2- Democratic Ideals Flashcards
3 principles of good government
Limiting government
Checking government
Representative
Separation of powers does what?
Limits government
Whats does sovereign parliament mean?
Giving parliament the ultimate authority to make laws
What is the main idea of constitutionalism?
That the law limits power
What type of political structure is Australia
A constitutional monarchy
What is the difference between citizenship and a subject
A subject has very limited rights and is forced to obey orders from the ruler
A Citizen is a person who has extensive rights and must only obey laws which have been passed by the representative government
What is the rule of law?
An action is allowed/not allowed because it is the law, not because it is the whim of powerful individuals
What are the 4 features of the rule of law
The law applies to all actions of citizens
There must be effective methods of holding governments accountable
Citizens are equal before the law
The law must be comprehensive
What is accountability
It is the way in which the people check and scrutinise government actions
What is federation?
Where power is divided between central and regional governments
What is a unitary system
Central body making all decisions
What are some pros of federalism
Regional govs are closer to the people
Political freedom limits govs power
Competition stimulates improvement
What are some cons of federalism
Over government and confusion
Exaggerates conflicts
Reduces nations ability to make decisions
What are the different types of federations and what is unique about them
Coercive (weak regional govs)
Co ordinate (equal powers)
Co operative ( working together)
Confederation (nations with some common policy)
What are the four essential features of the rule of law?
Applies to everyone equally
Effectively accountable
Everyone equal before law
Clear and understandable
