Introduction to Law

Subject	Introduction to Law
Semester	1st semester (autumn)
Type	Required
ECTS	6 ECTS
Study programme:	Business studies (undergraduate)
Primary language:	Slovene language

Introduction
The course will be carried out in the Slovene language and in accordance with the officially approved curriculum of the Undergraduate Degree Program in Business Studies.
 
Preconditions 
None.
 
Goals
Students will be introduced to the state constitutional framework and the conditions of public coexistence, which they will meet in exercising of their profession and business activities. Particularly economic aspects and characteristics will be mentioned.
 
Competencies
A student will know and understand the importance of the laws, the basis of the argumentation in law. A student will also understand the fundamental meaning of the state in modern society and the relationship between the state and the law. He/she will be able to find himself/herself in the constitutional conditions in the country and will understand the importance of judicial protection. He/she will be able to understand and evaluate public law rules and political processes.
 
Learning outcomes

• The subject is intended to learn about and understand the foundations of the theory of the state, the legal theory and the constitutional law of the Republic of Slovenia.
• Student evaluates legal problems and issues from the subject area.
• The student acquires the ability to argue and explain the importance and role of the state and the law in a modern society and the conduct of various subjects in the context of constitutional law of the Republic of Slovenia (RS).
• Knowledge and understanding of the importance of constitutionality and legality as well as judicial protection, including before the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia.
• Oral and written expression on legal issues in the field of the subject.
• Interdisciplinary integration of acquired knowledge.

Syllabus
1. The State.
1.1 Notion of the state. History. Evolution.
1.2 Elements of the state: territory, population, power.
1.3 Sovereignty. A notion and evolution. Centralization / decentralization. Forms of the state.
1.4 Power and territory. Centralism, federation, confederation, regionalism.
1.5 Power and population: autoritarism, totalitarism, democracy.
1.6 Purpose of the state. Common good (Bonum commune). A notion.
1.7 State and law. What has come first? The rule of law (Rechtsstaat).
1.8 Organization of the state. Typology.
1.9 Natural forces within the state: political parties, factors of a power (internal and external), pressures, public opinion.
2. The legal order.
2.1 The notion of the legal order and its components.
2.2 Legal principle and legal rule.
2.3 Legal relationship. A right. Duty entitlement. Legal duty. Abuse of justice. Subject of legal relations.
2.4 Normative legal acts. Legal sources.
2.5 The notion of (general) legal acts. Application. Legal facts. Individual legal acts. Lapse of time and prescription. Protection of the legal relationship.
2.6. Lacunae.
2.7. Interpretation (understanding) of normative legal acts (argumentation in law).
2.8 Legal encyclopaedia (systemisation of laws).
2.9. Law and values. The importance of natural law.
3. Constitutional arrangements.
3.1 Subject, methods, name and sources of constitutional law.
3.2 Concept of the Constitution and its characteristics. Development of constitutionality, including the constitutional development of Slovenia.
3.4 The Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia (RS). Basic characteristics. Structure of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia.
3.5. General provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia.
3.6 Human rights and freedoms in the constitutional order of the Republic of Slovenia. Ombudsman.
3.7 Organisation of the state -  the Republic of Slovenia, an overview.
3.8 Constitutionality and legality. Organization and importance of regular courts and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia.
3.9 Local self-government.
 
Types of work

• Lectures given directly by the lecturer.
• Individual and independent work of students.

Teaching and learning activities

• Teacher explanations.
• Conversation / debate.
• Presentation of seminar papers
• Study of cases
• Project work for an external subscriber

Evaluation systems and criteria
The evaluation system consists of two elements: Seminar work and written exam. Each element contributes 50% to the final grade). For a positive grade at least 50% of all points must be achieved.
 
Compulsory teaching and learning material

• Cerar, Miro et al. 1998. Praktikum za uvod v pravoznanstvo. Ljubljana: Uradni list RS.
• Pavčnik, Marijan et al. 2006. Uvod v pravoznanstvo. Ljubljana: Uradni list RS.

Recommended teaching and learning material

• Cijan, R., Toplak, J., Dubrovnik, J. 2010. Državna ureditev Republike Slovenije. Ljubljana: Nova obzorja.
• Grad, Franc – Kaučič, Igor. 1997. Ustavno pravo Slovenije. Ljubljana: Ministrstvo za notranje zadeve. Visoka policijsko-varnostna šola.
• Pavčnik, Marijan. 2015. Teorija prava, 5., pregledana in dopolnjena izdaja (z novim poglavjem Aleša Novaka). Ljubljana: GV Založba.
• Šturm, Lovro (ur.). 2002. Komentar Ustave Republike Slovenije. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za državne in evropske študije (1. ponatis: Kranj, 2010).
• Šturm, Lovro (ur.). 2011. Komentar Ustave Republike Slovenije dopolnitev-A. 2011. Kranj: Fakulteta za državne in evropske študije.

Office hours 

• Before and after the lectures.
• By agreement.