Units 1 and 2: Politics, Power and Democracy (accredited from 2024)
What this domain tests
Units 1 and 2 build the vocabulary and analytical habits that Units 3 and 4 assume. Unit 1 focuses on the nature of political power and how it is exercised in Australia and beyond; Unit 2 focuses on democracy, representation and how citizens influence decisions. You must be able to define and distinguish power, authority, legitimacy and coercion, compare types of democracy (direct, representative, liberal), and explain the roles of constitutions, parliaments, courts, the executive, political parties, interest groups and the media in the Australian system.
Concepts to master
Know the difference between formal and informal power, and between legal authority and customary authority. Be able to explain separation of powers, division of powers (federalism), responsible government and rule of law without confusing them. For Unit 2, understand representation (descriptive, substantive, virtual), electoral systems (preferential, proportional, first-past-the-post) and their consequences for party systems, plus pathways of influence: voting, joining parties, lobbying, petitions, protest, social media and litigation.
Common traps
- Confusing separation of powers (legislature/executive/judiciary) with division of powers (Commonwealth/states).
- Treating 'democracy' as a single model; questions often reward distinguishing liberal from majoritarian features.
- Describing an electoral system without linking it to an outcome (e.g. minority government, minor party representation).
- Confusing the head of state (Governor-General representing the Crown) with the head of government (Prime Minister).
- Listing examples of participation without evaluating their effectiveness.
Worked example / rule of thumb
When asked to compare electoral systems, use a three-step frame: structure (how votes convert to seats) → effect (e.g. preferential voting rewards preferences and can produce minority government; proportional representation tends to increase minor party representation) → evaluation (does this improve representation, stability or accountability?). Never stop at step one.