GSB 652 Australian Political Institutions
This unit is designed for people who are interested in Australian politics and who would like a comprehensive overview of how the system works. No previous knowledge about the subject is expected though it is assumed that students enjoy watching and reading current affairs programs/articles in the media.
The unit is also useful in so far as it provides students with a detailed knowledge of how our federal, state and local governments operate, and how this political environment functions as an essential backdrop to the activities of the nation.
Some of the issues we consider in the course are:
- Political parties—what makes them tick, how they function, and what their policies are.
- Elections—how preferential and proportional voting work and whether they are better than other approaches.
- The High Court—what it does and why it is in the news bulletins so regularly.
- The Constitution—why this document is so pivotal to our political framework, and why all Australians should have some understanding of its contents.
- Federalism—should we really get rid of the states? Or does our particular system in fact function quite well after all?
- The Republic—did we miss a great opportunity—or were we spared an undesirable fate?
Australian Political Institutions covers material that is intrinsically interesting to most citizens. Certainly no one can escape the reality that they live in a political environment. I hope this course provides a better understanding of that environment and, consequently, more satisfaction in one’s life as a citizen.