ASSESSMENT OUTLINE 2016
ATAR POLITICS AND LAW YEAR 12
Unit 3 Political and Legal Power & Unit 4 Accountability and Rights
Assessment Type
Task Description
EGC
Weighting
Due Date
SCaSA Weighting
Essay
15%
Short Answer
15%
Investigation
Task 2: In class essay
Federalism
Task 9: In class essay
Accountability of the Courts
Task 10: In class essay
Protection of human rights in Australia
Task 4: Topic test
Functions of Parliament & lawmaking
Task 3: Topic test
Balance of power and Constitutional change- role of the
High Court
Task 7: Topic test
Accountability of the Commonwealth Parliament
Task 5: Research and Validation essay
Role of the Governor General
5%
Term 1
Week 5
Term 3
Week 4
Term 3
Week 8
Term 2
Week 4
Term 1
Week 8
5%
Term 2
Week 9
5%
Term 2
Week 2
5%
Term 3
Week 9
10%
Term 1
Week 2
5%
5%
5%
5%
10%
Source Analysis
Task 11: Oral presentation and validation essay
Changing political and legal rights of
women/Indigenous Australians
Task 1: Source analysis
Separation of power
20%
Exam
40%
Task 8: Source analysis
Accountability of the Executive and the public service
Task 6: Semester one exam
End of Semester one exam
Task 12: Semester two exam
End of Semester two exam
15%
Term 3
Week 2
Term 2
Week 6
25%
Term 3
Week 10
10%
It is expected that all assessments will be completed to the best of your ability and be submitted by
the deadlines set. Please make yourself aware of the Assessment Policy as failure to meet
deadlines has severe consequences.
Student Signature: _________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________
COURSE OUTLINE 2016
ATAR POLITICS AND LAW YEAR 12
Week
Topics/Syllabus
Assessment
Resources
Source Analysis:
Separation
of
Power
Power &
Governance –
Willmott p 13 - 91
Term 1
1 -2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
Political and Legal systems – Separation of Power:
The Commonwealth Constitution: legislative, executive and
judicial powers; Responsible government and executive
government in Australia; The USA (non-Westminster system)
Constitution; Representative Government in Australia and the
USA; Similarities (legislative and judicial powers) and
differences (especially executive powers and checks and
balances) between the two systems.
Political and Legal systems – Federalism in Australia:
Constitutional power of the State and Commonwealth
parliament including division of power (exclusive, concurrent
and residual power) sections 51 (ii), 52, 90, 107, 109; financial
powers of the Commonwealth parliament including taxation
power, tied of special purpose grants including sections 51 (ii),
87, 90, 92, 96; change in the balance of power since federation
– financial powers including vertical fiscal imbalance, horizontal
fiscal equalization, the grants commissions, referral of powers
51 (xxxvii), COAG, cooperative federalism and coercive
federalism, High Court and constitutional interpretation –
section 51 (xxix) external affairs power; 51 (xx) corporations
taxation power; consequences for federalism in Australia
Political and Legal systems & Political and Legal issues:
High Court
The Roles and powers of the High Court of Australia including
sections 71, 72, 73, 75 and 76; common law decisions defence
of qualified privilege (Harbour Radio Pty Ltd V Trad (2012)
NSW Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages Vs Norrie
(2014); Constitutional decisions – Jt International SA Vs
Commonwealth of Australia; British American Tobacco
Australasia Limited & Ors Vs Commonwealth of Australia
(2012) Plain Packaging Act 2011 and section 51 (xx); NSW &
Ors Vs Commonwealth (2006) HCA Work Choices legislation
2006 and section 51 (xx); Research contemporary issue
relating to legal power.
Political and Legal Systems – constitutional change
Formal and informal methods of constitutional change and their
impact; referendums including section 128 especially 1928,
1946, 1967, 1977, 1984, 1999; High Court decisions; referral
or powers 51 (xxxvii); unchallenged legislation; analysis of one
reform proposal to change the constitution – move to become
a republic and reference to indigenous Australians in the
Commonwealth Constitution.
Political and legal systems: Functions of Parliament
Functions of the Commonwealth Parliament in theory and
practice and the decline of parliament thesis; legislative
process in the HOR and Senate (including section 51);
Executive control; party discipline; micro/minor parties and
independents; the Senate and political power (contemporary
issue of political power – mandates)
Government,
Politics, Power and
Policy in Australia
– Woodward (hand
out)
In-class essay:
Federalism
Power &
Governance –
Willmott p 13 - 91
Topic Test:
Balance of power
and constitutional
change
Power &
Governance –
Willmott p 92 - 161
Week
Topics/Syllabus
Assessment
Resources
Term 2
1-4
5-6
Political and Legal systems & Political and Legal issues:
The Executive
Roles and powers of the Governor General including sections
61, 62, 63, 64, 68, 28, 57, 72 and the 1975 crisis; reform of the
Constitution – Australia to become a republic; roles of the
Prime Minister, Cabinet and Ministry, roles and powers of the
opposition and shadow ministry, political mandates in theory
and practice including competing mandates
Political and Legal systems: Lawmaking
Lawmaking process in Parliament and the courts, with
reference to the influence of individuals, political parties and
pressure groups.
Investigation
Due
Power &
Governance –
Willmott p 138 168
Topic Test:
Functions of
Parliament and
lawmaking
Semester one
exam
Exam revision
guide – Academic
task force p 1-30
END OF SEMESTER 1
7-8
9-10
Week
Political and Legal Systems: Accountability of the
Commonwealth Parliament
Elections for the HOR and the Senate; Elections; democratic
expectations of the relationship between Parliament and the
electorate; impact of the voting systems used since Federation
on democratic outcomes; models of representation in Federal
Parliament; role of Privileges Committees; accountability
mechanisms within processes and procedures of Parliament;
judicial review
Political and Legal Systems: Accountability of the
Executive and Public Service
Individual and Collective ministerial responsibility in theory and
practice; Recent changes in the public service and impact on
accountability; Senate Estimates and the Senate legal and
Constitutional Affairs Committee; role of Auditor General and
the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT); Judicial review;
review of the practices of Governance in Australia; New model
public service focusing on issues of accountability (including
use of ombudsman, CCC and tribunals) role and effectiveness
of CCC in WA.
Topics/Syllabus
Power &
Governance –
Willmott p 272-289
Topic Test:
Accountability of
Parliament
Power &
Governance
pp. 336-362
Assessment
Resources
Term 3
1-2
3-4
5-8
Political and Legal Systems: Accountability of the
Governor General
Appointment process; removal process; 1975 crisis; the
‘Hollingworth’ affair’.
Political and Legal Systems: Accountability of the courts
(including judges)
The appeals process; parliamentary scrutiny and legislation;
transparent processes and public confidence; censure and
removal of judges (section 72)
Political and Legal Issues: Human Rights
Ways Human Rights are protected in Australia; Constitution,
common law rights (right of access to the courts, legal
professional privilege, freedom of speech and the press);
statutory rights (Commonwealth and State discrimination laws
racial vilification laws); Charter of Rights – Charter of Human
Source Analysis:
Accountability of
the Executive
Essay:
Accountability
the Courts
Essay:
Human Rights
of
Power &
Governance
pp. 370-388
Power &
Governance
pp. 400 - 419
9-10
Week
Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006) Victoria and the Human
Rights Act 2004 (ACT); Human Rights protection in USA;
status of international covenants and protocols and treaties in
protecting Human Rights in Australia; the ICCPR (1984); civil,
political, economic and social and cultural rights in Australia
Political and Legal systems and issues:
Ways in which Australia and USA can both uphold and/or
undermine democratic principles with reference to; political
representation, popular participation, rule of law, judicial
independence, natural justice; changing experience of
women/indigenous Australians. with respect to their political
and legal rights in Australia
Topics/Syllabus
Investigation
due
Exam revision
guide – Academic
task force p 34-75
Assessment
Resources
Semester two
exam
Exam revision
guide – Academic
task force
Term 4
1
2
Exam revision:
Students completing exam, receiving back result and carrying
out reflection – what areas need to be improved upon before
the WACE exam
Exam revision:
Students use past papers to prepare for the WACE exam
END OF SEMESTER 2