Public University of Navarre



Academic year: 2024/2025 | Previous academic years:  2023/2024  |  2022/2023  |  2021/2022  |  2020/2021 
Double Bachelor's degree in Management, Business Administration and Law (international program) at the Universidad Pública de Navarra
Course code: 177825 Subject title: INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW SYSTEM
Credits: 3 Type of subject: Mandatory Year: 5 Period: 2º S
Department: Derecho
Lecturers:
SANTAOLALLA MONTOYA, CAYETANA   [Mentoring ] ORBEGOZO MIGUEL, XABIER (Resp)   [Mentoring ]

Partes de este texto:

 

Module/Subject matter

PRIVATE LAW/PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

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Contents

Main focus on (North) American legal system: general description, structure, legal sources, case law and Private International Law.

  • The nature, classification and sources of law.
  • Public Law: The Law of the Constitution.
  • The administration of the Law: the role of the Judge in the Common Law. The role of Lawyers in the Common Law.
  • Procedure and evidence.
  • Private Law: The Law of Contract, the Law of Torts, the Law of Property, Trusts and Family Law.

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General proficiencies

Not applicable.

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Specific proficiencies

Not applicable.

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Learning outcomes

LO11. To know the main consequences of the intervention of a foreign element in Private Law situations.

LO17. To express oneself orally using appropriate terminology and techniques.

LO21. To critically analyse, interrelate and integrate legal concepts.

LO23. To read and interpret legal texts.

LO31. To take in and work on respecting human rights, equality between men and women and acknowledgement of diversity and sustainability.

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Methodology

Activity On-site class time Non-class time
A-1  Expositive/participatory lectures 22  
A-2 Practical classes 8  
A-6 Work on the assignments   18
A-3  Individual study   25
A-5 Exams or other evaluation tests   2
Total 30 60

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Evaluation

 

Learning
outcome
Assessment
activity
Weight (%) It allows
test resit
Minimum
required grade
R10,R186,R204,R213

Attendance and active participation

10%

No  
R10,R151,R186,R204,R213           

Case resolution and presentation

40%

Yes. Written proof  
R10,R151,R186,R204,R213

Final exam

50%

Yes 5/10*
         

*To overcome the subject a score equal to or greater than 5 out of 10 is required in the final exam (or proportional to its valuation). If a note of less than 5 out of 10 is obtained in the final examination, the rating of the continuous assessment shall be taken into account, without the final rating of the subject, plus the continuous rating and the final rating, exceeding 4,9 out of 10.

 

 

 

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Agenda

I: Precedents: history and originality of American Law

1.1 Colonisation.

1.2 Independence and Confederation.

1.3 1787 Constitution and Federalism.

1.4. Comparative constitutional law 

 

II. The Constitution of the US:

2.1 Introduction.

2.2 Structure.

2.3 Articles: government structure and shared powers.

2.4 Amendments: fundamental rights and freedoms.

 

III. American judicial system.:

3.1 Introduction.

3.2 Federal courts.

3.3 Choice of court: jurisdictional issues.

3.4 State judicial system: some remarks.

 

IV. Sources of law:

4.1 Sources in US legal system vs. Sources in Spanish legal system

4.2 The role of the case law: introduction.

V. Development of common law and the case law as reference:

5.1 Common Law: introduction.

5.2 Study and analysis of the case law.

5.3 Stare Decisis rules.

 

VI. Corporate Law in the US:

6.1 Introductory remarks.

6.2 Typology.

6.3 Comparative law.

 

VII. Dispute resolution in the US:

7.1 Introductory remarks.

7.2 Alternative dispute resolution:

    a) Arbitration.

    b) Mediation. 

7.3 US procedural law:

    a) Civil procedures.

    b) Criminal procedures.

    c) Appeals.

 

VIII. European PIL and American PIL ¿ a comparative analysis:

8.1 Introductory remarks.

8.2 Role of the US in the main international rules and instruments:

   a) Commercial law.

   b) Maritime law.

   c) Judicial cooperation.

   d) Family law.

8.3 International commercial arbitration and the US.

a) The US Code and the Federal Arbitration Act

b) 1958 New York convention.

c) 1965 Washington convention.

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Bibliography

Access the bibliography that your professor has requested from the Library.


The teacher will share materials. 

Additionally you can resort to:

  • GÁMEZ GONZÁLEZ, R. y CUÑADO, F., Introducción al Common Law, Thomnson Aranzadi, 2017.
  • DOMINO, J.C., Civil Rights and Liberties in the 21st Century. Routledge, 2018.
  • BRADLEY. C., International Law in the US. Legal System, Oup, USA, ,2013.
  • FINE,T. M., An introduction to the Anglo-american legal system, Global Law Collection, Pamplona,Thomsom Aranzadi,2011.
  • TARDIF, E., Sistemas jurídicos contemporáneos. Derecho comparado. Limusa 2012.
  • SEROUSSI, Roland,Introduction aux droits anglais et américain, Paris, Dunod,2008.
  • ALCARAZ, Enrique, CAMPOS, Miguel Angel y MIGUELEZ, Cynthia. El inglés jurídico norteamericano,Ariel,2007.

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Languages

The course is given in English and most of the materials in class will be in English.

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Location

Public University of Navarre. Campus Arrosadia. Aulario.

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