Nicholas Aroney
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Professor
Nicholas Aroney
Email: : n.aroney@law.uq.edu.au
Phone: : +61 7 336 53053
Positions
Centre Director of Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law : Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law : Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Affiliate of Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law : Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law : Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Professor : School of Law : Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Overview
Background
Nicholas Aroney is Professor of Constitutional Law at The University of Queensland, Director (Public Law) of the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law and a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Law and Religion at Emory University. In 2010 he received a four-year Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council to study comparative federalism and in 2021 he secured an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant to investigate the nature and function of constituent power in federal systems. He has held visiting positions at Oxford, Cambridge, Paris II, Edinburgh, Durham, Padua, Sydney, Emory and Tilburg universities.
Professor Aroney has published over 160 journal articles, book chapters and books in the fields of constitutional law, comparative constitutional law and legal theory. He has led several international research projects in comparative federalism, bicameralism, legal pluralism, and law & religion, and he speaks frequently at international conferences on these topics. His most notable publications in these fields include: The Constitution of a Federal Commonwealth: The Making and Meaning of the Australian Constitution (Cambridge University Press, 2009), Shari'a in the West (Oxford University Press, 2010) (edited with Rex Ahdar), The Future of Australian Federalism (Cambridge University Press, 2012) (edited with Gabrielle Appleby and Thomas John), The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia: History, Principle and Interpretation (Cambridge University Press, 2015) (with Peter Gerangelos, James Stellios and Sarah Murray), Courts in Federal Countries (Toronto University Press, 2017) (edited with John Kincaid), The Routledge Handbook of Subnational Constitutions and Constitutionalism (Routledge 2021) (edited with Patricia Popelier and Giacomo Delledone) and Christianity and Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press, 2022) (edited with Ian Leigh).
Professor Aroney is a former editor of The University of Queensland Law Journal (2003-2005) and International Trade and Business Law Annual (1996-1998), and a past secretary of the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy. He is a past member of the Governing Council and the current Co-Convenor of the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Association of Constitutional Law. He is also a member of the editorial advisory board of the American Journal of Jurisprudence, Public Law Review, Australian Journal of Law and Religion and International Trade and Business Law Review. He has made numerous influential submissions to government and parliamentary inquiries and in 2013 undertook a review of the Crime and Misconduct Act for the Queensland Government with the Hon Ian Callinan AC QC, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia. In 2017 he was appointed by the Australian Prime Minister to an Expert Panel to advise on whether Australian law adequately protects the human right to freedom of religion.
Professor Aroney joined the Law School in 1995 after working with a major national law firm and acting as a legal consultant in the field of building and construction law.
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Availability
Professor Nicholas Aroney is: : Available for supervision : Media expert
Fields of research
Australian government and politics Comparative government and politics Comparative law Constitutional law History and philosophy of law and justice History and philosophy of specific fields Human Society International and comparative law Law and Legal Studies Law and religion Law in context Legal theory, jurisprudence and legal interpretation Philosophy and Religious Studies Political science Political theory and political philosophy Public law
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, University of New South Wales
- Bachelor (Honours) of Law, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Law, The University of Queensland
Research interests
-
Australian constitutional law
Read more Read less - #### Comparative constitutional law
Read more Read less - #### Discrimination
Read more Read less - #### Equal opportunity law
Read more Read less - #### Federalism
Read more Read less - #### Legal history
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Works
Search Professor Nicholas Aroney’s works on UQ eSpace
All (282) Book (12) Journal Article (98) Other Outputs (8) Edited Outputs (2) Conference Publication (94) Book Chapter (68)
Featured
2015
Book
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia: History, Principle and Interpretation
Aroney, Nicholas T., Peter Gerangelos, James Stellios and Sarah Murray (2015). The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia: History, Principle and Interpretation. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
The Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia: History, Principle and Interpretation
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Reserved matters, legislative purpose and the referendum on Scottish independence
Aroney, Nicholas T. (2014). Reserved matters, legislative purpose and the referendum on Scottish independence. Public Law, 2014 (3), 421-443.
Reserved matters, legislative purpose and the referendum on Scottish independence
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Freedom of religion as an associational right
Aroney, Nicholas (2014). Freedom of religion as an associational right. University of Queensland Law Journal, 33 (1), 153-186.
Freedom of religion as an associational right
Featured
2009
Book
The Constitution of a Federal Commonwealth: The making and meaning of the Australian Constitution
Aroney, Nicholas T. (2009). The Constitution of a Federal Commonwealth: The making and meaning of the Australian Constitution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511609671
The Constitution of a Federal Commonwealth: The making and meaning of the Australian Constitution
2026
Book Chapter
Federal vs unitary constituent power
Aroney, Nicholas (2026). Federal vs unitary constituent power. Oxford handbook of constituent power. (pp. forthcoming-forthcoming) edited by Peter Niesen, Markus Patberg and Lucia Rubinelli. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Federal vs unitary constituent power
2025
Conference Publication
The ends of the Australian constitutional order
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). The ends of the Australian constitutional order. The Ends of Australian Constitutionalism, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2 December 2025.
The ends of the Australian constitutional order
2025
Conference Publication
The juristocracy-populism feedback loop: Australia's constitutional exceptionalism
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). The juristocracy-populism feedback loop: Australia's constitutional exceptionalism. Judicial Independence in Australia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 6 December 2025.
The juristocracy-populism feedback loop: Australia's constitutional exceptionalism
2025
Conference Publication
A comparative method for the study of constituent power in federal systems
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). A comparative method for the study of constituent power in federal systems. Comparative Constitutional Law Roundtable, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 3-5 December 2025.
A comparative method for the study of constituent power in federal systems
2025
Book Chapter
On the Theological Grounds of a Philosophical Jurisprudence The Simplicity of God and the Nature of Law
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). On the Theological Grounds of a Philosophical Jurisprudence The Simplicity of God and the Nature of Law. Jurisprudence and Theology: The Australian School. (pp. 181-198) Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003592464-14
2025
Conference Publication
Constituent power in multilevel constitutions: theory, comparison and case selection
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). Constituent power in multilevel constitutions: theory, comparison and case selection. Centre for Asian Legal Studies, Singapore, 6 August 2025.
Constituent power in multilevel constitutions: theory, comparison and case selection
2025
Conference Publication
Cole Durham’s ‘loop’ theory: a proposed third dimension
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). Cole Durham’s ‘loop’ theory: a proposed third dimension. Religion-State Relations and Freedom of Religion Conference, Oxford, United Kingdom, 16-17 July 2025.
Cole Durham’s ‘loop’ theory: a proposed third dimension
2025
Conference Publication
A comparative method for the study of constituent power in federal systems
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). A comparative method for the study of constituent power in federal systems. Institute for Comparative Federalism, Bolzano, Italy, 8 July 2025.
A comparative method for the study of constituent power in federal systems
2025
Conference Publication
A Framework for the Comparative Evaluation of Federalism Jurisprudence
Aroney, Nicholas (2025). A Framework for the Comparative Evaluation of Federalism Jurisprudence. Institute for Comparative Federalism, Bolzano, Italy, 7 July 2025.
A Framework for the Comparative Evaluation of Federalism Jurisprudence
2025
Journal Article
Freedom of association in Australia
Aroney, Nicholas and Fowler, Mark (2025). Freedom of association in Australia. European Journal of Comparative Law and Governance, 12 (1-2), 105-123. doi: 10.1163/22134514-BJA10077
Freedom of association in Australia
2025
Journal Article
“The prime and fountain-power”: Law, sovereignty, and constituent power in Samuel Rutherford’s Lex, Rex (1644)
Aroney, Nicholas and Kennedy, Simon P. (2025). “The prime and fountain-power”: Law, sovereignty, and constituent power in Samuel Rutherford’s Lex, Rex (1644). European Journal of Political Theory, 1-24. doi: 10.1177/14748851241305020
2024
Journal Article
Federal fractals: review of Stephen Tierney, The Federal Contract
Aroney, Nicholas (2024). Federal fractals: review of Stephen Tierney, The Federal Contract. Comparative Constitutional Studies, 2 (2), 349-353. doi: 10.4337/ccs.2024.0018
Federal fractals: review of Stephen Tierney, The Federal Contract
2024
Conference Publication
Althusius on plural constituent power
Aroney, Nicholas (2024). Althusius on plural constituent power. L’Actuallite de law Politique de Johannes Althusius conference, Paris, France, 12-13 November 2024.
Althusius on plural constituent power
2024
Journal Article
A theory of plural constituent power for federal systems
Aroney, Nicholas, Duke, George and Tierney, Stephen (2024). A theory of plural constituent power for federal systems. Global Constitutionalism, 13 (3), 591-611. doi: 10.1017/S2045381723000400
A theory of plural constituent power for federal systems
2024
Conference Publication
The accommodation of religion or belief in the public sphere: undeserved privilege or fundamental right
Aroney, Nicholas (2024). The accommodation of religion or belief in the public sphere: undeserved privilege or fundamental right. Seventh ICLARS Conference, Notre Dame, IN United States, 21-23 October 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
Constituent Power in Federal Constitutions: Theory, Comparison and Case Selection
Aroney, Nicholas (2024). Constituent Power in Federal Constitutions: Theory, Comparison and Case Selection. Constituent Power in Federal Constitutions, Notre Dame Law School, 17 October 2024.
Constituent Power in Federal Constitutions: Theory, Comparison and Case Selection
Funding
Past funding
- 2023 - 2025
Digitising the Drafting of the Australian Constitution (ARC LIEF administered by The University of Western Australia)
University of Western Australia
Open grant - 2022 - 2025
Constituent power in federal constitutions
ARC Discovery Projects
Open grant - 2019 - 2022
Freedom of Speech: Does Australian Law Comply with its International Obligations?
Research Donation Generic
Open grant - 2012 - 2017
A Federation of Cultures? Innovative Approaches to Multicultural Accommodation
ARC Discovery Projects
Open grant - 2011 - 2017
Reconceiving Australian federalism: fundamental values, comparative models and constitutional interpretation
ARC Future Fellowships
Open grant - 2005
Federal Constitutionalism: Theory and Practice
UQ Early Career Researcher
Open grant - 1996
Theoretical presuppositions and necessary implications in constitutional law: a comparative analysis of constitutional law in Australia, the United States and Canada
University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
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Supervision
Availability
Professor Nicholas Aroney is: : Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
- Doctor Philosophy
##### Market Politics and China's Federalisation
Principal Advisor - Doctor Philosophy
##### CONSTITUTIONAL FEDERALISM AS A MODEL FOR FREE TRADE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTERSTATE FREE TRADE UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONS OF AUSTRALIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Barbora Jedlickova - Doctor Philosophy
##### 125 Years of Constitutional Interpretation in theHigh Court of Australia: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Interpretive Methods
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
- 2024
Doctor Philosophy
##### The Nature of Constitutions: A Theory of Genuine and Pseudo Constitutions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rebecca Ananian-Welsh - 2024
Doctor Philosophy
##### Natural Law and the Calvinist Usury Doctrine: From Forbidden Sin to Natural Property Right
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Simon Kennedy - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
##### Constitutional Approaches to Diversity: A Comparative Study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Caitlin Goss - 2023
Doctor Philosophy
##### Understanding Law as a MacIntyrean Practice
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Robert Mullins - 2021
Doctor Philosophy
##### John Calvin's Constitutional Theology
Principal Advisor - 2019
Doctor Philosophy
##### An Historico-Legal Study of the Defamation Act 1958 (NSW)
Principal Advisor - 2018
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Anthony Cassimatis - 2018
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Graeme Orr - 2006
Doctor Philosophy
##### RESISTING LIBERALISM: SOCIAL DEMOCRACY AND THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala - 2025
Doctor Philosophy
##### The Universal Franchise: The Protection of Voting Rights under the Australian Constitution
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Allan - 2017
Doctor Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Jennifer Corrin - 2015
Doctor Philosophy
##### A Jurisprudential Analysis of Freedom of Expression
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala - 2015
Master Philosophy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala - 2010
Doctor Philosophy
##### Points of tension in the relationship between the courts and parliament: an analysis of parliamentary privilege
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Nicholas Aroney directly for media enquiries about:
- Constitutional law
- Constitutional rights
- Federalism
- Freedom of speech
- Law - constitutional
- Legal history
- Legal theory
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