Australia is one of the world’s oldest liberal democracies. This course explores this stability and change dynamic through an examination of two key themes: (1) the values, attitudes and behaviour of citizens, policymakers and other important actors; and (2) the cleavages and institutions that attempt to manage them. It examines how factors such as identity and views on the role of government drive political attitudes and behaviour, and considers how these have been changing over time. Through the framing of the role of government, major historical and contemporary political debates in Australia will be covered, including taxation, social security, health care, education, migration, economic policy, and the outcomes and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This course also dedicates attention to formal political institutions, paying particular attention to the constitution, institutions of government (e.g. High Court, Parliament, federalism, and the Australian Public Service), and electoral competition. We will also compare Australia to other advanced democracies, in order to shed light on what factors make Australia distinct and how Australia compares to its international peers.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of Australian politics: both its institutions and citizen attitudes/behaviour;
2. critically analyse the structure and dynamics of Australian institutions and citizen attitudes/behaviour;
3. apply the various analytical frameworks of political science to Australian politics;
4. be able to place Australian politics in comparative perspective by making reference to other advanced democracies; and
5. have developed their research, writing, and verbal presentation skills.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Institutionalism and the Australian Constitution
2	Legislature 1: federalism
3	Legislature 2: representation
4	Legislature 3: electing representatives
5	Legislature 4: legislative design
6	Legislature 5: political parties	Midterm exam
7	Executive 1: who really rules Australia?
8	Executive 2: the public service
9	States and territories
10	Unions, interest groups and lobbying
11	The politics of the High Court of Australia
12	Australian democracy in 2026

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Mid-term exam	20 %	*	*	1, 2 & 3
Institutional Reform Project	40 %	*	*	1, 3, 4 & 5
Final exam	30 %	27/04/2026	11/05/2026	1, 2 & 3
Workshop participation	10 %	*	*	1, 3 & 5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Mid-term exam

A mid-term exam will be conducted in Week 6 of semester, comprising multiple choice and/or short answer questions covering content from the first five weeks of the course. Students will have one hour to complete the exam, including reading time.

 

Results will be returned to students during the mid-semester break.The exam will give an indication of how well students understand the central concepts and theories of political institutions.

Assessment Task 2

Institutional Reform Project

Pick one of either:

A policy briefing paper (1500-2000 words)

OR

A podcast (6-8 minutes)

Prepare either a briefing paper, poster or podcast outlying a proposal for institutional reform. The intended audience are policy makers (imagine, for instance, that you are recommending policy changes to the Prime Minister). Topics will be announced early in the semester.

The proposal should consider potential benefits and attempt to anticipate potential trade-offs that may result if the change was implemented. The purpose of the assignment is to inform and persuade the audience, while demonstrating a thorough knowledge of different institutional design options, there strengths and weaknesses. We strongly recommend that you designate an intended audience. For the student, this exercise is intended as an introduction to workplace-related skills such as briefing employers and understanding and explaining reform suggestions within a short timeframe in different formats.

Note that podcasts will need to be accompanied by a reference list, submitted at the same time. All assessments must be submitted online, via the POLS2114 Canvas page.

Rubric

	Excellent	Very good	Satisfactory	Needs improvement
Originality (40%)	Presents ideas or examples that other students have not (e.g. compares two theories in a new way, or comes up with new examples of a phenomenon).	Presents ideas or examples beyond those mentioned in class (e.g. compares two theories, or comes up with new examples of a phenomenon).	Presents only ideas or examples already discussed in class or assigned readings.	Rehashes ideas discussed in class (or no ideas at all) and no examples.
Communication (40%)	The paper/podcast flows logically, contains clear topic sentences and transitions, and the writing is clear, with active voice, appropriate tense, and minimal jargon.	The paper/podcast mostly has a logical structure, topic sentences and transitions, with clear writing, active voice, appropriate tense, and minimal jargon.	The paper/podcast has some issues with flow, topic sentences, and transitions, unclear writing, some typographic mistakes, or unnecessary complexity/jargon.	The paper has many issues with flow, topic sentences, and transitions, unclear writing, some typographic mistakes, or unnecessary complexity/jargon.
Referencing and sources (20%)	Every argument (not every sentence!) is supported by at least one reference (no more than three is necessary). Sources include readings from outside the syllabus. Reference style is perfectly executed, regardless of which style you use.	Most arguments are supported by at least one reference (no more than three is necessary). Sources include some readings from outside the syllabus. Reference style is well executed, regardless of which style you use.	Some arguments are supported by at least one reference (no more than three is necessary). Sources are mostly from the syllabus or lectures. Reference style has some errors.	Most arguments are not supported by at least one reference, and most sources are from the syllabus. Reference style has errors.

Assessment Task 3

Final exam

The final exam will test students’ knowledge of content from the entire semester – not just from the mid-semester exam onward. The exam will give similar weighting to the course content as in the syllabus, e.g. a greater focus on the legislature than the judiciary, and a majority of questions on Australian institutions but some comparative focus.

The final exam will comprise multiple choice questions and/or, short answer (e.g. one paragraph) and/or long answer (e.g. three paragraph) questions. The date of the exam will be advised towards the end of the semester, following confirmation from the Examinations Office. The time, date and location of the final exam are not at the course convenor’s discretion. 

Assessment Task 4

Workshop participation

Workshop participation in POLS2114 is measured by contribution to workshop discussions and group activities. This course aims to prepare students for post-university life in the workplace, and positive contribution to group discussions is one important part of that process. Participation can only accrue 10 marks towards your final grade but it will improve your grades on other assessments.

Rubric

Criterion	Excellent	Very good	Satisfactory	Needs improvement
Engagement with workshop activities	Consistently engaged with workshop tasks and discussions	Regularly engaged with workshop tasks and discussions	Sometimes engaged with workshop tasks and discussions	Rarely engaged with workshop tasks and discussions
Contribution to learning environment	Actively contributed to a productive workshop atmosphere	Contributed to a productive workshop atmosphere	Made some contribution to workshop atmosphere	Limited contribution to workshop atmosphere
Collaborative contribution	Actively works with peers during group activities and discussions	Works with peers during group activities	Participates in group work when prompted	Minimal engagement in collaborative tasks

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students