Davors Deck Flashcards
What can common law be made by?
Parliament, and Judges
What is common law?
Law system influenced by England.
What is civil law?
A system which relies on statutory rules, often in a code.
What legal system does Australia have?
Common Law
When was Australi’s legal system established and what was it?
1788 - British declared Terra Nullius - ‘Empty Land’.
What six Australian colonies federated and when?
NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS - 1st January 1901.
What is the Australian Constitution?
Constitution which allowed Australia to make and apply law in Australia in 1900.
What did the Australian Constitution establish?
Framework for national governance, federal parliament and government, six state governments, power to make state-only laws.
What does the high court do?
Interprets constituion, decides meaning, settles disputes between federal and state governments.
Which law prevails in conflicts between state and federal levels?
Federal level.
What three groups is in the separation of power?
Parliament, Executive, Judiciary
In separation of powers, what does parliament do?
Parliament makes and amends written law (Senate/House of Reps).
In separation of powers, what do executives do?
Executive (government depts.) puts written law into action.
In separation of powers, what does the judiciary do?
Judiciary (Judges/High court) interprets and makes judgements about written and unwritten law.
What levels of local government apply to which states?
“QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, TAS - City or Regional.
ACT, NT - Regional Council Only(NT), ACT (No regional).”
What is the constitution act and when was it made?
In 1987, the consitution act (QLD) was made to provide framework for state governance.
What defines a territory in legal terms?
Land which does not belong to any state.
Who handles law in territories?
Federal parliament has power to make laws for government of territories, territories have limited right of self government.
What comprises written law?
Constituion, Acts of Parliament and Delegated Legislation.
What comprises unwritten law?
Case Law (Common Law, and Equity).
What is written law?
Law made by Parliament in the form of acts of parliament (acts, statutes, primary legislation)
What are examples of subordinate/delegated legislation?
Acts (instrument which delegates power), Regulations(technical act detail) and By-Laws.
How is inconsistency managed in written law?
Harmonisation of 9 parliaments with Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and when states surrender lawmaking power.
What is Unwritten Law?
Case law or judge-made law which is made by judges in courts when handing down decisions.
What is the hierachy of state/territory courts?
Local/Magistrate, District/Country, Supreme, Supreme Court of Appeal - High Court
What is the hierachy of federal courts?
Federal Circuit Court of AUS, Family/Federal Court of AUS, Family Court of Australia Court of Appeal - High Court
What is the doctrine of precedent?
Doctrine/binding precedent - which binds courts to follow previous decisions of other judges in cases of similar facts.
Does the high court need to follow doctrine of precedent?
No they are not bound to follow its own decisions, but generally will for consistency unless convinced of error in previous decision.
What is ratio decendi?
Legal reasons supporting decisions which are binding.
What is obiter dicta?
Judge’s expression of opinion is not binding on future cases.
How is doctrine of precedent approached from cases in other jurisdictions?
Cases may be persuasive, but not binding in other common law countries or other states.
What is common law?
Legal system using wirtten and unwritten law. Concerned with rules.
What is equity case law?
Law concerned with behaviour which includes additional remedies such as specific performance, injunctions, equitable rescission of contract.
What is the difference between criminal law and civil law?
Criminal - objective to punish persons guilty, montery fines, prison or service, breaches of work health and safety act. Objective for compensation for loss or domage due to wrongful conduct.
What is a contract?
An agreement which is enforceable, i.e. which the law will enforce.
Which contracts must be in writing?
Sale of Land, Building Contracts
What must be proven to sue in a breach of contract?
Existence of Contract, Breach of Terms, Loss or Harm
What four elements are required for an enforceable contract?
Offer, Acceptance, Consideration, Intention
What additional elements are required for an enforceable contract?
Capacity (Able), Meeting of Minds (Understanding)