Civics Flashcards
What is an absolute majority?
50% + 1 of the votes cast.
What is a double majority?
4 out of 6 states and also majority of the whole Australian population both vote yes
What is the Constitution?
A document that states how our government will be set out and how it will run.
When did the Constitution come into effect?
January 01 1901 was when the Queen signed it
Who is the current Governor General and what does he do?
Peter Cosgrove
He represents the Queen (signs bills, attends ceremonies and is also the commander in chief of the defence force)
What is federation?
Federation is when 6 British colonies joined together and became the states of Australia
What year did the territories join our Commonwealth?
1911
In what section of the constitution does it state how to change the constitution?
Section 128
What is the difference between a plebiscite and a referendum?
A referendum, if agreed to, will change the constitution. A plebiscite will just ask for public opinion.
Who is the current prime minister and what does he do?
Malcolm Turnbull
Some of his jobs include, appointing ministers and advising the Governor General
What does the usher of the black rod do?
The usher of the black rod is a parliamentary officer in the Senate. The usher of the black rod escorts the president in and out of the chamber and records attendance of the senators
How many senators are there and what do they represent?
There a 76 senators. 12 senators represents each of the states and 2 senators represent each territory.
Why is Australia called a bicameral parliament?
Australia is called a bicameral parliament because it has two Houses which are called the Senate and the House of Representatives.
What colour is the Senate?
Red
What is our system of government called and why?
Westminster government because it is the British and USA government combined
What is a republic?
A republic is a country that doesn’t have the Queen as head of state but has a president as their head of state.
What are the three steps of a referendum?
- The two houses must vote.
- The public votes.
- The Governor General gives royal assent.
What colour is the House of Reps?
Green
Who is Bill shorten?
He is the current leader of the opposition
What is the most important role of the House of Representatives ?
To make up the government after an election
Who is Shane Van Styn?
He is the mayor of geraldton
What are some of the things that local council is in charge of?
- parks
- playgrounds
- libraries
- footpaths
How many members are in the House of Representatives and what do they represent?
150 members representing each of the 150 electorates
What is another name for House of Representatives?
Peoples House or lower house
What is another name for Senate?
Upper house
What origin does the word referendum come from?
Latin
Why do we have the division of powers?
Australia would be hard to run for the federal parliament and the states didn’t want to completely lose all power
What is the lower state house?
Legislative assembly
What is the only state that doesn’t have 2 houses?
Queensland
What is the upper state house?
Legislative council
Who is in the parliament and what does it do?
The Parliament makes and amends the law. It consists of the two houses and the queen (represented by the Governor General)
What does executive do and who is in it?
Prime minister, ministers And the queen represented by the Governor General. The executive puts laws into action
Who is in the judiciary and what does it do?
The judiciary makes judgements about the law and it consists of the high court and other federal courts
Why do we have separation of powers and do the jobs overlap?
We have separation of powers to make sure no one abuses their power and everyone is even and the jobs do overlap.
What are some of the things that federal government is in charge of?
Tax, currency and defence
What are some of the things that state government is in charge of?
Education, hospitals and main roads
Who is the sergeant at arms?
A security guard in the House of Representatives and also the person who keeps order in the chamber
Who is the current premier and what are his/her roles?
Mark McGowan is the current premier. He leads the state government of WA. He has to select cabinet ministers and he decides in the size of the cabinet.
Around how many voters are in an electorate on average?
100 000
