Unit 3 - Area of Study 1: Australian Democracy

Outcome 1

Explain the key values and principles of the Australian political system and evaluate the system’s democratic strengths and weaknesses.

Examples of learning activities

• Investigate the historical development of liberal democracy as a political concept and system and note the distinction between direct and representative democracy.
• Source a range of news articles from current media reports; identify and present to the class the democratic characteristics and non-democratic characteristics of the nations discussed in the articles.
• Create a glossary of the key terms and concepts listed in the Study Design. Ensure students can list relevant examples for each glossary term.
• Define the following terms relating to liberal democracy in detail:
  • protection of democratic rights and freedoms
  • participation of citizens in the democratic process
  • popular sovereignty
  • majority rule and respect for minorities
  • representation of citizens
  • accountability of government
  • rule of law.
• Visit or view the resources found at the Museum of Australian Democracy  and/or the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, use these resources to summarise the key principles and values that underpin a liberal democracy in a series of group presentations.
• Make a file of media articles that illustrate where Australian politics upholds each of the key values and principles and where they might be undermined.
• Hold a class debate on the topic of ‘free speech is more important in Australian democracy than the protection of minority rights’. As a class, evaluate this statement in relation to a recent episode of Q&A (ABC TV).
• Create a wall chart showing the operation of the separation of powers in Australia.
• Examine a copy of the Australian constitution, identify the sections outlining exclusive and residual law making powers and the powers of the governor-general.
• Research the life and political legacy of a prime minister in Australia since 1972. Prepare an electronic presentation including images and key achievements particularly relating to the role and powers of the prime minister.
• Take notes on the democratic rights explicitly protected by the Australian constitution. Compare these to the rights found to be implied by the constitution.
• Create a PMI chart comparing the arguments for and against a Bill of Rights.
• Use the AEC website  to prepare a report covering the following: 
  • main roles of the AEC
  • the functions of elections
  • the role of party electoral funding
  • political donations
  • advertising and campaign techniques used in elections.
• Focus on the most recent federal election results available for examples and evidence.
• Hold a class debate on the arguments for and against compulsory voting.
• In small groups prepare an oral presentation on the aims and effectiveness of either preferential voting or proportionate representation and indicate how it has had an impact on the composition of the current parliament.
• Summarize in chart form the strengths and weaknesses of the Australian electoral system.
• Using the Parliament of Australia website , read about and note the key functions of parliament. In a sitting week explore news reports reflecting each of the key functions.
• Create a diagram showing the current composition of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Examine and discuss how the political parties and independent members who are represented have an impact on the operation of the parliament. Make a list of examples.
• Watch a telecast of Question Time and analyse its effectiveness in demonstrating the accountability function of parliament.
• 
  Write an essay on the democratic strengths and weaknesses of the Australian electoral system.

 

Detailed example

Australian democracy essay

Develop detailed notes and summary points on the operation of the Australian electoral system with a focus on:

• the role and functions of the AEC and the functions of elections
• arguments for and against compulsory voting
• the functions of elections
• the aims and effectiveness of preferential voting and proportional representation
• the impact of voting systems on the composition of parliament
• consistency with the values of political equality
• the impact of part pre-selection, electoral funding, political donations, political advertising, campaign techniques
• the overall democratic strengths and weaknesses of the Australian electoral system.

Using their notes and referring to recent and relevant examples, students answer the following essay question (which could be seen or unseen prior to the task):

‘Discuss the extent to which the operation of the Australian electoral system upholds key democratic values and principles.’