Local government law

Civil service law

English translation to come

Local political institutions

The 'Institutions politiques locales' section invites students to analyse the power relationships between local political actors based on varying degrees of legal constraint.

To this end, the first part (taught by Professor Geoffrey Grandjean) focuses exclusively on the commune's political bodies (Conseil communal, Collège communal and Bourgmestre). The analysis of power relations is based on case studies: the replacement of a local councillor, the vote on constructive motions of no confidence (individual and collective) and post-election disputes. The case studies are systematically based on rulings by the Conseil d'État or other courts, depending on the subject in question. Students are invited to analyse these rulings in terms of the power relationships they structure and the constraints they place on local political life.

In addition, in order to fulfil their missions of local interest, local authorities can organise themselves in different ways, which are analysed during the course. The second part (taught by Ingrid Gabriel) looks at: 1) unilateral management methods: de facto management, de jure management and autonomous municipal/provincial management and 2) associative management methods: participation in commercial companies, intermunicipal companies, agreements between municipalities, project associations and municipal non-profit associations.

Civil service law

The course will enable students who have followed the course thoroughly and passed the exam to:

• master fundamental concepts in the subject, from a theoretical and practical point of view. The course will be a balance between theoretical teaching enabling an understanding of relevant concepts, and more practical parts aiming at applying these concepts to real cases (documents, procedural records of the State Council, etc.);
• apply concepts to practical situations similar to those encountered in the professions to which the degrees give access. The classes and exercises are designed and focussed on situations encountered by officials and civil servants, specialist lawyers and judges,  etc.;
• develop a critical analysis of the existing solutions, controversies and systems covered in class.

Local political institutions

At the end of the 'Institutions politiques locales' section, students will be able to:

- Familiarise themselves with and understand in detail the rulings of the Conseil d'État;
- Analyse the power relations structured by these rulings;
- Categorise the differing degrees of legal constraints on local political actors;
- Develop a critical approach to local politics.

Civil service law

This course is aimed at Masters students in law who therefore wish to specialise in the subject. They must have acquired a grasp of basic concepts through the course on public and administrative law.

Civil service law

The course will be divided into theoretical learning sessions and practical work sessions based on lectures. Working documents will be distributed in advance so that students can prepare for the classes.

Local political institutions

The learning activities consist of flipped classes. For each class session, students are asked to prepare and present one or more case studies based on the activity sheet distributed during the course presentation. At the end of each presentation, the other students ask questions of the students who have presented one or more case studies.

Civil service law

Face-to-face course

Local political institutions

Face-to-face course


Further information:

The course is given face-to-face and takes the form of in-depth discussions on the case studies presented by the students. Attendance is compulsory. Any absence is sanctioned by the withdrawal of one point per day of absence.

Civil service law

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège


Further information:

For each theory class, slides will be prepared in order to support the oral presentation.

Reading material (other than the course material) will be recommended on a regular basis for certain classes: relevant jurisprudence, specialised articles, etc.

Local political institutions

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège

Other site(s) used for course materials
- Orbi (http://hdl.handle.net/2268/262781)


Further information:

For the 'Institutions politiques locales' section, students should consult the documents available at the following address: http://hdl.handle.net/2268/262781.

Civil service law

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam


Additional information:

The examination will essentially aim at assessing students' capacity to resolve legal questions related to concrete situations, to apply the rules taught to situations not specifically covered during class, and to use their normative texts in order to find relevant information as well as to form concise and rigorous responses.

Part of the exam will be devoted to the written resolution of a case (based on a real tender document or public contract).

Another part will consist of orally presenting two issues relating to the subject. The presentation of these issues will give rise to additional questions which will test the students' knowledge of the subject.

Local political institutions

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Continuous assessment


Further information:

The continuous assessment is certificate-based. In other words, students are assessed on the basis of 1) their presentation and analysis of the case studies/themes and 2) their participation in the case study/themes discussions.

The following criteria are used to assess the students: 1) the completeness of the presentation of the case studies/themes, 2) the ability to explain the case studies/themes, 3) in a structured way, 4) the ability to identify the legal and political issues of the case studies/themes and 5) the ability to critically assess the case studies/themes presented.

There is no exam in January.

Local political institutions

For the 'Institutions politiques locales' section, the course sessions will be held on the following dates:

23 September (course presentation)

15 October: Ingrid Gabriel

5 November: Ingrid Gabriel

12 November: Ingrid Gabriel

19 November: Geoffrey Grandjean

26 November: Geoffrey Grandjean

Local political institutions

Pr. Dr Geoffrey Grandjean, Professeur à l'Université de Liège

Geoffrey.Grandjean@uliege.be