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HASS F-6 / Year 6 / Knowledge and understanding / Civics and Citizenship
Curriculum content descriptions
the key institutions of Australia’s system of government, how it is based on the Westminster system, and the key values and beliefs of Western democracies (AC9HS6K06)
Elaborations
- explaining the role of the monarchy and its representatives in Australia, including the Governor-General, and the parliaments and courts in Australia’s system of government
- comparing the Australian system of government with the Westminster system; for example, recognising that the House of Representatives and the Senate in Australia are a Lower and Upper House of Parliament, as are the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the Westminster system, but the Senate has elected members
- investigating sites, virtually or in situ, associated with key democratic institutions to explore their roles, such as Parliament House and the High Court in Canberra
- exploring how bills are debated and scrutinised; for example, the role of parliamentary committees and the ability of citizens to make submissions to these committees
- examining the role of the Executive in relation to the development of policies and the introduction of bills, including the role of Cabinet in approving the drafting of a bill and the role of the public service in drafting and implementing legislation
- investigating the impact of the Western democracies such as France and the United States of America on our constitution, and the impact of British law on the Australian system of law, as well as the origin of values such as freedom of speech, equality before the law and social justice
General capabilities
ScOT terms
Constitutions, Parliaments, Democracy, Constitutional monarchy, Law, Judiciary