School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Australian Government: The Challenges of a Modern Democracy
  • Unit Code

    POL2105
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kay Elizabeth HEARN

Description

Australia has been part of the great unfolding of the democratic experiment from the 19th Century onwards. Yet, in recent decades, Australia, along with other Western democracies, has been wracked by political instability, declining trust in government, leadership changes, the challenge of authoritarianism, and policy paralysis on key issues. This unit is designed to familiarise students with the theories, institutions and socio-economic forces operating on government in Australia within the context of Australia’s democratic history and the global debates about the future of democracy. A feature of the unit will be the discussion of relevant contemporary political issues and controversies along with an examination of the styles of recent Prime Ministers.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded POL2117, POL3117, POL3127, POL4117, POL2127

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain important concepts and principles concerning the functioning of Australian government.
  2. Review and summarise key sources of official government information and communication, and critical commentary.
  3. Apply written and oral communication skills to summarise and discuss contemporary political issues.
  4. Collaborate to outline policy to improve social, ethical and sustainability outcomes.

Unit Content

  1. Theories and institutions of Australian government.
  2. Social and economic forces affecting Australian politics.
  3. Development of Australian government in historical context.
  4. Political trends and issues in contemporary Australia.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not Offered13 x 3 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECUs LMS as well as additional ECU l

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseCritical Reading Exercises20%
ReportSources report50%
PresentationPolicy presentation 30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseCritical Reading Exercises20%
ReportSources report 50%
PresentationPolicy presentation 30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

POL2105|1|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Australian Government: The Challenges of a Modern Democracy
  • Unit Code

    POL2105
  • Year

    2021
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kay Elizabeth HEARN

Description

Australia has been part of the great unfolding of the democratic experiment from the 19th Century onwards. Yet, in recent decades, Australia, along with other Western democracies, has been wracked by political instability, declining trust in government, leadership changes, the challenge of authoritarianism, and policy paralysis on key issues. This unit is designed to familiarise students with the theories, institutions and socio-economic forces operating on government in Australia within the context of Australia’s democratic history and the global debates about the future of democracy. A feature of the unit will be the discussion of relevant contemporary political issues and controversies along with an examination of the styles of recent Prime Ministers.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded POL2117, POL3117, POL3127, POL4117, POL2127

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain important concepts and principles concerning the functioning of Australian government.
  2. Review and summarise key sources of official government information and communication, and critical commentary.
  3. Apply written and oral communication skills to summarise and discuss contemporary political issues.
  4. Collaborate to outline policy to improve social, ethical and sustainability outcomes.

Unit Content

  1. Theories and institutions of Australian government.
  2. Social and economic forces affecting Australian politics.
  3. Development of Australian government in historical context.
  4. Political trends and issues in contemporary Australia.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECUs LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 1Not Offered13 x 3 hour seminarNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECUs LMS as well as additional ECU l

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseCritical Reading Exercises20%
ReportSources report50%
PresentationPolicy presentation 30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ExerciseCritical Reading Exercises20%
ReportSources report 50%
PresentationPolicy presentation 30%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

POL2105|1|2