Chapter 2 - Parliament And Government Flashcards
What is ‘democracy’?
A form of government in which the people determine how they will be governed
What is a ‘bicameral parliament’?
A parliament with two houses
What is a ‘unicameral parliament’?
A parliament with only one house
How often is a federal election called?
Every three years
When does voting usually occur?
A Saturday between 8am and 6pm
How long does it usually take to count the votes of an election?
3-4 hours
What does the state government improve to protect the environment?
Air quality, water quality, residential noise, and forestry management.
What does the federal government protect in the environment?
Important national or world heritage sites.
What is the ‘coalition’?
An alliance between two political parties with the aim of improving their chances of winning an election
What does ‘repeal’ mean?
To remove a law so that it no longer applies
In the federal parliament, what is the name of the upper house?
The Senate
In the federal parliament, what is the name of the lower house?
The House of Representatives
What is a political party?
A group of people who come together because they share similar opinions and values in the hope that they get elected
After an election, how is a new government formed?
The party which holds the majority of seats in the House of Representatives wins the right to form government.
Name the three different parts of the Parliament?
Lower house: House of Representatives
Upper house: The Senate
The Queen: The Governor-General
What is the ‘reserve powers’ that the Governor-General has?
The Governor-General has the power to summon, open, and dissolve parliament.
Who is the leader of the labour party?
Bill Shorten
Who is the leader of the liberal party?
Malcolm Turnbull
Who is the leader of the Greens party?
Richard di Natale
Who is the leader of the national party?
Barnaby Joyce
What is the only state in Australia that has a unicameral parliament?
Queensland
How many senators does each state and territory in Australia elect?
The states elect 12, and the territories elect 2 each.
What is the ‘opposition’?
The opposing major party of the current prime minister.
