Foundations of Law

Teacher(s)

Bazier Pierre; Bonbled Nicolas; Marique Enguerrand; Slingeneyer de Goeswin Thibaut; Vanderschuren Justin;

Language

French

Main themes

The first part of the course examines the institutional environment by examining the various legal provisions applicable. This involves identifying regulations (international Treaties, regulations and European Community directives, the Belgian Constitution, federal laws, decrees and prescriptions of the communities and regions…), the authorities from which they emanate (who makes the international treaties? Where do Community and regional decrees come from?…), their development (how are these regulations drawn up and published?), and their material field of application (what is the competence of the federal authority? what is the field of action of the communities and regions?). The second part is primarily focused on fundamental issues relating to legal transactions, through which the individual is able to implement his/her legal right to freedom of action (autonomy of will, consensualism, conditions of validity of an act, proof, implementation). Students will be taught the basic principles governing civil liability (conditions of implementation, fault, compensation)

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	This course aims to give a clear picture of the institutional and legal environment of Belgian society through the legal provisions in place, to enable students to understand the difference between Law imposed by public authority and Law that individuals are permitted to draw up for their own needs, through legal acts and contracts. The focus of the course is on analyzing and understanding a range of texts currently in force (international treaties, Belgian Constitution, laws, decrees and prescriptions) and understanding the reasons behind the solutions they impose and the mechanics behind their implementation. In this way, students should gain an initial overview which, because it is about Law, should alert them to certain basic realities: precise concepts (cancellation, abrogation, suspension), relevance (not to confuse the thing involved, its causes and its consequences) and correct analysis and expression (how is a federal law different from a regional decree?).

Content

Introductory chapter The concept of Law The branches of Law Part I: the sources of general and abstract rules Systematic study of the rules of national law (Constitution, laws, decree, prescriptions, collective agreement, habit, case law, etc…) and international law (European Union, European Communities, European Convention of human rights). Part II: Introduction to private law General theory of legal transaction (Concepts, classifications, constituent components, irregularity sanctions , criminal and contractual responsibility). Method The course consists entirely of lectures: there is no accompanying practical work or review sessions.

Evaluation methods

Methods of assessing student achievement for the LESPO1122D course:
* The assessment covers all of the material seen in the course. This is the material developed in the syllabus. The “memory” parts of the syllabus are not part of the exam material.
* The assessment of achievements is done by means of a written exam. There are three types of questions: 1) “MCQ” type questions; 2) Code manipulation questions; 3) open application and restitution questions. The MCQ part consists of 15 items with 4 answer options. One point is awarded for each correct answer and no points are awarded for no answer or incorrect answer.
* The student may be in possession of and use in the exam the legislative and regulatory texts expressly authorized by the course instructor. No annotations may appear on these texts (except for cross-references between articles). Precise instructions and examples will be given during the lecture.
* The assessment methods are identical in the first session and the second session.

Other information

Course entry requirements: there are no particular entry requirements. Students should however possess an accurate knowledge of the French language and some idea, however elementary, of how society is organized. Evaluation: students' acquisition of the subject matter is tested through an examination Course materials: there is a course handout summarising the course. This summary is built on in the lectures. The course also makes reference to a number of texts (Code, etc…) and students are expected to become familiar with these texts in order to fully understand the subject matter.

Bibliography

Pour les cours LESPO1122A et LESPO1122B: 
* J.-M. Hausman et J. Vanderschuren (dir.), Manuel d'introduction au droit. Tour d'horizon en quinze leçons, Bruxelles, Politea, 2021;
* textes législatifs et réglementaires mentionnées au cours et repris dans le Code Bac (nouvelle édition chaque année académique);
* Powerpoint du cours magistral.
Pour le cours LESPO1122C :
* Powerpoint du cours magistral, accessible sur la plate-forme Moodle et sur Teams ;
* J.-M. Hausman et J. Vanderschuren (dir.), Manuel d'introduction au droit. Tour d'horizon en quinze leçons, Bruxelles, Politea, 2023 ;
* Code pour l'économie et la gestion, vol. A et B, Bruxelles, la Charte (recueil de textes juridiques) ou autres textes juridiques, disponibles sur la plate-forme Moodle et sur Teams, expressément autorisés par le titulaire du cours ;
* Autres documents identifiés comme matière du cours par le titulaire du cours, accessibles sur la plate-forme Moodle et sur Teams.
Pour le cours LESPO1122D:
*Powerpoint du cours magistral, accessible sur la plate-forme Moodle
*Syllabus
*Code Bac Vol. I Généralités (éd. La Charte)
* Lecture conseillée : J.-M. Hausman et J. Vanderschuren (dir.), Manuel d'introduction au droit. Tour d'horizon en quinze leçons, Bruxelles, Politea, 2023.

Teaching materials

• Pour les cours LESPO1122A et LESPO1122B : Manuel d'introduction au droit (Politeia, 2023 (2e édition))
• Pour le cours LESPO1122C (P. Bazier) : Powerpoint du cours magistral accessible sur la plate-forme Moodle
• Pour le cours LESPO1122C (P. Bazier) : Code BAC – Economie / Gestion / Sciences humaines (la Charte - die Keure) (recueil de textes juridiques) ou autres textes juridiques, disponibles sur Moodle et autorisés par le titulaire du cours
• Pour le cours LESPO1122C (P. Bazier) : autres documents identifiés comme matière du cours par le titulaire du cours, accessibles sur la plate-forme Moodle
• Pour le cours LESPO1122C (P. Bazier) : J.-M. Hausman et J. Vanderschuren (dir.), Manuel d'introduction au droit. Tour d'horizon en quinze leçons, Bruxelles, Politea, 2021, 647 pages (support de la matière vue au cours magistral)
• Pour les cours LESPO1122A et LESPO122B : textes législatifs et réglementaires mentionnées au cours et repris dans le Code Bac (nouvelle édition chaque année académique)
• Pour le cours LESPO1122D : Syllabus (via La Duc)
• Pour le cours LESPO1122D : Powerpoint du cours magistral (via Moodle)
• Pour le cours LESPO1122D : Code Bac Vol. I Généralités (éd. La Charte)
• Pour les cours LESPO1122A et LESPO1122B : Powerpoint du cours magistral

Faculty or entity

> ESPO