Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
14681:IR18‐AE101 Introduction to Law (RB) § 14682:IR-AS101 Introduction to Law (RB) § 14683:Introduction to Law (RB) § 14684:RUIR-1801 Introduction to Law(RB) 2023 Fall Tue1 College　Of　Law,College　Of　Economics,College　Of　Business　Administration,College　Of　Social　Sciences,College　Of　International　Relations,College　Of　Letters,College　of　Image　Arts　and　Sciences,College　of　Information　Science　and　Engineering,College　of　Sport　and　Health　Science　(tentative　name) KITAMURA RIEKO 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

MEIGAKUKAN　MG001

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview to the law and legal principles.
The course will educate students on sources of law, interpretation of law, and basic laws common to most of the legal systems. Each class touches upon various cases, which allows the students to become familiar with reading legislation and cases.

Student Attainment Objectives

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students will be able to

- grasp the notion of law
- understand the general fields of law
- explain the relationship between law and society

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction

Self-introduction and ice-breaking

2

Definition of law

Introducing various standpoints

3

Sources

Formal sources of laws

4

Interpretation

Methods of applying laws

5

Constitutional Law

Governmental organisations and the Constitution (of Japan)

6

Human Rights

Basic concepts of human rights – freedom and equality

7

Civil Law

General principles; Contracts; Family law

8

Criminal Law

Nulla poena sine lege; Elements of a crime; Criminal defences; Criminal responsibility

9

Procedural Law

Structure of court system

10

International Law (1)

History of international law; Elements of international society

11

International Law (2)

Relationship between domestic and international law; Jurisdiction

12

International Law (3)

Territory; Humanitarian law

13

Static and Dynamic Law

Rethinking the definition of law

14

Paper assignment 1

Preparation for the assignment

15

Paper assignment 2

Course wrap-up; Students are to write a paper on a given topic

Class Format

BCP停止の場合は、BCPレベル0～2の記載どおりに授業が行われます。
During the suspension period of BCP, classes will be as described in BCP levels 0-2.

The class Format for each class will be announced on manaba+R’s course news. Also, the class format for the first class will be notified on manaba+R’s course news before the first class(*).
For “Special Consideration”, please check manaba+R’s College of IR Student Page and the “Study Support Site”.

College of IR Student Page：https://ct.ritsumei.ac.jp/ct/course_1728150
Study Support Site：https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/pathways-future/eng/

(*)To check the class format for the first class of the course, you will need to apply for the “early use request function.” Refer to the Registration Guidebook AY 2023 for details. Please be careful that applying for the early use request does not sign you up for the course. You will need to register for courses during the designated period separately.

Recommendations for Private Study

Students are advised to read the related sections of the recommended books before the classes.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

･12 small papers to submit in classes (50%)
･Check-ups paper at Lecture 15 (50%): Comprehension of the whole course will be checked by 1,000 words paper to write at the final lecture.

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Introduction to Law Beth Walston-Dunham Clifton Park 9781111311957
Law: a very short introduction Raymond Wacks Oxford University Press 9780198745624
An Introduction to Law Phil Harris Cambridge University Press 9780521132077
Introduction to Law Antonia Waltermann et al. Springer 9783319572512

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/