VCE+Australian+Politics

=**RATIONALE **= VCE Australian Politics is contemporary in focus. While the focus of this study is the twenty-first century and current events, historical events, examples and illustrations may provide students with contextual understanding and may provide unique examples of the workings of the Australian political system.
 * AUSTRALIAN POLITICS **

=**ENTRY **= There are no prerequisites for entry to Unit 3. Students must undertake Unit 3 prior to undertaking Unit 4.

=**UNIT 3: ****Evaluating Australian Democracy **= ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is democracy? What are its most significant values and principles? How closely does the operation of the contemporary Australian political system reflect key democratic values and principles? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Australian political system? In this area of study students are introduced to the most important values and principles that underpin democracy. These include popular sovereignty, majority rule, respect for minority rights, the rule of law, the legitimacy of the government, constraints on government power, and political and legal equality of citizens.
 * Areas of Study 1: Australian Democracy **
 * Outcome: **On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe and analyse key aspects of democratic theory and practice, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Australian democratic system.

How does Australian democracy compare with other democracies? Does the Australian system of voting better reflect key democratic principles than the system used in other democratic countries? Is the Commonwealth Parliament more representative of Australian society than the legislative branches of comparable democracies are of their societies? In this area of study students undertake a comparison of the Australian political system with the political system of one of the following: the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany or India. On completion of this unit the student should be able to critically compare the political system of Australia with one other democracy, and evaluate an aspect of the selected political system that Australia might adopt to strengthen its democracy.
 * Area of Study 2: Australian Democracy in Perspective **
 * Outcome: **

<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Extended response task || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">research report || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% ||
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment **
 * =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes **= || =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks **= || =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Marks allocated **= ||
 * =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 1 **= || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Short answer test and
 * =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 2 **= || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">An essay and

<span style="color: #1a1718; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">What influences the policy decisions and actions of the Commonwealth Government? What opportunities exist for individuals and groups to participate in the decisions of government? In this area of study students investigate the formulation and implementation of domestic public policy.
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">UNIT 4: Australian Public Policy **
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">_________________________________________________________________________________________________ **
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Area of Study 1: Domestic Policy **
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome: **<span style="color: #1a1718; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain how Australian federal domestic public policy is formulated and implemented, analyse the factors which affect these processes, and critically evaluate a selected contemporary domestic policy issue.

<span style="color: #1a1718; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">What is meant by Australia’s national interest? In what ways does Australia use foreign policy to pursue its national interest? What are the key challenges Australia faces in contemporary foreign policy? In this area of study students consider Australian foreign policy making and implementation in the past ten years. They analyse the distinction between Australia’s foreign and domestic policies, and the impact this difference has on policy formulation.
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Area of Study 2:Foreign Policy **
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome: **<span style="color: #1a1718; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe, analyse and discuss the nature, objectives and instruments of contemporary Australian foreign policy, and the challenges facing Australian foreign policy.

<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Extended response task || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">research report || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">25% || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">An end of year examination will also form 50% of the total assessment in this subject
 * <span style="color: #262824; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">ASSESSMENT **
 * =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcomes **= || =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Assessment tasks **= || =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Marks allocated **= ||
 * =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 1 **= || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Short answer test **and**
 * =**<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">Outcome 2 **= || <span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.32px;">An essay **and**