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Year 9 Civics and Citizenship (Policy developments (4 main political…
Year 9 Civics and Citizenship
Key Concepts
Democracy
Greek - demos meaning people, kratos meaning rule
direct democracy involves citizens
representative democracies elect representatives
our system of voting is compulsory
Justice
treat each other fair and in a manner balanced for all
our legal system has strong ties with justice
justice system
Democratic values
Beliefs and ideals held by society as democracy
respect
valuing views, beliefs and rights
Listening to what people have to say
equality
without discrimination
without bias
fairness
without injustice
fair trial
'fair go'
freedom
free rights
speech
Participation
citizens contribute or take part in society
voting, serving on a jury or paying tax
participate to reap the rewards
Westminster system
Australia's system based on Untied Kingdom
named by London where British parliament located
Rights and responsibilities
Rights
entitlements of citizens
vote
protection
trial
Responsibilities
duties of citizens
Voting
Jury service
Pay tax
obey law
Living in a Democracy
representative democracy
Australians over 18 vote for candidates
Certain values viewed as important
election
fair trial
religion
arbitrary arrest
Australia is also a liberal democracy
individuals freedoms legally protected
movement
speech
assembly
Malala Yousafzai
Pakistani student, age 15
believed girls have the right to be educated
shot in head (2012) on the way home from school
survived and remains a political activist
Pussy Riot
feminist punk rock group
Political protest, 2012. performance in Moscow
opposes Russian president Vladimir Putin's policies
sent to jail
Aung San Suu Kyi
Burmese human rights activist and politician
1988, protested against military
placed under house arrest, spent 15 years
Australia's Political System
Parliamentary democracy
in parliament laws are changed or new laws passed
national parliament referred to as federal or common wealth parliament
six states and two territories have parliament
makes laws on education, transport and health
three forms:
Local
libraries
dog control
building regulations
food services inspection
State
police and prisons
agriculture
railways and public tranport
vehicle registration
Federal
postal services
marriage
immigration
airports and air safety
document called Australian constitution, commenced on the 1st January, 1901
Commonwealth parliament
consists of two houses
lower house (house of representatives)
upper house (senate)
Australia is divided into 150 geographical divisions known as electorates
each has roughly 94 000 voters
the party that wins a majority of seats (76 of 150) forms government
Policy developments
Australian parliament made up of political parties and independents
groups of people who share similar views on how state should be run
majority of candidates win their lower house seats
4 main political parties in australia
labour
Australia's oldest party
government should play a strong national role
fairer Australia for all workers
closes gap between rich and poor
wealth evenly distributed
liberal
liberal and the nationals currently share a coalition
Coalition - temporary alliance
believes individual/business make their own choices
less government control
the nationals
represents interest of those outside the cities
strong local communities
the greens
evidence driven solutions to major problems
increasing cost of living, environmental destruction and climate change
Political parties: group of people who share similar ideas/beliefs of how their state should be run
Palmer united party - 2013
center alliance - 2016
katter's australian party
one nation
Independents
not all members belong to a party
independents may have views that do not quite fit a party
can play a powerful role in parliament if major party relies on them
Example - Hellen Haines
A policy is a statement of principals to guide action
Political spin
Political parties make themselves look good while making their opponents look bad
present information in a way to win public opinions
sometimes difficult to decipher what's true around election time
Analyzing political cartoons
appear in newspapers, magazines and online
use humor to pass comment on political and social issues
caricatures of important figures exaggerate physical features
use stereotypes: eg. Australians say "g'day mate"
metaphor commonly used
parallel is drawn between two things that are different
Steps:
Step 1: Identify the date, the title and the caption
step 2: look at the cartoon, identify what's happening without trying to understand it
step 3: identify political event or issue
step 4: look for any symbols, metaphors and caricature that give further clues to meaning
step 5: identify method used - humor? do you agree with the message?
Understanding laws and why we need them
two different types:
Legal
also exist to regulate our behavior
made by official law-making bodies
parliaments, local councils and the courts
apply to all members of a scoiety
enforced by police and courts
if broken, may receive punishement
referred to as a sanction
fine or time in prison
Non-legal
rules or regulations imposed upon a specific group
eg. school, families or sporting clubs
students must wear school uniform
help establish a code of behavior
work together in a cooperative manner
Reasons we have laws
establish boundaries of acceptable behavior
goal is individuals treat one another with respect
do not disturb or violate the rights of others or threaten peace
anti-bullying and anti-discrimination laws
unlawful to discriminate against race, religion or gender
how laws are made
laws can be made by commonwealth state or territory parliaments
local councils and court judges
parliament play a role in law making
most laws made by parliaments
laws made by parliaments referred to as legislation, statutes or acts
Western Australia
upper = legislative council
lower = legislative assembly
commonwealth parliament makes laws for whole of Australia
state or territory has own elected state or territory
courts play a role in laws making
judges in higher courts (eg. state supreme courts and high courts) can also make laws
creates a legal principle or law that must be followed by judges when similar case arises
law made by judges is known as a common law
all people and organizations most obey the law
laws apply equally to all individuals and organizations
Undermining Justice
Coercion of suspects and witnesses
police must make sure suspects and witnesses are treated failry
all suspects have a right to silence
injustice may occur if rights are not observed a suspect or witness feels compelled or forced to answer question against their will
suspect have trouble communicating
Aboriginal or torres strait islanders, non-english speaking background
mental disorder/disability (eg. hearing impairment)
Trial by media
media = traditional and online
can create impression of a person's guilt before court
must be treated as innocent before proven guilty
Courts of Australia
Court jurisdiction hierarchy
courts in each Australian state or territory arranged in hierarchy
ranked from lowest to highest seriousness of cases they can hear
lowest court in each state ad territory is the magistrates' court
Hierarchy:
High Court of Australia
Federal Courts
Family court (except WA)
Federal court
Federal circuit court
State and territory courts
family court (WA)
Superior Courts (Supreme court)
Intermediate courts (district court, county court - Victoria)
Lower courts (magistrates court, local court - NSW)
high court of Australia
first sat in 1903
hears cases over interpret Australian constitution
Magistrates' court
hears minor disputes
eg. theft and traffic offences
Supreme court
divided into general division and court of appeal
hears serious cases
eg. murder and attempted murder
WA is the only state that has its own family court
Divorce
Custody
Adoption
Role of the courts
law made by judges is known as common law
courts or judges can make law to resolve a dispute in which there is no existing law
judges must come to their own decision
become judge made law or a precedent
decision or legal principle made by a judge (precedent), must be followed by all lower courts