Teaching article
Where do courts fit? Avoid the three-level ladder
Keep federal, state or territory and local levels separate from a discussion of institutions and legal roles.
A diagram labelled federal, state and local describes a different distinction from one showing legislative, executive and judicial functions. Put the diagrams beside each other instead of trying to place courts on the council rung.
Use a labelled relationship diagram rather than three stacked boxes. Courts have functions that should not be confused with local government responsibilities.
Compare two different ways of organising the picture
A court is not a fourth government level to add beside federal, state and local headings.
Label one mat by government level. Label the other by institutional function. Explain why the mats answer different questions.
The terms levels and branches should not be swapped. What question does each sorting mat ask?
Offer one clear example on each mat.
Resources
- Who Does What? Government Power Match — Use the responsibility matching activity for a separate checked-service comparison.
Further reading
- Parliamentary Education Office — classroom activities
- Australian Electoral Commission — Democracy Rules
Read next
- A constitution analogy, with the stopping point marked
- Two civic sources may be repeating the same claim
- Is that classroom rule fair? Start with who can join in
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