Law & Order
This principle means that no one is above the law, including government officials.
What is the Rule of Law?
A law that is widely understandable and accessible meets this characteristic of an effective law.
What is Known?
The party responsible for proving the accused committed the crime.
Who is the prosecution?
This system allows citizens to vote in free and fair elections.
What is democracy?
The court that hears the most serious criminal cases like murder in Victoria.
What is the Supreme Court (Trial Division)?
A police officer avoids punishment for breaking the law due to their position. Which principle of the rule of law is being breached?
What is equality before the law?
A law banning phones in schools is widely ignored by students and not enforced by teachers. Which feature of effective law is missing?
What is enforceability?
The standard of proof required in a criminal case.
What is beyond reasonable doubt?
A country where one leader holds all power and citizens cannot vote is an example of this system.
What is a dictatorship?
If a person is unhappy with a Magistrates’ Court decision, which court would they typically appeal to next in Victoria?
What is the County Court?
Explain how an independent judiciary supports the rule of law.
What is: judges make decisions free from political influence, ensuring fairness?
A law that reflects society’s values is more likely to be followed. Which characteristic is this?
What is Acceptable to the Community?
Name one key difference between a summary offence and an indictable offence.
What is: summary offences are less serious and heard in the Magistrates’ Court?
Identify one risk to citizens’ rights in a dictatorship.
What is: lack of freedom (speech, voting, protest, etc.)?
Explain one reason Parliament delegates law-making power to other bodies.
What is: to save time / use expertise?
Give a real or hypothetical example of a breach of the rule of law and explain why.
Answers will vary (e.g., corruption, unequal treatment).
A law changes frequently, making it difficult for people to understand their rights and obligations. Which characteristic of effective law is weakened?
What is stability?
Why is the presumption of innocence important in criminal law?
What is: it protects individuals from wrongful conviction and ensures fairness?
Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of democracy.
Answers vary (e.g., representation vs slow decision-making).
Why might a case be appealed to a higher court?
What is: error in law, unfair outcome, new evidence?
Why does retrospective law-making conflict with the rule of law?
What is: people cannot know or follow laws that did not exist at the time?
A government proposes a law banning social media use for people under 16. Identify TWO characteristics of an effective law and explain whether this law meets or fails them, using specific examples.
What is: answers may include enforceability (difficult to monitor age online), fairness (limits youth expression), or accessibility/clarity (unclear how rules apply across platforms)?
This role decides the verdict in a criminal trial.
What is the Jury?
Why might media freedom be essential in a democracy?
What is: it allows accountability and informed voting?
What is the final step required for a bill to become law in Victoria?
What is Royal Assent provided by the Governor-General?