POLITICS AND LAW SEMESTER 2 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
The rule of law - ANS The principle that everyone, including those who have the legal and
political power to carry out the law are subjected to the law.
-In order to prevent the abuse of power from Courts, Parliament, police.
Key features of the law - ANS -Universality of the law
-Law should be known, clear, consistent and coherent
-Independence of the judiciary
-Freedoms and equality exist within the law w
Universality of the rules of law - ANS No one is above the law, even the law. (In Australia)
-Australian Law is sovereign
-Can be conflict between customary law (e.g indigenous Australian) and formal law (
parliament)
-Migrants must modify some customs and traditions (e.g child mutilation, child marriage) --->
Aus laws directly oppose these values and traditions
-Laws must be accepted by majority of citizens and reflect moral values within that society
---> Laws generally work on a moral basis because of this
-The idea is that 'good people' will follow the law without consciously knowing it
-Moral discomfort can be a powerful force that leads t changes in the law
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,-E.g moral principle of equality drove for changes in the marriage Act 1961 making same sex
marriage legal
The law must be clear, known, coherent - ANS -People should know the laws exists before
they are subjected to them
-Once law passes both houses and is assented by executive, they are published
---> meaning claiming you did not know law existed is no excuse
-Knowledge of the law = made in futuro, not expost facto
--->Cannot be prosecuted for acts that were legal at the time
-Consistency in application of the law ---> exception being children who do not accurately
understand the law
Independant Judiciary - ANS Courts must be free from pressure and interference from other
arms of political and legal system ---> through separation of powers
-Judges reamian impartial
Freedoms and equalities before the law - ANS -People can exercise legal right to put pressure
on the government
-Legal rights such as right to silence, presumption of innocence.
Liberal democracy - ANS A system of government that is based on popular soveignty (will of
the people ) and the respect and protection of rights.
Democratic ideals ---> government should be representative of those that they govern
-government chosen by majority of citizens in a free and fair election
Liberal ideals ---> government should be held in check by having limited powers
-Should be restrained in their ability to override the interests of minorities
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Operation principles of democary - ANS -Equality of political rights
-Majority rule
-Political participation
-Political freedom
Equality of political rights - how upheld and undermined - ANS Occurs when all have equal
access to entitlements essential to a citizen's ability to govern themselves.
Upheld:
-1 vote, one value system
---> more powerful people do not have more worth than the average person
Undermined:
-restrictions/ qualifications for voting
E.g under 18, non-citizen
Majority rule - ANS When the views of the majority are represented effectively via legislation
and the executive.
-In Aus, representatives need an absolute majority ( 50 percent plus one)
Upheld:
-Compulsory voting amplifies process
E.g 90 % voted in 2022 federal election---> views of majority reflected more effectively
Undermined:
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -Limited access to polling places in Australia
E.g Around 60 % of indigenous Australians (many living in regional and remote areas ) voted in
2022
political participation - ANS Occurs when people exercise their political rights and freedoms
with the aim of influencing lawmaking / executive decision making.
Upheld:
-Lobbying, petitioning
-Referendums
-Voting
Undermined:
-Anti-protest laws ---> as a public health measure during Covid
Political freedom - ANS Entitlements that allow people to participate in their government,
ideally without fear of interference or cohersion when it comes to political decision making.
Upheld:
-Separation of powers
-Closed ballots ---> choose representative without intimidation .
Undermined:
-government limits, defamation charges
Separation of powers - ANS The organization of the powers of government in a way that
stops or prevents the concentration of power in the hands of one leader or an elite group.
-Provides checks and balances to prevent abuse of power
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
The rule of law - ANS The principle that everyone, including those who have the legal and
political power to carry out the law are subjected to the law.
-In order to prevent the abuse of power from Courts, Parliament, police.
Key features of the law - ANS -Universality of the law
-Law should be known, clear, consistent and coherent
-Independence of the judiciary
-Freedoms and equality exist within the law w
Universality of the rules of law - ANS No one is above the law, even the law. (In Australia)
-Australian Law is sovereign
-Can be conflict between customary law (e.g indigenous Australian) and formal law (
parliament)
-Migrants must modify some customs and traditions (e.g child mutilation, child marriage) --->
Aus laws directly oppose these values and traditions
-Laws must be accepted by majority of citizens and reflect moral values within that society
---> Laws generally work on a moral basis because of this
-The idea is that 'good people' will follow the law without consciously knowing it
-Moral discomfort can be a powerful force that leads t changes in the law
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,-E.g moral principle of equality drove for changes in the marriage Act 1961 making same sex
marriage legal
The law must be clear, known, coherent - ANS -People should know the laws exists before
they are subjected to them
-Once law passes both houses and is assented by executive, they are published
---> meaning claiming you did not know law existed is no excuse
-Knowledge of the law = made in futuro, not expost facto
--->Cannot be prosecuted for acts that were legal at the time
-Consistency in application of the law ---> exception being children who do not accurately
understand the law
Independant Judiciary - ANS Courts must be free from pressure and interference from other
arms of political and legal system ---> through separation of powers
-Judges reamian impartial
Freedoms and equalities before the law - ANS -People can exercise legal right to put pressure
on the government
-Legal rights such as right to silence, presumption of innocence.
Liberal democracy - ANS A system of government that is based on popular soveignty (will of
the people ) and the respect and protection of rights.
Democratic ideals ---> government should be representative of those that they govern
-government chosen by majority of citizens in a free and fair election
Liberal ideals ---> government should be held in check by having limited powers
-Should be restrained in their ability to override the interests of minorities
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Operation principles of democary - ANS -Equality of political rights
-Majority rule
-Political participation
-Political freedom
Equality of political rights - how upheld and undermined - ANS Occurs when all have equal
access to entitlements essential to a citizen's ability to govern themselves.
Upheld:
-1 vote, one value system
---> more powerful people do not have more worth than the average person
Undermined:
-restrictions/ qualifications for voting
E.g under 18, non-citizen
Majority rule - ANS When the views of the majority are represented effectively via legislation
and the executive.
-In Aus, representatives need an absolute majority ( 50 percent plus one)
Upheld:
-Compulsory voting amplifies process
E.g 90 % voted in 2022 federal election---> views of majority reflected more effectively
Undermined:
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, -Limited access to polling places in Australia
E.g Around 60 % of indigenous Australians (many living in regional and remote areas ) voted in
2022
political participation - ANS Occurs when people exercise their political rights and freedoms
with the aim of influencing lawmaking / executive decision making.
Upheld:
-Lobbying, petitioning
-Referendums
-Voting
Undermined:
-Anti-protest laws ---> as a public health measure during Covid
Political freedom - ANS Entitlements that allow people to participate in their government,
ideally without fear of interference or cohersion when it comes to political decision making.
Upheld:
-Separation of powers
-Closed ballots ---> choose representative without intimidation .
Undermined:
-government limits, defamation charges
Separation of powers - ANS The organization of the powers of government in a way that
stops or prevents the concentration of power in the hands of one leader or an elite group.
-Provides checks and balances to prevent abuse of power
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
