Universität Wien

210132 SE M11: Research Practice (2020W)

Comparison of constitutional policies

12.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 21 - Politikwissenschaft
Continuous assessment of course work

Die Lehrformate für das WS (digital, hybrid, vor Ort) befinden sich in Entwicklung. Die Lehrenden werden die geplante Organisationsform und Lehrmethodik auf ufind und Moodle bekannt geben. Aufgrund von Covid19 muss mit kurzfristigen Änderungen in Richtung digitaler Lehre gerechnet werden.

Nicht-prüfungsimmanente (n-pi) Lehrveranstaltung. Eine Anmeldung über u:space ist erforderlich. Mit der Anmeldung werden Sie automatisch für die entsprechende Moodle-Plattform freigeschaltet. Vorlesungen unterliegen keinen Zugangsbeschränkungen.

VO-Prüfungstermine erfordern eine gesonderte Anmeldung.
Mit der Teilnahme an der Lehrveranstaltung verpflichten Sie sich zur Einhaltung der Standards guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis. Schummelversuche und erschlichene Prüfungsleistungen führen zur Nichtbewertung der Lehrveranstaltung (Eintragung eines 'X' im Sammelzeugnis).
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 05.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 12.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 19.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 09.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 16.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 23.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 30.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 07.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 14.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 11.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 18.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Monday 25.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Digital
    Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course (FoP) first provides an introduction into the theoretical foundations of constitutional politics. What are the tasks constitutions ought to fulfil in modern democracies? What are the different traditions of constitutional politics, how do states combine the need to allow for constitutional change with the protective function of the constitution? Which political functions do constitutions have, what are the goals of constitutional framers and reformers? How do constitutions differ in their structures and functions? How do processes of constitutional elaboration and enactment and constitutional reform unfold? What is the role of (constitutional) courts?
Modern democracies differ considerably with regard to these issues. The course participants will collect relevant information on one or two states each in weakly research assignments to be discussed in the seminar. The seminar readings and the research assignments constitute the starting base for the course paper.

The course will be held digitally. Thereby different formats of exchange will be used:
• Presentations pre-recorded on video (.mov) to be downloaded from Moodle
• Working individually on research tasks on the respective seminar topic (download from and upload to Moodle)
• Life discussions on Microsoft Teams

Assessment and permitted materials

Active participation in discussion (20%), research tasks (40%), seminar paper (40%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

(1) Regular participation (with a maximum of two missed units, active participation in discussions (precondition is the thorough reading of the class assignments)
(2) Successful completion and timely handing-in of research tasks (40 %)
(3) Seminar paper of 7000–8000 words without list of references (40 %)

Examination topics

Reading list

Cope, Kevin L. & Mila Versteeg (2015). Constitutions, in International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Vol. 4, 710-715.
Elster, Jon (1995). Forces and mechanisms in the constitution-making process, Duke Law Journal 45(2): 364–396.
Gavison, Ruth (2002). What belongs in a constitution? Constitutional Political Economy 13(1): 89-105.
Ginsburg, Tom (ed.). Comparative constitutional design. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Karlsson, Christer (2016). Explaining constitutional change: making sense of cross-national variation among European Union member states. Journal of European Public, 23(2): 255-275.
Lorenz, Astrid (2008). Verfassungsänderungen in etablierten Demokratien. Motivlagen und Aushandlungsmuster. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
Lutz, Donald S. (1994). Toward a theory of constitutional amendment. American Political Science Review, 88(2): 355-370.
Moe, Terry M. (1990). Political institutions. The neglected side of the story. Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization 6: 213-253.
Stone Sweet, A. (2000). Governing with judges. Constitutional politics in Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Vanberg, Georg (2005). The politics of constitutional review in Germany. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Vanberg, Georg (2015). Constitutional Courts in comparative perspective: A theoretical assessment. Annual Review of Political Science, 18: 167-185.
Versteeg, Mila & Emily Zackin (2016). Constitutions unentrenched: Towards and alternative theory of constitutional design. American Political Science Review, 110(4): 657-674.
Wheare, K.C. (1960). Modern constitutions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 32-51
Wolf-Phillips, Leslie (1972). Comparative constitutions. London/Basingstoke: Macmillan

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:19