7–10Commerce 7–10 Syllabus

The differences between laws and non-legal rules

The reasons for laws in society

The principles and benefits of the rule of law

The differences between criminal law and civil law

Law-making processes, including statute law and common law

The Customary Lore of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

The hierarchy and jurisdiction of state and federal courts

The reasons for changes in the law

The purpose of the Australian Constitution

The democratic system of government in Australia as outlined in the Australian Constitution

Levels of government and their responsibilities, including the division of powers

The functions and responsibilities of the House of Representatives and the Senate

How and why the separation of powers exists between the parliament, executive and judiciary

The role of the High Court in interpreting the Australian Constitution

Comparison of the democratic system of government with other systems of government

The rights and responsibilities of individuals in the democratic process

Registering to vote

The processes involved in conducting an election

Types of voting methods, including first-past-the-post, preferential, optional preferential and proportional

Australia’s compulsory voting system, and the arguments for and against compulsory voting

The role and function of political parties and independent representation in Australia’s system of government, including the formation of governments

The significance of a parliamentary majority, a hung parliament and minority government

The process by which referendums to change the Australian Constitution are initiated and decided

Investigate a current issue in relation to the legal and/or political environment, and communicate findings using relevant subject-specific terminology in written, oral, visual or multimodal form

Create written texts to explain and analyse aspects of the legal and political environment