37294 - Principles of Law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will be able to understand the main legal issues concerning the law of contract and obligations both in civil law and common law systems. They will also be equipped with the knowledge of the most important public law principles and rules concerning the role of the State and the public entities in an supranational, interrnational and global context.

Course contents

Legal systems:

- nature and categories

Rules and norms

Forms of States:

- unitary

- federal

- regional

Forms of governments:

- Parliamentary executive

- Presidential executive

- Directorial executive

The State:

- population

- territory

- sovereignty

Constitutions and constitutional principles

The Sources of law:

- sources on production

- sources of production

- sources of cognizance

- act and facts

EU sources of law:

- the relation between domestic systhem and the EU system

Principles of italian contract and tort law:

- legal capacity

- capacity to act

- legal and natural persons

- obligations

- the contract

- nullity

- voidability

- vices of will

- liability

Principles of english contract law and Principles of European Contract Law (PECL):

- capacity to act

- legal and natural persons

- obligations

- the contract

- nullity

- voidability

- vices of will

- liability

 

Readings/Bibliography

R. Wacks, Law  - A very short introduction, Oxford 2008 or 2015 edition

J. M. SMITS, Contract law - A comparative Introduction, Edward Elgar, Paperback, 2015 or 2017, Chapters 1; 2 (pp. 16-17, 27-36); 3; 4 (pp. 63-83); 7; 8 (pp. 136-137; 142-155); 9; 11; 12 (pp. 209-211, 214-216, 220-227); 13 (pp. 229-231, 235-242).

 

G. F. Ferrari, Introduction to italian public law, Giuffrè Lefebvre, 2018 Chapters 1, 2, 3, 11, 13, 14.

 

G. Iudica, P. Zatti, Language rules of italian private law: an introduction, Cedam, Padova, last edition, Chapters 1-5 (pp. 1-36), 9-10 (pp. 55-68) , 11: I and II (pp. 69-80), 12-13 (pp. 85-102); 14 paragraphs 1-7  (pp.103-108), 15-16 (pp. 113-124); 17, 18-19 (pp. 131-138), 20 and 22.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons

Cases analysis and solutions

 

Participation of Exchange Students:

A maximum of 20 exchange students (Erasmus, Overseas, etc.) is accepted. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED logic will be used for incoming students.

Assessment methods

First Half test: written exam consisting in 1 open question on public law and 1 open question on private law.

The minimum mark to pass is 18/30.

Second Half test: written exam consisting in 1 question on italian civil law and in the solution of a case according to Uk contract law and PECL.

The minimum mark to pass is 18/30.

The final mark is the average of the two half test marks

Full test: 3 questions + solution of a case

The minimum mark to pass is 18/30

Teaching tools

Slides will be provided during the lectures

Office hours

See the website of Maria Giulia Roversi Monaco