Civics and Citizenship 7-10 / Year 7 / Knowledge and understanding / Government and democracy

Curriculum content descriptions

the key features of Australia's system of government, including democracy, the Australian Constitution, responsible government and federalism (AC9HC7K01)

Elaborations
  • describing Australia’s system of responsible and representative government set out in the Australian Constitution, with a focus on the roles of the Governor-General, the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Opposition and the members of parliament
  • explaining the origins of the Australian system of government by acknowledging the aspects of the Westminster and Washington systems in the overall model of Australia’s Federation
  • exploring key democratic concepts, including popular sovereignty, representation, accountability and a partial separation of powers through the election of members of a legislative branch who answer to the people and from whom the executive branch is drawn
  • investigating Australia as a federation with a division of powers and responsibilities between Commonwealth and state/territory governments
General capabilities
  • Ethical understanding Ethical understanding
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
ScOT terms

Constitutions,  Hydrofluorocarbons,  Separation of powers

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Government

This fact sheet explores the role and functions of the Australian Government, including who is in the government, how it is formed, minority government and the principle of responsible government.

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Three levels of government: governing Australia

In Australia the three levels of government work together to provide us with the services we need. This webpage provides a detailed explanation of the roles and responsibilities of each level, how they raise money and how they work together. Case studies show how the powers of the Australian Parliament have expanded.

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Separation of powers

The principle of the separation of powers distributes the power to govern between the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary. This fact sheet examines the role of each group and the related principle of responsible government.

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Cabinet

Cabinet is the top-level decision-making group within the Australian Government. Find out more about who is in Cabinet and how it works with this fact sheet.

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Australian Constitution online

Browse the complete text of the Australian Constitution with this easy-to use website. It includes a detailed overview by the Australian Government Solicitor and a 2:26 min video snapshot about the Constitution and its role in the governance of the Australian nation.

Online

Australian Constitution

This fact sheet summarises the key features of the Australian Constitution— the set of rules by which Australia is run—and how it can be changed.

Video

Tour of NSW Government House

This resource is a YouTube playlist containing a series of videos taken as a group of senior high school students are given a guided tour of NSW Government House in 2010. The tour covers primary sources such as architecture, furniture and images significant to the history of Australia and NSW.

Interactive

Quizzes

Test your students with these quizzes about the Australian Parliament. Topics include the three levels of government, separation of powers and the Australian Constitution.

Interactive

Making a Nation: changing the Constitution

This interactive resource looks at the creation of the Australian Constitution and then explores the process used to change it - referendum. Information on several referendums is presented (1910, 1937, 1967, 1984) but, in a case study, students investigate the 1951 anti-communism referendum in more detail. The seven activities ...

Video

NSW Governor Marie Bashir – 2010 speech to students

This resource is a YouTube playlist containing a series of videos from a speech the NSW Governor Marie Bashir gave to senior high school students at Government House in 2010. She speaks on a range of topics, including the Australian system of government, the history of Australia and NSW, and her life. She also answers ...

Online

Magna Carta: The story of our freedom

This is a resource about the Magna Carta (Great Charter) agreed between King John and his rebellious barons in 1215 and its influence on the development of human rights and democratic freedoms to the present day. The resource consists of: an animated infographic ‘Tell the story’ with hyperlinks to further information; an ...