Chapter One Flashcards

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1
Q

Define Government

A

A governing body that creates laws and policies that dictate how a society is effectively run. It includes groups such as the parliament and the judicial courts and also public servants.

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2
Q

Define Absolute freedoms

A

Freedoms that are guaranteed to all members of society by the government including freedom of thought, opinion and private belief.

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3
Q

Define Private Sphere of life

A

Goals for one’s person life such as basic survival needs but more importantly career or relationship goals.

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4
Q

Define Public Sphere of life

A

Activity done within communities in order to achieve the goals of one’s private sphere of life.

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5
Q

Define Politics

A

The activity of making collaborative decisions regarding political and legal structures and deciding on specific laws or policies.

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6
Q

Define Democracy

A

Democracy is defined as a free society which means that the people are entitled to fair and free elections, representative parliaments, accountable executives, open political participation and a just and equitable legal system.

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7
Q

Define Direct Democracy

A

Is different from representative democracy in that each individual citizen has the right to vote on policies and laws.

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8
Q

Define Representative Democracy

A

Is different from direct democracy in that people vote for politicians that represent them on the choices of legislature and laws.

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9
Q

Define Majority Rule

A

A fundamental concept of democracy which gives the power to rule to the people or by definition the majority of them.

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10
Q

Define Liberal Democracy

A

Liberal Democracy is defined as a free society. It must include features such as free and fair elections, majority rule, representative parliaments, accountable executives, open political participation and a just and equitable legal system.

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11
Q

Define Dictatorship

A

A style of government in which the supreme power of all government is placed in the hands of a single person.

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12
Q

Define Statute

A

Laws made directly by parliament on both a federal and state level

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13
Q

Define Delegated legislation

A

Refers to laws made by authorities that have received their power from the government directly such as local councils.

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14
Q

Define Judge-made law

A

A law made in the legal courts, also referred to as common law

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15
Q

Define Cabinet

A

A body existing at both federal and state level comprising of the ministers and the prime minster or premier.

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16
Q

Define Legislative function

A

Refers to both the parliament and the senate and its role of creating and modifying the laws of a society.

17
Q

Define Executive Function

A

The executive is responsible for the administration and also structuring of power to ensure the law is carried out. The cabinet gives out all the power to the other bodies on both a federal and state level.

18
Q

Define Judicial Function

A

The judicial function is responsible for resolving legal disputes and determining polices.

19
Q

Define Political Rights

A

Rights that ensure the government cannot fully control their citizens

20
Q

Define rule of Law

A

The rules defined by the government that apply to certain people in a society depending on the type of government.

21
Q

Define Monarchy

A

A type of government in which the reigning monarch is supposedly selected by god which gives them the right to rule. This right is hereditary, and the monarch has full control over all branches of government.

22
Q

Define Aristocracy and oligarchy-

A

Societies in which full control of the government is given to a small group of people, usually of the highest social class.

23
Q

Define Autocracy

A

One ‘Autocrat’ has full control over all of government and generally crushes all opposition.

24
Q

Define Fascist and communist dictatorship

A

A dictator that rules all aspects of society and forces an ideology onto society, either far right wing fascism or far left wing communism.

25
Q

Elaborate on the following question:Identify the key roles of government

A

The Key roles of government are as follows; Security, settling disputes, infrastructure, economic management and redistribution of income. Governments supply security mainly though institutions such as the police and military, but this can also refer to legal security and social security as well. Avenues for settling disputes are also essential, this is supplied by the legal courts in most liberal democracies. Governments also provide infrastructure such as roads, electrical systems, sewage pipes and also public hospitals and schools. Some governments also control certain aspects of a nation’s economy, although this is not true in a free market economy. Finally, governments also redistribute income by taxing citizens and then providing welfare systems.

26
Q

Elaborate on the following questions: How does Australia prove to be a liberal democracy?

A

Equality of Political rights:
All Australian regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality or wealth are granted the same political and civil rights which forms the basis for a liberal democracy.
Majority Rule:
Government is determined through the formation of seats in the lower house which ensures that the centre of government is represented by the majority of Australians, underpinning the principle of majority rule.
Political Participation:
All Australians over 18 are entitled and forced to vote, any Australian citizen who does not have a criminal record which has resulted in more than two years of imprisonment is permitted to run for parliament. These factors ensure that political participation in Australia is maximised.
Political Freedom:
Parliamentarians have the right to voice their opinions without persecution or censorship, and voters can vote freely without being coerced into voting for a specific party. All citizens have the right to protest any issue they want and can practice their political and civil rights. This ensures that political freedom within Australia is maintained.