Comparative Public Law
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The constitutional systems of the countries are increasingly influenced by the geopolitical area to which they belong and by competing "transnational legal orders". In accordance with the objectives of the degree programme, the course therefore aims to provide the students with the definitions and tools (classification of forms of state and of government, various types of decentralization, constitution making, constitutional review, amending procedures) allowing them to compare the constitutional arrangements of countries belonging to different legal systems, also taking into consideration the processes of "abusive constitutional borrowing" as an expression of democratic backsliding. Finally - in order to verify the relationship between geopolitics, circulation of constitutional models, transnational law and autochthonous elements - a diachronic and synchronic comparison will be proposed between the legal systems of Russia (also considering those of other post-Soviet countries), China, Brazil, India and South Africa (Brics countries).
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students are expected to: have understood the fundamentals of the comparative method; have learned about the differences and similarities between the constitutional systems of the main extra-European states and the interaction between their constitutional orders and transnational law; have acquired through the analysis, discussion and presentation of case studies a good capacity for critical analysis and communication issues of public comparative law; are able to apply the comparative method to new case studies that concern the extra-European state institutions, also with the aim of verifying the impact of their political institutional changes on international relations.
Lesson period: First trimester
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
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
Attending students:
First module:
Comparative Public Law in the age of globalization and its crisis. What is a Constitution? Constitutional amendments and Constitutional courts.
Second module
Classification of forms of State and forms of Government. Relations between center and periphery: federal States, regional States, and devolution processes. Constitutionalism and secession.
Third module:
Analysis of the constitutional system of Russia (considering also other post-soviet States), China, Brazil, India, and South Africa (BRICS countries).
Not attending students:
First module:
Comparative Public Law in the age of globalization. What is a Constitution? Constitutional amendments and Constitutional courts.
Second module
Classification of forms of State and forms of Government. Relations between center and periphery: federal States, regional States, and devolution processes. Constitutionalism and secession.
Third module:
Analysis in comparative perspective of the constitutional system of Russia, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa (BRICS countries).
First module:
Comparative Public Law in the age of globalization and its crisis. What is a Constitution? Constitutional amendments and Constitutional courts.
Second module
Classification of forms of State and forms of Government. Relations between center and periphery: federal States, regional States, and devolution processes. Constitutionalism and secession.
Third module:
Analysis of the constitutional system of Russia (considering also other post-soviet States), China, Brazil, India, and South Africa (BRICS countries).
Not attending students:
First module:
Comparative Public Law in the age of globalization. What is a Constitution? Constitutional amendments and Constitutional courts.
Second module
Classification of forms of State and forms of Government. Relations between center and periphery: federal States, regional States, and devolution processes. Constitutionalism and secession.
Third module:
Analysis in comparative perspective of the constitutional system of Russia, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa (BRICS countries).
Prerequisites for admission
Public law or Constitutional law
Teaching methods
The course consists of frontal lessons to provide the basic knowledge of comparative method, the fundamental categories of comparative law, the use of an appropriate legal language as well as in the active involvement of students. For this purpose, at the end of the second and third modules, the "flipped class" method will also be applied since attending students will be asked to analyze case studies concerning relevant constitutional issues from a comparative perspective.
It will be also used the Ariel platform at https://cfilippinidpc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/Home/
It will be also used the Ariel platform at https://cfilippinidpc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/Home/
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
First Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 1-148; 427-463
Second Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 149-199; 227-338 and documents uploaded in Ariel.
Third Module:
- Documents uploaded in Ariel.
Not attending students:
First Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 1-148; 427-463
Second Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 149-199; 227-338 and documents uploaded in Ariel.
Third Module:
- L. Scaffardi (a cura di), BRICS: Paesi emergenti nel prisma del diritto comparato, Giappichelli, 2012, A. Rinella, Cina, il Mulino, 2006, and F. Spagnoli, La riforma della Costituzione cinese: un'analisi della revisione costituzionale del 2018 e dei suoi caratteri principali, in ihttp://www.dpceonline.it/index.php/dpceonline/article/view/647/612;
or::
- L. Scaffardi (a cura di), BRICS: Paesi emergenti nel prisma del diritto comparato, Giappichelli, 2012, M. Ganino, Russia, il Mulino, 2020 and C. Filippini, L'introduzione in Russia del procedimento di modifica della Costituzione in deroga, in https://www.forumcostituzionale.it/wordpress/?p=14840.
First Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 1-148; 427-463
Second Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 149-199; 227-338 and documents uploaded in Ariel.
Third Module:
- Documents uploaded in Ariel.
Not attending students:
First Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 1-148; 427-463
Second Module:
- G. Morbidelli, M. Volpi, G. Cerrina Feroni, Diritto costituzionale comparato, G. Giappichelli Editore, Torino, 2020, pp. 149-199; 227-338 and documents uploaded in Ariel.
Third Module:
- L. Scaffardi (a cura di), BRICS: Paesi emergenti nel prisma del diritto comparato, Giappichelli, 2012, A. Rinella, Cina, il Mulino, 2006, and F. Spagnoli, La riforma della Costituzione cinese: un'analisi della revisione costituzionale del 2018 e dei suoi caratteri principali, in ihttp://www.dpceonline.it/index.php/dpceonline/article/view/647/612;
or::
- L. Scaffardi (a cura di), BRICS: Paesi emergenti nel prisma del diritto comparato, Giappichelli, 2012, M. Ganino, Russia, il Mulino, 2020 and C. Filippini, L'introduzione in Russia del procedimento di modifica della Costituzione in deroga, in https://www.forumcostituzionale.it/wordpress/?p=14840.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students.
For students attending the course, there is the possibility of carrying out an optional intermediate written test consisting of three questions concerning the first module. The grade obtained in the intermediate written exam will be averaged with the grade obtained in the final oral exam which will consist of other two questions related to the second module and two questions concerning the third module.
For attending students, who didn't take the intermediate written test or refused the grade of the same, the final examination is oral and consists of three questions concerning the first module, two questions related to the second module, and two questions concerning the third module.
Both the intermediate written test and the oral final exams are aimed to verify that the attending students can properly apply the knowledge, the methodology, the skills, and the legal terminology acquired during the course. All attending students may also present short papers relating to current constitutional issues agreed with the Professor. The written reports - which must be sent to the same Professor at least 3 days before the exam and discussed during the latter - may be awarded from 1 to 2 points.
Not attending students:
For not attending students the final examination is oral and consists of three questions concerning the first module, three-question related to the second module, and two questions concerning the third module.
The exams are aimed to verify that the not attending students can properly apply the knowledge, the methodology, the skills, and the legal terminology acquired during the course.
For students attending the course, there is the possibility of carrying out an optional intermediate written test consisting of three questions concerning the first module. The grade obtained in the intermediate written exam will be averaged with the grade obtained in the final oral exam which will consist of other two questions related to the second module and two questions concerning the third module.
For attending students, who didn't take the intermediate written test or refused the grade of the same, the final examination is oral and consists of three questions concerning the first module, two questions related to the second module, and two questions concerning the third module.
Both the intermediate written test and the oral final exams are aimed to verify that the attending students can properly apply the knowledge, the methodology, the skills, and the legal terminology acquired during the course. All attending students may also present short papers relating to current constitutional issues agreed with the Professor. The written reports - which must be sent to the same Professor at least 3 days before the exam and discussed during the latter - may be awarded from 1 to 2 points.
Not attending students:
For not attending students the final examination is oral and consists of three questions concerning the first module, three-question related to the second module, and two questions concerning the third module.
The exams are aimed to verify that the not attending students can properly apply the knowledge, the methodology, the skills, and the legal terminology acquired during the course.
IUS/21 - COMPARATIVE PUBLIC LAW - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Filippini Caterina
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Room 6