Administrative Law
Full course description
The primary functions of administrative law are: a) power-establishing - to enable the government to put its policies into effect; b) power-checking - to keep the powers of the government within their legal boundaries, so as to protect those affected (citizens and companies) against their abuse.
The course Administrative Law provides an introduction to these functions of administrative law. It will also discuss the main characteristics and nuances that each of these functions can take in selected legal systems representing the main families of administrative law systems in Europe, namely France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (mainly England and Wales). The course concentrates on the following themes: 1) the administrative decision-making process and its outcome (the forms of administrative action); 2) the general principles regulating administrative decision-making and the concept of discretion; 3) the access to administrative courts; 4) the remedies against abuses of the administration.
Course objectives
Throughout this course, students will be able to explain and discuss the main concepts/structuring themes of administrative law. They will also be able to critically examine these themes as they develop in legal systems representing the main families of administrative law systems in Europe - France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. Furthermore, they will be able to compare specific differences and similarities between these four administrative law systems, as well as others. Finally, the course will instruct students to use administrative law to address legal issues in multiple legal systems.
Recommended reading
- A reader
- Casebook Judicial Review of Administrative Action – the Maastricht Edition (Hart, 2020).