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Teaching

Library
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Courses in the summer semester 2026

  • Lecture "Relations of the Basic Law to International and European Law" (Constitutional Law III)

    Wednesdays, 10-12 a.m., c.t., Astoria lecture theatre, Unterm Markt 8

    The Basic Law opens up the German legal order to European and international law in many ways and integrates the legal sources of European and international law into the German legal order. Following an increase in the importance of these sources of law in recent decades, we are currently in a phase of change, reorganisation and increasing tensions, which are reflected in international, European and constitutional law.

    The course will provide an overview of the international and European law aspects of state and constitutional law - in particular Articles 23-26, 32 and 59 of the Basic Law. The inclusion of international and European law in the national legal system, integration authorisation norms, the domestic distribution of competences of foreign powers, cross-border effects of fundamental rights and judicial control of foreign and European policy actions will be dealt with. Furthermore, the constitutional requirements for German integration into international organisations, in particular the European Union, and finally the constitutional requirements for military action, foreign missions of the Bundeswehr as well as potential alliance defence, are addressed. These questions will be explained using examples and cases.

    Literature:

    • Sauer, Staatsrecht III - Auswärtige Gewalt, Bezüge des Grundgesetzes zu Völker- und Europarecht, 8th ed. 2024
    • Paulus, Constitutional Law III with References to International and European Law, 2nd ed. 2021
    • Geiger, Constitutional Law III, 7th edition 2018
    • Calliess, Constitutional Law III - References to International and European Law, 4th ed. 2022
    • Schorkopf, Constitutional Law of International Relations, 2017
    • Krajewski, Public International Law, 3rd ed. 2023.

    Please register for the course in FriedolinExternal link.

    (This lecture will take place in German.)

  • Lecture "Advanced Public International Law" (SB 7, 8)

    Tuesdays, 2-4 p.m., c.t., Carl-Zeiß-Straße 3 - SR 207

    We are currently witnessing a change in the international order and international legal system: New actors, tensions and a backlash against liberal democracy and against international organisations are creating challenges for international problem solving through law. In order to better understand the current shifts, we will briefly recapitulate the foundations of international law (subjects and sources), and then look more closely at the political and legal institutions which the international legal system offers for the solution of today's political problems.

    Subsequently, we will look at several substantial areas of international law and the way in which they are structured: the law of international organisations, international dispute settlement, the law of international responsibility, the law(s) of peace and war, international trade law, international human rights law, international criminal law, and international climate protection. Students will be invited to participate actively by presenting current developments as well as participating in mini-moot courts for each unit.

    The lecture is open to students of the International Legal Studies Certificate, international (Erasmus) students, students of political sciences, students of the focus areas Public Law as well as International Law (7 and 8), and generally everyone with an interest in international law.

    Literature:

    • Crawford, Brownlie's Principles of Public International Law, 8th ed. 2019.
    • Hurd, International Organisations: Politics, Law, Practice, 4th edition, 2020
    • Klabbers, International Law, 4th ed, 2024
    • Klabbers, An Introduction to international organisations law, 4th edition, 2022
    • José Alvarez, International Organisations as Law-makers, 2009

    Please register for the course in FriedolinExternal link.

  • Exam revision course in public law

    Thursdays, 9 am - 1 pm, location to follow

    In the review course, exam-relevant matters of special administrative law and administrative procedural law are repeated and deepened on the basis of selected cases. Areas such as police and regulatory law, road law and municipal law are assigned to the four (subject) areas of intervention administration, service administration, planning and internal administration and are thus dealt with comprehensively. The review course is offered by Prof. Dr Knauff in the first half of the semester and by Prof. Dr Ley in the second half.

    Literature: Recommended literature will be announced in the review course.

    (This course will be held in German.)

  • Seminar - Rolle Internationaler Gerichte in der Krise des Völkerrechts / International Courts in times of Crisis (SB 1, 7, 8)

    In the summer semester 2026, Prof. Dr Isabelle Ley will hold a practice and exam seminar on "The role of international courts in the crisis of international law". Certificates can be obtained for specialisation areas 1, 7 and 8 as well as for the International Legal Studies degree programme. The application deadline for seminar papers (to be written at home) is 28 February 2026. All further information on the seminar can be found here.

    A field trip|study trip to The Hague is planned during the seminar. The number of participants is limited, so places will be allocated according to the order of the registration date.

    The preliminary seminar discussion will take place on 14 April 2026, 4-6 p.m. c.t., Room 2.43, C.-Z.-Str. 3.

    Registrationpdf, 122 kb · de for exam candidates (until 28 February 2026 - cut-off deadline!)

    Registrationpdf, 120 kb · de for practice candidates (until 7 April 2026)