Unit 3 AOS2A - The Constitution
Key knowledge
Key skills
- the division of law-making power between state and Commonwealth parliaments under the Commonwealth Constitution, including specific (concurrent and exclusive) and residual powers, and the impact of Section 109
- restrictions imposed by the Commonwealth Constitution on the law-making powers of the state and Commonwealth parliaments
- the process of change by referendum under Section 128 of the Commonwealth Constitution and factors affecting its likely success
- the way in which one successful referendum changed the division of law-making powers
- analysing the impact of referendums on the division of law-making powers
- the role of the High Court in interpreting the Commonwealth Constitution
- the significance of two High Court cases involving the interpretation of the Commonwealth Constitution in terms of their impact on the law-making power of the state and Commonwealth parliaments
- analysing the impact of High Court interpretations on the division of law-making powers
- the capacity of the states to refer law-making power to the Commonwealth Parliament
- analysing the impact of referral of powers on the division of law-making powers
Key skills
- define key legal terminology and use it appropriately
- discuss, interpret and analyse legal information and data
- apply legal principles to relevant cases and issues
- explain the role of the Commonwealth Constitution with respect to law-making powers and the protection of rights
- identify the types of law-making powers
- explain the methods and processes of changing constitutional power
- analyse the impact of referendums, High Court interpretation of the Constitution, and the referral of powers on the division of law-making powers