Constitutional Law and New Technologies
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to examine the impact that technological progress has on Constitutional law and its magnitude.
Each technological and scientific innovation has, in fact, the power to create new rights, new instrument to protect existing rights and, at the same time, new threats.
Such relationship between Constitutional Rights and science has become even stronger in the last decade, when the pace of technological innovation has increased considerably.
Through case law study, the course intends to offer an overview of the main Constitutional issues connected to the technological progress and the most significant decisions taken by Italian and European Courts.
The focus of the course will be on areas of the law where fundamental rights are involved and the connection between Science and Law is particularly strong, such as Health Law, Environmental Law and Communication Law.
Each technological and scientific innovation has, in fact, the power to create new rights, new instrument to protect existing rights and, at the same time, new threats.
Such relationship between Constitutional Rights and science has become even stronger in the last decade, when the pace of technological innovation has increased considerably.
Through case law study, the course intends to offer an overview of the main Constitutional issues connected to the technological progress and the most significant decisions taken by Italian and European Courts.
The focus of the course will be on areas of the law where fundamental rights are involved and the connection between Science and Law is particularly strong, such as Health Law, Environmental Law and Communication Law.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course student should be able to:
- understand and evaluate critically constitutional issues regarding the technological progress;
- understand and evaluate critically the relevant jurisprudence developed by the European Courts and by the domestic Courts;
- acquire communication skills as regards the issues dealt with in the course and use them also to argue with logical and legal thoroughness and propriety of legal Language.
- understand and evaluate critically constitutional issues regarding the technological progress;
- understand and evaluate critically the relevant jurisprudence developed by the European Courts and by the domestic Courts;
- acquire communication skills as regards the issues dealt with in the course and use them also to argue with logical and legal thoroughness and propriety of legal Language.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Teaching Methods:
The lessons will be held, if allowed, in presence, otherwise on the Microsoft Teams platform. All lessons can be followed both synchronously and asynchronously.
Syllabus and Bibliography:
The program and the Bibliography will not be changed.
Assessment methods and criteria:
The exam will take place in oral form using the Microsoft Teams platform or, where permitted, in presence, always in oral form.
The evaluation criteria remain unchanged.
The lessons will be held, if allowed, in presence, otherwise on the Microsoft Teams platform. All lessons can be followed both synchronously and asynchronously.
Syllabus and Bibliography:
The program and the Bibliography will not be changed.
Assessment methods and criteria:
The exam will take place in oral form using the Microsoft Teams platform or, where permitted, in presence, always in oral form.
The evaluation criteria remain unchanged.
Course syllabus
- The relationship between Law and Science. Comparison between American and Italian doctrines over the last century.
- The uncertainty and relativity of scientific knowledge. The notion of technical evaluation and of technical discretionary power.
- The judiciary power and technical evaluations. The limits of the judicial review of acts based on technical evaluations.
- The difficult relationship between political power and scientific freedom.
- The ethical issues related with technological progress.
- The precautionary principle.
- The uncertainty and relativity of scientific knowledge. The notion of technical evaluation and of technical discretionary power.
- The judiciary power and technical evaluations. The limits of the judicial review of acts based on technical evaluations.
- The difficult relationship between political power and scientific freedom.
- The ethical issues related with technological progress.
- The precautionary principle.
Prerequisites for admission
None.
Teaching methods
The course will be structured on lectures and case-studies.
Teaching Resources
No texts need to be purchased for the course. Case law and papers will be provided in class and on the website Ariel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final test is oral.
It will be also considered:
- the in-class participation of the student;
- the in-class presentations, which will focus on a case law, as set out by the teacher, who will provide the student with the necessary documents (judgments and theoretical essays).
The final mark/grade will be expressed in **/30.
It will be also considered:
- the in-class participation of the student;
- the in-class presentations, which will focus on a case law, as set out by the teacher, who will provide the student with the necessary documents (judgments and theoretical essays).
The final mark/grade will be expressed in **/30.
IUS/08 - CONSTITUTIONAL LAW - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professors:
Angiolini Vittorio, D'Amico Maria Elisa, Violini Lorenza
Professor(s)