NZQA registered unit standard
27835 version 1
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Title
Demonstrate understanding of concepts of democracy and
government
Level
1
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
understanding of concepts of democracy and government.
Classification
Social Science Studies > Legal Studies
Available grade
Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit
The description of each form of government demonstrates
detailed understanding by including relevant supporting detail
such as:
 people and/or institutions involved;
 particular facts, events or processes;
 particular legislation;
 case law, media reports.
Criteria for Excellence
The description demonstrates insightful understanding of
concepts of democracy and government by including a range of
similarities and differences between each form of government,
supported by relevant detail.
Explanatory notes
1
Definition
Another form of government refers to a form of government, other than liberal
democracy, such as – theocracy, oligarchy, dictatorship, another form of democracy.
2
This unit standard can be awarded with an Achieved, Merit, or Excellence grade. For
the Achieved grade to be awarded, all outcomes must be achieved as specified in
the outcome statement(s). For Merit or Excellence grades to be awarded, the
candidate must meet the Merit or Excellence criteria specified above.
3
Teaching and learning guidelines that inform legal studies as it is taught in New
Zealand can be found at http://seniorsecondary.tki.org.nz/Social-sciences/Legalstudies. Assessment support material for these standards can be found via
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/legalstudies.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27835 version 1
Page 2 of 3
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate understanding of concepts of democracy and government.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Concepts of democracy and government are described, with supporting detail,
in relation to three characteristics for each of a liberal democracy and another
form of government.
Range
concepts of democracy and government may include but are not
limited to – rule of law, checks and balances, separation of
powers, rights and their limitations, civil liberties;
characteristics of a liberal democracy may include but are not
limited to – near-universal suffrage, free and fair elections, respect
for human rights, an unrestrained media, constraints on executive
power, rule of law and an independent judiciary, protection of
minorities;
supporting detail includes – identifying real examples from New
Zealand or overseas, past or present.
Planned review date
31 December 2017
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
14 December 2012
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0226
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27835 version 1
Page 3 of 3
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016