Australian parliament Flashcards
What are the two systems Australian parliament is linked to?
The English and American systems
What is the Australian system often referred to as?
Washminster sytem
When was the final draft of Australia’s constitution drawn?
July 1900
The Australian parliament took inspiration from the American system by dividing power at what level?
Federal/National level
How did Australia run its government before it was federated?
It operated as mini states with their own little constitutions
When was the stature of Westminster passed?
1942
What did the stature of Westminster allow?
For the monarch to override any laws
What is Veto?
To refuse or reject a proposed law or resolution
What is a caucus?
A meeting of the parliamentary membership of a political party
What is the system that holds two houses of parliament called?
Bi cameral
What does Bi cameral refer to?
The system that holds two houses of parliament
What is the legislative branch in Australia?
House of representatives, Senate
What is the legislative branch in the USA?
House of representatives, Senate
What is the legislative branch in Britain?
House of commons, House of lords
What is the Executive arm of the British parliament?
“The queens government”
What is the “cabinet?”
Includes 15 members including the vice president
The 15 members including the vice president is known as?
The cabinet
How long do money bills in British parliament have to be passed?
One month
What is the minority in government known as?
The opposition
Where do bills originate in AU parliament?
House of representatives
What happens if the senate rejects a bill twice in 6 months?
The governor general can call for a election of the senate known as a “double dissolution”
What is the American model of government based on?
Separation and balance
How is the American model of government more separated than other governments?
It contains 3 distinct political bodies all with their own veto powers
What is more powerful out of the House of Commons and Lords, and why?
House of Lords as it controls the passage of bills
What is Supply?
The name for a bill that when passed by parliament, authorise the treasurer to pay their obligation
What are standing orders?
The written rules that govern the conduct, procedures and regulations of the proceedings of the houses of parliament
The written rules that govern the conduct, procedures and regulations of the proceedings of the houses of parliament are known as?
Standing orders
What is the gag tactic?
Often used by the government to end a debate as there is a vote called whether or not they want to stop it
What is the guillotine?
A time limit placed on the length of parliamentary debate by the government
A time limit placed on the length of parliamentary debate by the government is known as?
The guillotine
The concept of “party discipline” is inherited from?
British parliament
What is Party discipline?
The ability of a parliamentary group of a political party to get its members to support the policies of their party leadership in order to stay in power
The ability of a parliamentary group of a political party to get its members to support the policies of their party leadership in order to stay in power is known as?
Party discipline
Party members are trustees not delegates, and are meant to represent the interests of their?
Party
The operation of parliament has been criticised because political parties use their numbers to stifle debate through the use of?
Standing orders
What are two Standing orders?
The gag, Guillotine
What is the purpose for setting time apart in the parliamentary day to ask questions?
To enable the opposition to ask the PM and government ministers about significant political issues
How long are the questions during question time?
45 seconds
How long is the PM along with their government ministers given to respond in question time?
4 minutes
What does the committee system allow?
Members of the opposition to examine a bill and recommend amendments that are to be made to it along with giving those whom hold a special expertise to further examine the bill in detail
How many committees are there in the Australian Senate?
23
How many committees are there in the Australian House of reps?
28
How many countries use the committee system?
UK, US, AU
Committees have the power to?
Gather evidence, call on expert advice and even ask for witnesses
What has transformed the senate from a states house to a review chamber alike the US?
The role of political parties in the Senate with the politicians commonly voting along party lines
What is a shadow minister?
A member of the opposition who is a spokesperson for a specific area of policy and represents alternatives to the government minister in this area
A member of the opposition who is a spokesperson for a specific area of policy and represents alternatives to the government minister in this area is known as a?
Shadow minister
What are the Backbenches?
The place where members of parliament sit who are not ministers or shadow ministers
The place where members of parliament sit who are not ministers or shadow ministers is known as the?
Backbenches
What is the portfolio?
An area of responsibility for which a minister is in charge
An area of responsibility for which a minister is in charge is known as the?
Portfolio
What is the AEC?
The Australian Electoral Commission
What is the main role of the AEC?
To keep an accurate electoral role, conduct federal elections and referendums
What is preferential voting?
The elector must show a preference for all candidates listed on the ballot paper
At the federal level, preferential voting is used for?
The house of representatives
What type of voting representation is used for the senate?
Proportional representation
What is proportional representation?
A group of electoral systems used to elect candidates in multimember electorates
What does PR stand for?
Proportional representation
What is the point of preferential voting?
To avoid wasting votes
When votes are counted in Preferential voting system, what does the winner need to achieve?
50%+1 vote of all votes
What is a disadvantage of preferential voting?
It gives smaller candidates and parties less of a chance of winning
What allows smaller parties to gain power in the senate?
The senate is based purely on a proportion of the vote
What are three points FOR compulsory voting?
Enhances democratic legitimacy, elected leaders hold a majority of electoral opinion and participation is maximised
What are three points AGAINST compulsory voting?
Infringes on democratic right or freedom of apathy, increases amount of informal votes and most other democracies have voluntary voting
