Roots of European Law 4003-111pe
Economic grounds on which development of UE integration is based are important. Nevertheless one ought not to forget that common tradition and story are significant parts of European identity. In this perspective, the fact that continental legal systems are based on the achievements of Roman Law system is very important.
The course is aimed at delivering information about basic law notions present in the private law of the European Union, which have their origin in Roman Law. Awareness of the roots of European law notions will certainly help to understand the reasons of differences and similarities between the legal systems of various European countries.
During this course students should gain basic information about Roman as well as Canon Law. What it is even more they will have the opportunity to see that common tradition can be foundation of mutual understanding in the future.
Topics:
1. The role of Roman Law in the history of law in Europe. Sources of law. Classifications of law.
2. Family. Agnate and cognate kinship; how to calculate blood relationship.
3. Legal capacity. Capacity to legal transaction.
4. Basic notions concerning acts in law. Condition and time limit.
5. Ownership. Different types of acquisition of property. Protection of ownership.
6. Possession. The limited property rights.
7. The law of succession. Testamentary and intestate succession. Legitimate portion and legacy.
8. The law of obligations. Different types of obligations.
9. Contracts – short characteristics. Contracts in Roman Law and the doctrine of freedom of contract.
10. The concept of tort. Liability based on fault and liability based on risk.
11. Performance of obligations. Preliminary contract, forfeit.
12. Fundamental principles of civil procedure.
13. Canon law – basic notions.
14. Canon law as the law of Medieval Europe.
Student workload:
lecture - 30 h
preparation to the lecture - 30 h
preparation to the exam - 30 h
total - 90 h
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
After the course students should:
- show basic institutions of European law which stem from Roman law
- know basic rules of law-making and interpretation of law
- understand following concepts: act in law, legal personality, legal capacity and capacity for legal actions
- know different forms of property using
- know main types of contracts
- be able to analyze facts of the case and show how to find proper solution of the conflict
- count degrees of blood relationship
- define concepts: time limit and condition
- understand term “Canon law”
- show influence of Roman law and Canon law on European countries’ legal systems
- understands the significance of law in European studies.
Assessment criteria
Early oral exam dates for students who have completed classes with grade 4 or better.
Written exam during the winter end-of-term examinations:
- open questions - 0-2 points each
- multiple choice test (true/false questions) - 0-3 points each
- solution of cases (inter alia, degrees of blood relationship; time limits and conditions) – 0-6 points each.
Final grade depends on the results of each part of the exam – it is necessary to obtain more than 50% of points to pass the exam.
Bibliography
Selected fragments of W. Wołodkiewicz, M. Zabłocka, Prawo rzymskie. Instytucje, wyd. 4, Warszawa 2005.
Selected fragments of K. Sójka-Zielińska, Historia prawa, wyd. 10, Warszawa 2005 (on canon law).
W. Dajczak, Prawo rzymskie a rozwój europejskiego prawa prywatnego, [w:] Poszukiwanie Europy. Zjazd gnieźnieńskim a idea zjednoczonej Europy, Poznań 2000, s. 43-54;
W. Dajczak, Znaczenie tradycji prawa rzymskiego dla europejskiej harmonizacji prawa prywatnego, Państwo i Prawo, R.59, 2004 z.2 s. 57-68.
W. Dajczak, Poszukiwanie „wspólnego rdzenia” prawa prywatnego w Europie, Czasopismo Prawno-Historyczne 56, 2004 z. 2, s. 383-392.
texts indicated on the following lectures
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: