§-Legal Studies Q&A
TAS · TASC← Legal Studies
Legal Studies Q&A by dot point
A short Q&A bank for every TAS Legal Studies syllabus dot point. Each question and answer is drawn directly from our worked dot-point page, so you can scan key concepts before opening the long-form answer.
Dispute Resolution: Civil and Criminal
Explain the purposes of sentencing and the sentencing options available to Tasmanian courts, including diversion and restorative justice.
Describe the criminal trial process and the role and operation of the jury.
Describe the nature of crime, the difference between summary and indictable offences, and the early stages of criminal procedure.
Government
Describe the status and key issues of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution and legal and political system.
Explain how the Constitution is changed through referendum under section 128 and how the balance of power between the Commonwealth and the states has changed over time.
Explain the fundamental elements of liberal democracy, including legitimacy, representative government and responsible government.
Explain the separation of powers into legislative, executive and judicial branches and the role of checks and balances.
Describe the structure of bicameral parliament and the roles of the two houses, the Cabinet and the Crown.
Explain how the Australian Constitution establishes federalism and divides law-making power between the Commonwealth and the states.
Describe the legislative process by which a bill passes through parliament and becomes an Act.
Law and Society
The Australian Legal System
Distinguish between criminal law and civil law, including their purposes, parties, standards of proof, and outcomes.
Explain how international law is made, why states obey it, and how it is enforced.
Identify and explain the sources of law: statute law made by parliament and common law made by courts.
Explain the structure of the court hierarchy and the features of the adversarial system of trial.
Describe the nature of international law and its main sources, and explain how it differs from domestic Australian law.