The Rule of Law (WCIV2800)
Information valid for Semester 1, 2025
Course level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
School
Humanities Arts Social Science
Units
2
Duration
One Semester
Attendance mode
In Person
Class hours
Lecture 1 Hour/ Week
Seminar 2 Hours/ Week
Prerequisite
WCIV1000 or 4 units of HUMN courses
Restricted
Restricted to students enrolled in the BAdvHum(Hons) and BHum/LLB(Hons). Maximum enrolment quota of 40 students.
Assessment methods
Weekly reflection, Class presentation, Research essay, exam.
Course enquiries
Doctor David Kearns (Semester 1, St Lucia, In person)
Current course offerings
| Course offerings | Location | Mode | Course Profile |
| Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025) | St Lucia | In Person | Course Profile |
Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.
Course description
The rule of law underpins Western conceptions of law and governance. According to this principle, government institutions are both constituted and constrained by law. From ancient roots, the rule of law has developed alongside other fundamental principles such as constitutionalism and the separation of powers, to become a cornerstone principle of just governance and a benchmark by which societies may be measured. But the nature of the rule of law is abstract, contested and dynamic. Centred around the reading of key texts, this course examines the evolution, conceptualisation and influence of the rule of law, from its role in the formation of the Western legal tradition to its global force and ubiquity today.
BAdvHum(Hons) students taking this course as an elective please email westernciv@uq.edu.au
Archived offerings
| Course offerings | Location | Mode | Course Profile |
| Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026) | St Lucia | In Person | Profile unavailable |
| Semester 1, 2024 (19/02/2024 - 15/06/2024) | St Lucia | In Person | Course Profile |
| Semester 1, 2023 (20/02/2023 - 17/06/2023) | St Lucia | In Person | Course Profile |
| Semester 1, 2022 (21/02/2022 - 21/06/2022) | St Lucia | Internal | Course Profile |
