Lecture

Introduction to Law: Legal Concepts and State Principles

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In course

BIO-455: Introduction to law and ethics

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the basic legal and ethical concepts relevant to research in the life sciences and its translational application, and to provide them with the essential tools to identify legal and ethical issues in their ...

Description

This lecture introduces the purpose of law in life sciences, essential legal concepts, and legal reasoning. It covers the distinctions of law from other social norms, principles of a state of law, legislative process, sources of law, and the Swiss legal system. The lecture also discusses the hierarchy of norms, the Swiss Federal Constitution, and the legal framework for biomedical research. It explores the balance between human dignity, research freedom, and public interests. Additionally, it delves into the legal aspects of health, biomedical research regulations, and the judicial system in Switzerland.

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Related concepts (31)

Judicial review

Judicial review is a process under which executive, legislative and administrative actions are subject to review by the judiciary. A court with authority for judicial review may invalidate laws, acts and governmental actions that are incompatible with a higher authority: an executive decision may be invalidated for being unlawful or a statute may be invalidated for violating the terms of a constitution. Judicial review is one of the checks and balances in the separation of powers: the power of the judiciary to supervise the legislative and executive branches when the latter exceed their authority.

Judicial activism

Judicial activism is a judicial philosophy holding that the courts can and should go beyond the applicable law to consider broader societal implications of its decisions. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint. The term usually implies that judges make rulings based on their own views rather than on precedent. The definition of judicial activism and the specific decisions that are activist are controversial political issues. The question of judicial activism is closely related to judicial interpretation, statutory interpretation, and separation of powers.

Academic freedom

Academic freedom is a moral and legal concept expressing the conviction that the freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without fear of repression, job loss, or imprisonment.

Freedom of the press

Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely. Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through the constitution or other legal protection and security. It is in opposition to paid press, where communities, police organizations, and governments are paid for their copyrights.

Freedom House

Freedom House is a non-profit organization group in Washington, D.C. It is best known for political advocacy surrounding issues of democracy, political freedom, and human rights. Freedom House was founded in October 1941, with Wendell Willkie and Eleanor Roosevelt serving as its first honorary chairpersons. Its mission is to expand and defend freedom globally, and its vision is a world where all are free. Most of the organization's funding comes from U.S. and other government grants.

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