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

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 ...