The Oxford Handbook of the Australian Constitution

Cheryl Saunders · Adrienne Stone

Mar 2018 · Oxford University Press

About this ebook

Constitutional law provides the legal framework for the Australian political and legal systems, and thus touches almost every aspect of Australian life. The Handbook offers a critical analysis of some of the most significant aspects of Australian constitutional arrangements, setting them against the historical, legal, political, and social contexts in which Australia's constitutional system has developed. It takes care to highlight the distinctive features of the Australian constitutional system by placing the Australian system, where possible, in global perspective. The chapters of the Handbook are arranged in seven thematically-grouped parts. The first, 'Foundations', deals with aspects of Australian history which have influenced constitutional arrangements. The second, 'Constitutional Domain', addresses the interaction between the constitution and other relevant legal systems and orders, including the common law, international law, and state constitutions. The third, 'Themes', identifies themes of special constitutional significance, including the legitimacy of the constitution, citizenship, and republicanism. The fourth, 'Practice and Process', deals with practical issues relevant to constitutional litigation, including the processes, techniques, and authority of the High Court of Australia. The final three parts deal with the structural building blocks of the Australian Constitutional system: 'Separation of Powers', 'Federalism', and the 'Protection of Rights.' Written by a team of experts drawn from academia and practice, the Handbook provides Australian and international readers alike with a reliable source of knowledge, understanding, and insight into the Australian Constitution.

Ratings and reviews

Very useful, including for lay persons (with no formal training in law) that are interested in the Constitution. I will admit, it's not quite as accessible to lay people as, "It's Your Constitution: Governing Australia Today," but it is simple enough to get the gist most of the time.

About the author

Cheryl Saunders is a Laureate Professor Emeritus at Melbourne Law School, She has specialist interests in Australian and comparative public law, including comparative constitutional law and methods, intergovernmental relations and constitutional design and change, on all of which she has written widely. Professor Saunders is a President Emeritus of the International Association of Constitutional Law, a former President of the International Association of Centres for Federal Studies, a former President of the Administrative Review Council of Australia and a senior technical advisor to the Constitution Building program of International IDEA. Professor Saunders was the founding Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Law. She has held visiting positions in law schools in many parts of the world. Professor Adrienne Stone holds a Chair at Melbourne Law School where she is also an ARC Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellow and Director of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies. Professor Stone researches in constitutional law and constitutional theory with particular attention to freedom of expression; the theoretical underpinnings of rights and judicial method in constitutional cases. She has published widely on these topics. Her Laureate Fellowship on the theme 'Balancing Diversity and Social Cohesion in Democratic Constitutions' investigates how Constitutions, in their design and in their application, can unify while nurturing the diversity appropriate for a complex, modern society. She is First Vice President of the International Association of Constitutional Law; Vice President of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law and is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.