Chapter 2 - Definitions

Question 1

Federation

Answer 1

The formation of a political union with a central government from a number of seperate states or colonies, with control of its own affairs

Question 2

Residual Powers

Answer 2

All those powers, in constitutional law, to make laws that were not specifically granted to the commonwealth parliament and thus remain with the states, for example road rules, criminal law and school education

Question 3

Specific Powers

Answer 3

All powers given to the commonwealth parliament under the constitution at federation, for example immigration, railway construction and quarantine

Question 4

Concurrent Powers

Answer 4

Law-Making powers shared by federal and state governments - more specifically the power of the commonwealth parliament to make law on a particular subject

Question 5

Exclusive powers

Answer 5

Powers that under the commonwealth constitution can be exercised only by federal parliament and not by a state parliament, such as the power to impose customs and exercise duties, currency and defence.

Question 6

Reserved powers doctrine

Answer 6

The belief in which a restrictive approach to the interpretation of the specific powers of the federal parliament is taken in order to preserve the residual powers of the states. This doctrine has since been abandoned by the high court

Question 7

Treaty

Answer 7

An agreement between two or more sovereign states to undertake a particular course of action. The international agreement may involve such subjects as human rights, pussy, the environment or trade.

Question 8

Colony

Answer 8

Group of people who leave their homeland to form a new country or region ruled by a parent state