These are ATARMAxxing’s course-guide summaries. Review all required areas, including school assessments, practical work, performances or folios where applicable. Follow your course’s option rules.
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Principles, Parliament and the executive (Unit 3)
The foundations of Unit 3: responsible and representative government, the separation and division of powers, and Westminster conventions; legislative, executive and judicial power under the Constitution compared with one non-Westminster system; Parliament's functions in theory and practice (ss 7, 24, 51, 53); the Governor-General (ss 61-64, 68, 28, 57, 72 and 1975); the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Ministry; the Opposition and shadow ministry; and mandates, including competing mandates.
Lawmaking and the High Court (Unit 3)
How law is made in Parliament and in the courts, and who influences it: individuals (independents, ministers, citizens), political parties (party discipline, party room, minor parties in the Senate) and pressure groups. Also the High Court's roles and powers (ss 71, 72, 73, 75, 76), with at least one common law and one constitutional decision.
Federalism and constitutional change (Unit 3)
Federalism: exclusive, concurrent and residual powers (ss 51, 52, 90, 107, 109); Commonwealth financial powers (ss 51(ii), 87, 90, 92, 96); how the balance has shifted since 1901 through vertical fiscal imbalance and HFE, referral of powers, COAG and National Cabinet with Ministerial Councils, co-operative versus coercive federalism, and High Court interpretation (external affairs, corporations, taxation); constitutional change by referendum (s 128), High Court decisions, referral and unchallenged legislation; at least one reform proposal; and contemporary issues of political and legal power.
Accountability (Unit 4)
The practices of governance (participation, rule of law, human rights, open government, natural justice) and accountability across all three branches: Parliament (elections, Privileges Committees, procedures, judicial review); the Executive and public servants (IMR, CMR, Senate Estimates and another committee, the Auditor-General, the ART, judicial review); the Governor-General (appointment, removal, 1975, Hollingworth); and the courts (appeals, parliamentary scrutiny, transparency and public confidence, s 72).
Rights and democratic principles (Unit 4)
How human rights are protected in Australia (Constitution, common law, statute, the Victorian, ACT and Queensland charters) and in one other country; the status of international covenants, protocols and treaties; how Australia and one other country uphold or undermine political representation, popular participation, the rule of law, judicial independence and natural justice; and the changing political and legal rights of a particular group in Australia.
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These links come from this subject’s existing official-paper archive. A listed year is the document’s year, not a claim that it matches the 2026 course. Written papers may cover only part of your assessment; use the official requirements for practical, performance and folio components.
Politics and Law ATAR Course Year 12 Syllabus (2013/33191 [v8], for teaching from 2025)
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Check current requirements and course options: https://senior-secondary.scsa.wa.edu.au/syllabus-and-support-materials/humanities-and-social-sciences/politics-and-law