Government intervention in the financial and social affairs of citizens has increased dramatically in the last fifty years. As a result, government administrative decisions continually affect the everyday lives of people. Many of these decisions are discretionary. Modern administrative law has grown to meet the need for governments, rather than the courts, to supervise the exercise of administrative power so that injustice resulting from misuse of power can be avoided. The merits review system is an integral part of this administrative law. The effectiveness of the merits review system is dependent upon how Parliament makes provision for merits review in the legislative process. The object of this thesis is to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of the scope of the Commonwealth administrative law merits review system. An evaluation of the availability of rights of review of the merits of Commonwealth administrative decisions will determine the extent to which Commonwealth law provides for merits review of administrative decisions. This thesis makes such an evaluation by undertaking an empirical study of the merits review provisions in Commonwealth legislation. The empirical study analyses 1,070 Commonwealth statutes and establishes that there are 340 statutes that confer power to make a reviewable decision or decisions. However, only 30 percent of these statutes provide for merits review of all reviewable decisions, while 44 percent provide for merits review of some decisions and 26 percent do not provide for merits review of any decisions. Consequently, the empirical study identifies inconsistencies in the provision of merits review of Commonwealth administrative decisions. The Australian parliamentary executive system of government has permitted a breakdown in the legislative drafting process that has allowed these inconsistencies to develop. Moreover, the executive arm of the Commonwealth government has diminished its accountability to Parliament for some of the administrative decisions made by it. A person affected by an unreviewable administrative decision may be treated unjustly as a result.

Government intervention in the financial and social affairs of citizens has increased dramatically in the last fifty years. As a result, government administrative decisions continually affect the everyday lives of people. Many of these decisions are discretionary. Modern administrative law has grown to meet the need for governments, rather than the courts, to supervise the exercise of administrative power so that injustice resulting from misuse of power can be avoided. The merits review system is an integral part of this administrative law. The effectiveness of the merits review system is dependent upon how Parliament makes provision for merits review in the legislative process. The object of this thesis is to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of the scope of the Commonwealth administrative law merits review system. An evaluation of the availability of rights of review of the merits of Commonwealth administrative decisions will determine the extent to which Commonwealth law provides for merits review of administrative decisions. This thesis makes such an evaluation by undertaking an empirical study of the merits review provisions in Commonwealth legislation. The empirical study analyses 1,070 Commonwealth statutes and establishes that there are 340 statutes that confer power to make a reviewable decision or decisions. However, only 30 percent of these statutes provide for merits review of all reviewable decisions, while 44 percent provide for merits review of some decisions and 26 percent do not provide for merits review of any decisions. Consequently, the empirical study identifies inconsistencies in the provision of merits review of Commonwealth administrative decisions. The Australian parliamentary executive system of government has permitted a breakdown in the legislative drafting process that has allowed these inconsistencies to develop. Moreover, the executive arm of the Commonwealth government has diminished its accountability to Parliament for some of the administrative decisions made by it. A person affected by an unreviewable administrative decision may be treated unjustly as a result.

Government intervention in the financial and social affairs of citizens has increased dramatically in the last fifty years. As a result, government administrative decisions continually affect the everyday lives of people. Many of these decisions are discretionary. Modern administrative law has grown to meet the need for governments, rather than the courts, to supervise the exercise of administrative power so that injustice resulting from misuse of power can be avoided. The merits review system is an integral part of this administrative law. The effectiveness of the merits review system is dependent upon how Parliament makes provision for merits review in the legislative process. The object of this thesis is to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of the scope of the Commonwealth administrative law merits review system. An evaluation of the availability of rights of review of the merits of Commonwealth administrative decisions will determine the extent to which Commonwealth law provides for merits review of administrative decisions. This thesis makes such an evaluation by undertaking an empirical study of the merits review provisions in Commonwealth legislation. The empirical study analyses 1,070 Commonwealth statutes and establishes that there are 340 statutes that confer power to make a reviewable decision or decisions. However, only 30 percent of these statutes provide for merits review of all reviewable decisions, while 44 percent provide for merits review of some decisions and 26 percent do not provide for merits review of any decisions. Consequently, the empirical study identifies inconsistencies in the provision of merits review of Commonwealth administrative decisions. The Australian parliamentary executive system of government has permitted a breakdown in the legislative drafting process that has allowed these inconsistencies to develop. Moreover, the executive arm of the Commonwealth government has diminished its accountability to Parliament for some of the administrative decisions made by it. A person affected by an unreviewable administrative decision may be treated unjustly as a result.

The purpose of this thesis is to elaborate the inventory of Jewish possessions in the town district of Sedlcany which would provide an answer to the economic and social status of this persecuted minority. The primary sources are the record-keeping cards from the Jewish card files, the registration of the Jewish landed estate in the town district of Sedlcany, the police entries, as well as, the population census from 1930. The acquired information about the Jewish possessions relates to the year 1940 too, therefore, this thesis is also focused on the period of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The first chapter briefly engages the reader with the history of the Jews in Bohemia with a specific focus of the town district of Sedlcany. The key part of this work is the detailed outline of the encoroachment on the economic life of the Jews not only in the Third Reich, but also on which ?the Aryan race? received their possessions. The key part of this thesis is a list of the Jewish population living in the town district of Sedlcany and nearby villages before deportations, an overview of family ties, and also an overview of movable and inmovable assets of individuals. Another essential charter of this work is the restituion of thirteen survivers that emphasises the response of the country and individuals to the return of the Jews after the Second World Ward and the progress of the administrative process. At last, this thesis offers charts, tables, maps with highlighted municipalities where the Jews had lived, and also three maps illustrating the Jewish settlement in the town district of Sedlcany, and the municipalities of Kosova Hora and Petrovice. It further illustrates a family tree of the Lurie family from Petrovice, an inventory list of goods from Lurie?s shop in Petrovice and, last but no least, photos of some Jews living in the district of Sedlcany in 1940.

af / Suid-Afrika is sedert 27 April 1994 'n materiele regstaat, wat deur beide uitdruklike en 'ongeskrewe' fundamentele waardes onderskraag word. Dit is juis hierdie fundamentele waardes wat 'n blote formele konstitusie (as grondslag van 'n relative democracy) van 'n oppermagtige grondwet (as basis van 'n materiele standard-setting democracy) onderskei. Alhoewel daar 'n lewendige debat oor die toepaslikheid van die talle tradisionele grondwetuitlegmetodes gevoer word, is daar nietemin tans geen oorhoofse waardebaseerde paradigma vir grondwetuitleg nie. Soms wil dit voorkom asof fundamentele grondwetlike waardes net as normatiewe retoriek, in stede van materiele riglyn, by grondwetuitleg gebruik word. Die owerheidsgesag is aan hoer normatiewe regsbeginsels gebonde wat grotendeels in die fundamentele regte-akte (as deel van 'n oppermagtige grondwet) vervat is. Die gewaarborgde fundamentele regte dien derhalwe as konkretisering van beide die regstaat en die demokrasie: die materiele regstaatbegrip is die basis van _die grondwetlike staat. Die materiele regstaat, as geregtigheidstaat, kan dus gesien word as die eindbestemming van die grondwet as lex fundamentalis in die regsorde. 'n Oppermagtige grondwet is egter onlosmaaklik verbind aan die materiele regstaat. Daarom behels grondwetuitleg noodwendig die aktivering van die grondwetlik-gepositiveerde waardes. Hierdie normatiewe regsbeginsels en fundamentele waardes wat in die grondwet as grundnorm van die geregtigheidstaat beliggaam is, moet dan deur 'n onafhanklike regbank gehandhaaf en afgedwing word. In beginsel is grondwetuitleg gemoeid met die identifisering, handhawing en aktivering van die fundamentele waardes wat 'n oppermagtige grondwet onderskraag. Waarde-aktiverende grondwetuitleg is nietemin nie 'n bloudruk waarmee aile praktiese uitlegprobleme opgelos kan word nie, maar 'n oorhoofse waardebaseerde paradigma: 'n dwingende, normatiewe verwysingsraamwerk waarvandaan, waarbinne en waarheen grondwetuitleg op pad is. Die tradisionele grondwetuitlegmetodiek is bloat aanvullende tegnieke wat 'n waarde-aktiverende paradigma van grondwetuitleg ondersteun. Aangesien fundamentele waardes onlosmaaklik deel van die materiele regstaat is, moet grondwetuitleg nie net waardebaseer nie, maar ook waardegerig wees; nie net waardes handhaaf nie, maar ook bevorder en aktiveer; nie net waardes weerspieel nie, maar ook aktief vestig. 86 'n raamwerk vir grondwetuitleg behels die 'animering' en konkretisering van fundamentele waardes, ideale en standaarde wat die materiele regstaat onderle, kortom, waarde-aktiverende grondwetuitleg as vergestalting van die materiele regstaat. / On 27 April1994 South Africa became a constitutional state (Rechtsstaat), underpinned by both express, and 'unwritten' fundamental constitutional values. These values represent the distinction between a formal constitution (ie the basis of a relative democracy), and a supreme constitution (the foundation of a material standard-setting democracy). Although the merits of various methods of constitutional interpretation are hotly debated, no general value-based paradigm for constitutional interpretation has yet been established. At times it seems as if fundamental constitutional values are merely invoked as normative rhetoric during constitutional interpretation, rather than as substantive guidelines. Government institutions are bound by these higher normative legal principles, which in a supreme constitution are articulated primarily in the bill of fundamental rights. The guaranteed fundamental rights are a concretisation of both the constitutional state and democracy: the material law state principle (Rechtsstaatprinzip) as the foundation of the constitutional state. The Rechtsstaat as 'just state' is the ultimate goal of a supreme constitution as lex fundamentalis in the legal order. A supreme constitution is inextricably linked to the Rechtsstaat. As a result, constitutional interpretation inevitably involves animating and activating values positivised within the constitution.These normative legal principles and fundamental values must be maintained and enforced by an independent judiciary. In principle, constitutional interpretation deals with the identification, maintenance and animation of the fundamental values underlying a supreme constitution. Value-activating constitutional interpretation is not a blueprint for resolving all practical interpretive problems, but it is a general value-based paradigm: a peremptory, normative frame of reference from which, within which and towards which all constitutional interpretation should be directed. The traditional methodologies of constitutional interpretation are merely ancillary techniques supporting a value-activating paradigm of constitutional interpretation. Since fundamental values undeniably form part of the Rechtsstaat, constitutional interpretation should not only be value-based, but also values-directed; should not merely uphold the values, but also promote and activate them; should not only reflect the values, but also actively establish them. Such a framework for constitutional interpretation involves the animation and concretisation of the fundamental values, standards and ideals underlying the constitutional state: valueactivating constitutional interpretation as embodiment of the Rechtsstaat. / Law / LL.D. (Law)

The Constitution stipulates that its value-commitments are to inform the interpretation of statutes and the development of the common law and customary law. Legislative construction and law-application generally are therefore to be perceived as involving an axiological dimension. Three hermeneutical traditions are dealt with to the end of clarifying the approaches to be adopted in everyday legal• argumentation. The study culminates in the adduction of leads for substantive !juridical argument in the process of statutory interpretation and in handling common-law and customary-law sources. These leads are shown to be functional byi way of a critical discussion of recent case law and a conspectus of contemporary t~ought bearing on the nature of customary law. The social dimension of the legal process is throughout underscored as a factor of significance. Concomitantly, it is rcigistered that the jurisprudence of formalism, so marked an attitude of a previous time, should be abjured to the extent that it is disdainful of value-commitment. Conformably, literalist and literalist-cumintentionalist perceptions as well as kindred stances are berated. The penultimate chapter of this thesis suggests an encompassing approach to the interpretation of statutes, comprised of a systematic tabulation of insights previously garnered. The fmal chapter postulates that common law and customary law are not to be dealt with upon an interchangeable basis, inasmuch as the sources go out from radically divergent premises. It then proceeds to elaborate a conceptual framework for dealing respectively with each of these sources. / Law / LL.D.

Cette étude est consacrée au droit privé fédéral et à l'interaction entre la législation fédérale et le droit privé des provinces. Elle porte plus précisément sur le rôle des tribunaux dans le cadre de cette interaction. Elle a pour objectif de vérifier comment les juges procèdent à l'unification du droit privé fédéral en évitant de recourir formellement au droit provincial à titre supplétif. Dans un premier temps, elle établit le cadre juridique gouvernant l'interprétation du droit privé fédéral, de même que l'exercice du pouvoir judiciaire dans ce contexte. Dans un deuxième temps, elle analyse à travers un ensemble de jugements les procédés employés par les juges pour réaliser l'unification du droit privé fédéral. Elle conclut que ces procédés peuvent effectivement permettre de réaliser, au plan pratique, une telle unification. Cependant, ces interventions judiciaires sont ponctuelles et sont limitées à certains aspects de la conception ou de l'application des normes de droit privé. Dans les cas plus problématiques, elles peuvent avoir pour effet soit de nier le vide normatif rendant nécessaire le recours aux sources supplétives provinciales, soit de nier la pluralité formelle de ces sources dans le contexte fédéral. / This study is devoted to federal private law and the interaction between federal legislation and provincial private law. In particular, it is devoted to the role of the courts in such interaction. Hs objective is to assess how judges proceed with the unification of federal private law by avoiding formal reference to provincial law to supplement federal legislation. Firstly, the study considers the legal framework governing the interpretation of federal private law, as well as the exercise of judicial power in this context. Secondly, the study reviews means employed by judges, through a series of judgments, to proceed with the unification of federal private law. The study concludes that unification can effectively be achieved through such means. However, these judicial interventions are limited to sorne aspects of the elaboration and application ofprivate norms. In more complex cases, the effect of these interventions may be to disregard normative gaps that make necessary to supplement federal legislation with sources of provincial law, or to deny the plurality of these sources in the federal context.

This is a study of official documents published by and for the Cape colonial Parliament from the mid nineteenth century, when the parliamentary system of government began in South Africa, to the early years of the twentieth century, when the Cape colony was incorporated into the Union of South Africa. The constitutional framework within which government and parliamentary publishing took place is outlined, and the relevance of each type of document to the work of Parliament and the present-day researcher is explained. Emphasis has been placed on the administration of the publishing process from conceptualization through the printing stages to distribution and finally to the disposal of surplus material. The study concludes with an investigation of the current status of Cape parliamentary publications respecting preservation issues and the exploitation of the material for research purposes in libraries and archives, and some remarks on future trends. Particular attention has been given to use of the Dutch language in the predominantly English language Cape Parliament and the hitherto neglected effect this had on official publishing. Copious footnotes and seven appendixes have been supplied to make this study thoroughly comprehensive. / Information Science / M.Info. (Information Science)

Prior to 1994, South African taxpayers had little protection from fiscal legislation or the decisions, actions or conduct of the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) that violated their common law rights. Parliament reigned supreme and in tax matters, the strict and literal approach to the interpretation of statutes was employed, with the judiciary often quoting the mantra that there is “no equity about tax”. The Income Tax Act (Act No 58 of 1962) was littered with discriminatory and unfair provisions based on age, religion, sex and marital status. Even unreasonable decisions taken by SARS could not be reviewed by the judiciary as “unreasonableness” was not a ground for review of the exercise of a discretion by SARS. On 27 April 1994, the constitutional order changed. Parliamentary supremacy was replaced with constitutional supremacy and the rights to privacy, equality, human dignity, property and just administrative action were codified in a Bill of Rights. The codification of these fundamental rights has materially changed the nature and extent of the rights of South African taxpayers. The objective of this thesis, therefore, is to identify, analyse and discuss South African taxpayers’ rights from a constitutional perspective. The following major conclusions can be drawn from the research done: - the judiciary have been forced to reappraise their approach to the interpretation of statutes from a “strict and literal” to a “purposive” approach that is in accordance with the values underpinning the new constitutional order; - new legislation has amended some of the so-called “reverse” onus of proof provisions that were constitutionally unsound – this should result in greater fairness and consistency for affected taxpayers especially in the area of when penalties may be imposed; - the concept of clean hands and good facts can influence the judiciary when arguing that a taxpayer’s right to just administrative action has been violated; and - discriminatory and unfair legislation and conduct on the part of SARS may and should be attacked on a substantive law basis, especially where human dignity is at stake. The overall conclusion is that taxpayers’ rights are more far-reaching than prior to 1994 but still have some way to go before they are fully interpreted and developed. / Accounting Science / D.Compt.

Conçu dans la période postérieure aux guerres révolutionnaires européennes, renforcé à la veille des relations internationales contemporaines, le fonctionnaire international, plus qu’un concept, témoigne de la dynamique qui est née et qui caractérise les relations interétatiques. Mieux appréhendé par leurs interactions dans de multiples arènes (économie, consultations, études, diplomatie, politique, actions de terrains), les fonctionnaires internationaux sont définis par un nouveau type d’organisations par le biais desquelles ils incarnent et réalisent leurs buts. Ils caractérisent ainsi tant les agents des organisations internationales dites “traditionnelles” (Société des Nations, Organisation des Nations Unies, Organisation du Traité de l’Atlantique Nord, Union Africaine, Conseil de l’Europe) que celles “spécifiques” (Union Européenne, Communauté Economique des Etats d’Afrique de l’Ouest, La Communauté Andine des Nations, le Marché du Cône Sud). De cette situation, le concept unique de fonctionnaire international a évidemment émergé par la systématisation de plusieurs auteurs. Il ne pouvait en être autrement, ce par la convergence des statuts juridiques (en matière de règles relatives au recrutement, de privilèges et d’immunités fonctionnels, droits acquis) de ceux qu’on considère comme les piliers de l’organisation, notamment les agents de l’Union européenne et ceux de l’Organisation des Nations Unies. Toutefois, malgré cette première évidence, il est certain, et l’analyse comparative à laquelle cette étude s’élit en fournit les clefs, que le concept de fonctionnaire international unique ne soit pas approprié pour les agents que nous considérons archétypes de deux types d’organisations mues par des finalités complémentaires certes mais divergentes à plus d’un titre. A ces fins, l’étude de l’insertion institutionnelle des fonctionnaires et la loyauté, somme toute, cardinale qui en découle définitivement écarte toute prétention d’unité des fonctionnaires par l’érection d’un fonctionnaire extraétatique qui serait ce concept unifiant ces agents des gouvernants spéciaux. / Created after the european revolutionary wars and reinforced in the run up of the contemporary international relations, the international civil servant more than a concept, testifies of dynamics that generated and which characterizes interstates relations. International civil servants are defined through new types of organizations they embody and through which they achieve their purposes. The different arenas in which they interact (economics, consultancies, studies, diplomacy, politics, and field actions) underline their function. They therefore represent both the agents of international organizations known as "traditional" (League of Nations, United Nations Organization, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, African Union, Council of Europe) as well as those of the “specific" ones (European Union, Economic Community of West African States, Andean Community of Nations, Common Market of Southern Cone). From this situation a single concept for the international civil servant as emerged through the systemization of several authors. It could not be any other way, because of the similarities in the legal status (relating to recruitment rules, functional privileges and immunities, acquired rights) of those considered as the pillars of the organizations, in particular between the European Union and the United Nations Organization’s agents. However, despite this first conclusion, the present study obviously shows through a comparative analysis that a single (common) concept of the international civil servant is not appropriated for the agents we considere as archetypes of two types of organizations driven by purposes that are complementary but different for more than one reason. For those purposes, the study of the institutional insertion of the civil servants and the loyalty that derives from it definitely eliminates the theory of a single concept for civil servants through the institution of an extrastate civil servant, a concept meant to unify these special rulers’ agents.