Politics and Law – 2015
ATAR course
Teacher: _________________
Name: ___________________
SOME USEFUL WEBSITES
Parliament of
Australia
Parliament of Western
Australia
Almost everything you need to
know about the Australian http://www.aph.gov.au/
Parliament.
Almost everything you need to
know
about
the
West http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au
Australian Parliament.
Australian Electoral
Commission
Contains detailed information
http://www.aec.gov.au/
on elections and voting.
Western Australian
Electoral Commission
Contains detailed information
on the West Australian http://www.waec.gov.au/
electoral system.
West Australian
Department of the
Attorney General
Information on the West
http://www.justice.wa.gov.au
Australian Court system.
Tom Percy QC
Podcast segments
Explores issues surrounding
http://www.6pr.com.au
civil and criminal law in WA.
There are also many other sites on the web that are useful to this course so don’t limit
yourself to these.
Rationale
Politics and law is a critical study of the processes of decision making concerning society’s collective future.
The study of politics examines the structures and processes through which individuals and groups with
different interests, beliefs and goals, deliberate and negotiate in order to make choices, respond to changing
circumstances and enact laws. The study of law examines the system of laws governing the conduct of the
people of a community, society or nation, in response to the need for regularity, consistency and justice
based upon collective human experience.
A close relationship exists between politics and law. They relate through the judicial, executive and
legislative arms of government; together they constitute how societies are governed. Laws generally
embody social and political values that usually have a philosophical foundation.
The Politics and Law ATAR course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of the principles,
structures, institutions, processes, and practices of political and legal systems, primarily in Australia and
where appropriate, other systems and/or countries. The course challenges students to critically examine the
effectiveness of political and legal systems using criteria, such as openness, responsiveness and
accountability of those systems. The course provides for both a chronological and contemporary
understanding of political and legal issues in society.
The skills and values developed in the Politics and Law ATAR course aim to allow students to become
informed, active and effective participants in the political and legal decisions that affect their lives within
society.
The study of the Politics and Law ATAR course contributes to students’ intellectual, social, and ethical
development. The course aims to support all students in developing a sense of identity, and a sense of
political, legal, cultural and social awareness.
The study of the Politics and Law ATAR course can be a valuable background to careers in law, political
advocacy, public administration, international relations, foreign affairs, community development, teaching,
journalism, human resource management, government and commerce.
Course outcomes
The Politics and Law ATAR course is designed to facilitate the achievement of the following outcomes.
Outcome 1 – Political and legal inquiry
Students use inquiry skills to communicate an understanding of the principles, structures, institutions,
processes and practices of political and legal systems.
In achieving this outcome, students:

plan ways to collect and organise information for the purpose of a political and legal investigation

conduct an investigation using a variety of sources of information

process and translate information to make findings and judgements

apply and communicate findings according to purpose and audience.
Outcome 2 – Political and legal systems
Students understand the operation of, and the relationship between political and legal systems.
In achieving this outcome, students:

understand the principles, structures, institutions, processes and practices of political and legal systems

understand the relationships between making, applying and enforcing the law.
Outcome 3 – Stability and change in political and legal systems
Students understand the nature of stability and change in political and legal systems.
In achieving this outcome, students:

understand that a variety of factors can influence the stability of, and changes to political and legal
systems

understand that individuals and groups can influence the stability of, and changes to political and legal
systems.
Outcome 4 – Citizenship in political and legal systems
Students understand the skills and practices of citizenship and the factors that influence participation in the
political and legal system.
In achieving this outcome, students:

understand the skills and practices of citizenship that can allow individuals and groups to participate in
the political and legal system

understand that political and legal rights can be influenced by the operation of the political and legal
system.
Organisation
This course is organised into a Year 11 syllabus and a Year 12 syllabus. The cognitive complexity of the
syllabus content increases from Year 11 to Year 12.
Structure of the syllabus
The Year 11 syllabus is divided into two units, each of one semester duration, which are typically delivered as
a pair. The notional time for each unit is 55 class contact hours.
Unit 1 – Democracy and the rule of law
This unit examines Australia’s democratic and common law systems; a non-democratic system; and a noncommon law system.
Unit 2 – Representation and justice
This unit examines representation, electoral and voting systems in Australia; justice in the Western
Australian adversarial system and a non-common law system.
Each unit includes:

a unit description – a short description of the focus of the unit

unit content – the content to be taught and learned.
Organisation of content
The Politics and Law course develops student learning through three content areas:

Political and legal systems

Political and legal issues

Political and legal research skills.
Unit 1 – Democracy and the rule of law
Unit description
This unit examines the principles of a liberal democracy; the legislative, executive and judicial structures and
processes of Australia’s political and legal system; the functioning of a non-democratic system; and the
processes of a non-common law system.
Political and legal developments and contemporary issues (the last three years) are used to provide a
framework for the unit.
Unit content
This unit includes the knowledge, understandings and skills described below.
Political and legal systems
Essential to the understanding of democracy and the rule of law are the separation of powers doctrine,
sovereignty of parliament, division of powers, representative government, responsible government,
constitutionalism, federalism and judicial independence.

operating principles of a liberal democracy
 equality of political rights
 majority rule
 political participation
 political freedom

structure of the political and legal system in Australia

roles of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government

key influences on the structure of the political and legal system in Australia
 the Westminster system of government
 English common law
 the American federal system
 the Canadian federal system
 the Swiss referendum process

structures and processes of
 one democratic political and legal system
 one non-democratic political and legal system

types of laws made by parliaments, courts and subordinate authorities

legislative processes at the State or Commonwealth levels

the court hierarchy, methods of statutory interpretation and the doctrine of precedent

key processes of civil and criminal trials in Western Australia

key processes of at least one non-common law system
Political and legal issues
The political and legal issues are best addressed in combination with the relevant content of the Australian
political and legal system. This requires an examination of:

at least one contemporary issue (the last three years) involving the legislative process
and

at least one contemporary issue (the last three years) involving the judicial process.
Political and legal research skills
Research provides the opportunity to examine aspects of political and legal systems. The following skills will
be developed in this unit.
Research and analysis

identify, define, distinguish, analyse and evaluate principles and terms

describe, discuss, analyse and evaluate the operation and key features of a political and legal system

analyse statute law, common law, political decisions and legal decisions

distinguish between fact and opinion, theory and practice and formal and informal processes

identify and evaluate alternative conclusions

identify or propose solutions

predict intended or unintended consequences
Communication

use political and legal formats, terminology and techniques to suit an audience

utilise techniques to explore ideas and construct reasoned arguments

use an appropriate method of referencing
7
Unit 2 – Representation and justice
Unit description
This unit examines the principles of fair elections; the electoral and voting systems in Australia since
Federation, making reference to a recent (the last ten years) election in Australia; the electoral system of
another country; an analysis of the civil and criminal law processes in Western Australia; and an analysis of a
non-common law system.
Political and legal developments and contemporary issues (the last three years) are used to provide a
framework for the unit.
Unit content
This unit includes the knowledge, understandings and skills described below.
Political and legal systems
Essential to the understanding of representation and justice are the principles of fair elections, participation
and natural justice.

political representation with reference to the role of political parties and pressure groups

the Western Australian and Commonwealth electoral and voting systems since Federation

advantages and disadvantages of the electoral and voting systems in Australia with reference to at least
one recent (the last ten years) election

a recently implemented or proposed reform (the last ten years) to the electoral and voting systems in
Australia

the electoral and voting systems of another country

ways individuals, political parties and pressure groups can participate in the electoral processes in Australia

strengths and weaknesses of Western Australia’s adversarial civil and criminal law processes

a recently implemented or proposed reform (the last ten years) to the civil or criminal law process in
Western Australia

strengths and weaknesses of the processes and procedures of at least one non-common law system
Political and legal issues
The political and legal issues are best addressed in combination with the relevant content of the Australian
political and legal system. This requires an examination of:

at least one contemporary issue (the last three years) centering on representation
and

at least one contemporary issue (the last three years) centering on justice.
8
Political and legal research skills
Research provides the opportunity to examine aspects of political and legal systems. The following skills will be
developed in this unit.
Research and analysis

identify, define, distinguish, analyse and evaluate principles and terms

describe, discuss, analyse and evaluate the operation and key features of a political and legal system

analyse statute law, common law, political decisions and legal decisions

distinguish between fact and opinion, theory and practice and formal and informal processes

identify and evaluate alternative conclusions

identify or propose solutions

predict intended or unintended consequences
Communication

use political and legal formats, terminology and techniques to suit an audience

utilise techniques to explore ideas and construct reasoned arguments

use an appropriate method of referencing
9
School-based assessment
. Teachers design school-based assessment tasks to meet the needs of students. The table
below provides details of the assessment types for the Politics and Law ATAR Year 11
syllabus and the weighting for each assessment type.
Assessment table – Year 11
Type of assessment
Weighting
Investigation
Students research a political or legal concept, event or issue. The investigation can be based on sources
provided by the teacher, or require students to locate sources for research.
Source material can be drawn from newspapers, television or radio broadcasts, journal articles, texts,
speeches, court judgements or statutes and can include information, such as reportage, analysis, opinion
pieces, news, current affairs and documentary transcripts and/or programs, opinion polls, election results,
legal decisions, Bills/Acts and/or letters.
Typically the format of the final presentation is a written report.
One investigation should be completed for each unit.
10%
Short answer
Typically a series of closed or partially open questions that can require a definition, description, explanation,
discussion and/or comparison.
At least two short answer tasks should be completed under test conditions.
20%
Essay
Typically require a response to a question, statement or proposition. The question can require description,
discussion, examination, comparison, assessment, analysis and/or evaluation.
At least two essay tasks should be completed under test conditions.
20%
Source analysis
Students respond to questions based on one or more sources. Source material can be drawn from
newspapers, television or radio broadcasts, journal articles, texts, speeches, court judgements or statutes and
can include information, such as reportage, analysis, opinion pieces, news, current affairs and documentary
transcripts, opinion polls, election results, legal decisions and Bills/Acts and/or letters.
Questions can require both short and longer written responses.
At least two source analysis tasks should be completed under test conditions.
20%
Examination
Typically conducted at the end of each semester and/or unit. In preparation for Unit 3 and Unit 4, the
examination should reflect the examination design brief included in the ATAR Year 12 syllabus for this course.
30%
10
PROGRAMME
TERM & WEEK
1.1
1.4
CONTENT
RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT
Revision:
-Introduction: Politics in Australia
-Defining politics and government
-Understanding the concept of the rule of law
-What makes a democracy and case study
-The Structure of Australia’s Political System in the Constitution
Assessment 1 Essay.
20%
Undemocratic nations: A
comparative study
1.5
1.6
Operating Principals of a Liberal Government
 Equality of Political rights
 Majority rile
 Political participation
 Political freedom
Influences on the Australian Political System
 The development of the political and legal system in Australia from precolonization to responsible colonial government.
 Defining federalism.
 The debate and influences in Federation.
 Influences on federalism in Australia.
o Montesquieu – separation of powers
o USA
o Canada
o Switzerland
1.7
Types of laws made by parliaments, courts and subordinate authorities
Law making in Australia – Parliament
 Outline the major features of the Western Australian Parliamentary system.
 What is statute law and who creates it?
 Explain the legislative process in the Western Australian Parliament leading to
the creation of a statute.
Assessment 2: Short
Answer Test 20%
Federalism and the
influences on Australia’s
political system
11
TERM & WEEK
CONTENT

1.8
1.9
ASSESSMENT
The study of one contemporary issue involving the legislative process,
Law making in Australia – Courts & the Adversarial System
 Describe the constitutional responsibilities and jurisdiction of Federal and State
courts and tribunals.
 Explain the role of the court in the development of common law and statutory
interpretation.
 Examine different types of dispute resolution (including different types/
advantages and disadvantages of the different types).
 Criminal and civil trial process – the adversarial system (includes tribunals).
 Analyse and appraise the processes of the civil and criminal trial ie. the strengths
and weaknesses using examples.
Judicial process issue
Choose from the following topics: 4th level of murder/ one punch legislation, funding
for the DPP, the role of the PRB (Prisoner Review Board), convictions quashed in
the Court of Criminal Appeal, protecting identity of children, introduction of the drug
court to WA and the establishment of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community Court
2.1
2.2
RESOURCES
Assessment 4: Source
Analysis 20%
Lawmaking and the
Australian Legal System.
Common Law and non- common law system
 The adversarial system and justice.
 Strengths and weaknesses of the adversarial system
 The Inquisitorial system and justice.
Analyse and appraise the processes of a non-common law legal system ie. Its
strengths and weaknesses using recent judicial issues.
Can choose from – Indonesia, Germany, France or Spain.
2.3
Political and Legal issues: Contemporary Examples
2.4
Course Summary and Exam Revision
Assessment 5:
Investigation 10%
Adversarial system
12
TERM & WEEK
CONTENT
2.5
2.6
EXAMINATION AND REVIEW
2.7
2.8
Political Representation
RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT
Assessment Six Exam
30%:
Semester One Exam
Individuals in Australia
 Describe the ways individuals can participate in Australia’s electoral processes.
Pressure groups in Australia
 Describe the effects that pressure groups exert upon Australian government and
democracy.
 Outline the significance of pressure groups to representative democracy.
2.9
2.10
Political parties in Australia
 Understand the roles of political parties and their effects on representative
democracy in Australia.
 Understand the nature of the two party system. Would we be better off without it?
 Consider whether the major parties are more similar than they are different.
2.11
Elections
 Principles and functions of elections
3.1
3.2
Theory and practice of political representation in terms of:
 Trustee
 Delegate
 Partisan
 Mirror
One issue centring on representation
Representation of a minister’s seat, Speaker’s seat, Relationship of Senators with
electorate compared with MHR’s, Prime Minster loses seat, Outcome of the 2007
election, minorities in parliament.
Electoral/ Voting Systems
Assessment Seven:
Short Answer Test 20%
Political parties
13
TERM & WEEK
3.3
CONTENT




Compulsory voting
Simple voting
Preferential voting
Proportional representation
RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT
Assessment Eight:
Source Analysis 20%
Electoral systems
Explore the key elements of each of these systems together with examples and the
advantages and disadvantages of each system supported by examples.
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
The Australian Electoral System
 Describe the operation of Commonwealth and West Australian voting systems
since Federation.
 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Australian electoral system.
 State some of the major areas of electoral reform that are being considered in
Australia.
 Conduct an audit of federal voting systems, what can be done to improve the
system?
Individual, political parties and pressure groups participation in the electoral
system
 2013 federal election
 2010 federal election
Alternative Electoral System
For example the USA
(Presidential/ Congressional election in 2008)
 Pre-selection of candidates
 Role and place of political parties
 Funding of elections
 Electoral system and its impact (in USA the electoral college and simple
majority for the Senate and House of Representatives).
 Voter eligibility and voter turnout issue regarding representation Investigation
Individual, political parties and pressure groups participation in the electoral
system
 2013 federal election
 2010 federal election
Assessment Nine:
Investigation 10%
Election, political parties
and pressure groups
14
TERM & WEEK
3.9
3.10
4.1
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
CONTENT
RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT
Reform to the civil or criminal law process in Australia
Strengths and weaknesses of processes and procedures of at least one noncommon law system
 Inquisitorial system e.g. Indonesia and France
Catch up/Revision
Assessment Ten: Essay
20%
SECOND SEMESTER EXAM
Assessment Eleven: 30%
Semester Two Exam
Please note program subject to change
Exam Review
15
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
Type of
Assessment
Assessment
Curriculum
Council
weightings
Assessment
weighting
(annualised)
10%
10%
20%
20%
Unit One
Short Answer
Research Task – Structures and Processes of a democratic and nondemocratic political and legal system
Structure of Australia’s Political System
Essay
Influences on the Australian political system
20%
20%
Source
Analysis
1.Judicial Process Issue
2.Legislative process: Commonwealth level
20%
20%
Examination
Short response, Essays, Source Analysis
30%
30%
10%
10%
20%
20%
Investigation
Unit Two
Investigation
Short Answer
Research Task – Contemporary issue. Individuals, political parties and
pressure group participation in the electoral process
1. Electoral and Voting systems since Federation
2. Criminal and Civil law processes, and non-common law legal
16
system
Essay
20%
Comparison of electoral and voting system in Australia and USA
Source
Analysis
Examination
Electoral and Voting reform
20%
20%
30%
Short response, Essays, Source Analysis
30%
STUDENT RECORD OF ASSESSMENTS
Assessment
number
Unit
Assessment type
Time
Weighting
1
1
Short Answer Responses covering W1.1 – 1.3
1.3
10%
2
1
1.6
10%
3
1
1.9
5%
4
1
Essay – Influences on the Australian Political
System
Investigation – Democratic and Non-Democratic
Political and Legal Systems
Source: Legislative Process
2.1
5%
5
1
Source: Inquisitorial and Adversarial System
2.4
5%
6
1
Exam: Semester One
2.7
12.5%
7
2
3.2
5%
8
2
Investigation: Influences of individuals Political
parties and pressure groups.
Short Answer: Electoral System
3.5
5%
9
2
Source Analysis: Electoral System reform
3.8
10%
10
2
Essay: Comparison of Australia’s and USA
3.10
10%
Student
Mark
17
electoral and voting system
11
2
Short Answer: Reform to Civil and Criminal Law
Process, and the Inquisitorial System
4.3
5%
12
2
Exam: Semester Two
4.5
17.5%
18