over and above the study of the federal and federated political collectivities.

Main themes

This is a lecture course, but requires, at the same time, the students' participation. The lectures are illustrated with many instances of political/institutional current events and case law. In addition to the lectures, practical exercises (Methods I or II) are used.

Content and teaching methods

This course is given in the third year of the law degree. It comes just after the course "Constitutional Law" (second year) and before the course "Administrative Law" (fourth year). "Principles of Public Law" is thus a transitional course between two fundamental courses in Public law. These two courses mainly cover material public law (the scheme of public liberties, theory of administrative acts and contracts, procedures in times of crisis, theory and system of the administration's liability, constitutional and administrative litigations, etc.). The present course deals with the political and administrative institutions, and so the whole of the Belgian constitutional system.

Other credits in programs