Unit rationale, description and aim
Understanding Australian politics and government is central to a range of important conversations in Australian society relating to citizenship, public policy and national identity. This unit provides an introduction to politics and government in Australia. It focuses on the formal political system, examining parliament, the executive, the constitution, federalism, elections, parties and the public service. It also examines the role of the Australian media, on citizen's activism and engagement, and the key ideological and theoretical arguments shaping politics in Australia.
The overall aim of this unit is to acquaint students with the concepts and skills necessary to analyse the institutions, policies, and key issues in Australian politics.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Describe the nature and significance of Australian...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically discuss diverse political perspectives ...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply concepts, theories and methods used in the s...
Learning Outcome 03
Demonstrate the capacity to gather and analyse eth...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
- Liberal democracy and Australian political culture
- The three tiers of government and the federal system
- Parliaments
- Executive governments and the Governor-General
- The Public Service and bureaucracy
- The Constitution
- The High Court
- The Electoral system and voting behavior
- Political Parties
- Extra-parliamentary political forces: interest groups and lobbying
- The media in Australian politics
- Concrete examples of contemporary political issues in reference to the functions and problems of the topics listed above including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment tasks for this unit have been designed to contribute to high quality student learning by both helping students learn (assessment for learning), and by measuring explicit evidence of their learning (assessment of learning). Assessments have been developed to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. These have been designed so that they use a variety of tasks to measure the different learning outcomes at a level suitable for first year study in politics and international relations. The descriptive task requires students to demonstrate knowledge of the key institutional arrangements of the Australian political system through a group presentation in the seminars. The written task develops students’ skills to research and write an essay critically analysing how the Australian political system responds to key social, cultural, economic or environmental challenges. The final exam requires students to demonstrate their understanding of the topics covered in this unit through a take-home exam.
Overview of assessments
Assignment 1: Descriptive Task Require students ...
Assignment 1: Descriptive Task
Require students to demonstrate knowledge of the key institutional arrangements of the Australian political system through a group presentation in the seminars on an assigned topic
30%
Assignment 2: Written Analytical Task Students a...
Assignment 2: Written Analytical Task
Students are required to research and write an essay critically analysing how the Australian political system responds to key social, cultural, economic or environmental challenges. This essay (and an essay plan, handed in earlier in the semester) will address a question from a set of challenges that will change slightly each year depending on current political debates in Australian politics.
40%
Assignment 3: Final exam (Take-home exam) Studen...
Assignment 3: Final exam (Take-home exam)
Students are required to undertake a final formal examination to demonstrate their understanding of the topics covered in this unit.
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit employs two formal ways of learning and teaching. Lectures are structured to promote case-based learning, a format that involves collaborative deep learning. Students will explore real world challenges and problems, a process that requires them to demonstrate their investigative, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Case-based learning requires learning specific theories and concepts that will complement the conceptual tools and theoretical knowledge critical to analysing divergent approaches to Australian politics.
Tutorials for this unit provide students opportunities for active learning. Students will engage in activities including reading, writing, interrogating ideas, exploring case studies, doing role plays, debating, and giving presentations. These activities, as well as promoting analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of lecture content, are designed to build skills appropriate to first year study in Politics and International Relations.
This is a 10-credit point unit and has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students will find it helpful to engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies include a range of approaches to support your learning such as reading, reflection, discussion, webinars, podcasts, video etc.