Universidad Pública de Navarra - Nafarroako Univertsitate Publikoa

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

See assigned classroom.

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