NZQA registered unit standard
27850 version 1
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Title
Demonstrate understanding of New Zealand’s system of government
and its formation and operation
Level
1
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate
understanding of New Zealand’s system of government and its
formation and operation.
Classification
Social Science Studies > Legal Studies
Available grade
Achieved, Merit, and Excellence
Criteria for Merit
The description of New Zealand’s system of government
demonstrates detailed understanding by including relevant
supporting detail such as:
 key elements of the MMP voting system and the
parliamentary system of government (eg one house, several
parties, cabinet, Governor General);
 the role and authority of the main participants in its
formation and operation.
Criteria for Excellence
The description of New Zealand’s system of government
demonstrates insightful understanding by using a developed
example of a coalition to show the connection between the
formation of an MMP government and its operation within the
Parliament.
Explanatory notes
1
Definitions
MMP means Mixed Member Proportional and is New Zealand’s current voting system
which delivers a proportional outcome overall.
Parliamentary system is a model of government in which the executive is drawn from,
and is accountable to, a parliament.
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/Legal-
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
27850 version 1
Page 2 of 2
studies. Assessment support material for these standards can be found at
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/legalstudies.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate understanding of New Zealand’s system of government and its formation and
operation.
Evidence requirements
1.1
New Zealand’s system of government is described in terms of the current voting
system, the subsequent process and participants involved in the formation of a
government, and the operation of the parliamentary system of government, in
New Zealand.
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
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