Civics & Citizenship

Question 1

What is a democracy?

Answer 1

A state of government in which people have to the power to determine how they will be ruled or managed.

Question 2

What are the four democratic values? Describe them

Answer 2

Respect: treating others with consideration and valuing their rights.
Equality: rights and privileges for all, without discrimination on gender, sex, race, religion , etc.
Fairness: all people are treated fairly and are given equal opportunity.
Freedom: rights, privileges, and responsibility for all without interference or control from other citizens or government.

Question 3

What rights do we have in Australia that are protected by the constitution?

Answer 3

See chapter 14.1, I don’t know the answer.

Question 4

State and explain the four principles of justice.

Answer 4

1) Governments must protect the rights and freedoms of individuals: Australia is a democracy, meaning that it is a system aiming to give people a say in the laws they must obey and ensure the government doesn’t have too much control over the people.
2) Governments must make laws that reflect the views and values of the people: Australia is a representative government, meaning that people vote for who they want in government as they reflect their personal views. This is achieved by holding regular free and fair elections.
3) Governments must be accountable to the people: this means that governments must be able to justify their actions to the voters. This is done through things such as preliminary question time, in which people are given the opportunity to ask e members of parliament any questions on their policies and actions.
4) There must be a separation of powers: a Bill must pass through the three levels of government until it can b made into a law. This ensures thy the government does not have total control over a country and its people.

Question 5

What are the three main powers at a federal level?

Answer 5

• Executive power: power to administer or implement a law, held by the governor-general, Prime Minister and senior ministers.
• Legislative power: power to make the law, held by parliament.
• Judicial power: power to apply and interpret the law, held by the courts to settle disputes.

Question 6

What does the legislative power consist of?

Answer 6

House of Reps and Senate.

Question 7

What does the executive power consist of?

Answer 7

Governor-General, Prime Minister, Senior Ministers, Government departments.

Question 8

What does the Judicial power consist of?

Answer 8

High Court and other federal courts.

Question 9

What are some things that a parliament does?

Answer 9

Making new laws and altering old ones, discussing and debating matters impacting voters, reviewing perceived injustices in the law.

Question 10

What does the federal government include?

Answer 10

Immigration, marriage, communication, taxation, defence, foreign affairs.

Question 11

What does the state government include?

Answer 11

Schools, hospitals, roads, railways, electricity, water, mining, agriculture.

Question 12

What does the local government include?

Answer 12

Road maintenance, libraries, street services, pet control, rubbish collection, parks.

Question 13

How do people vote for the Senate?

Answer 13

Number boxes above the line OR below the line, 1-6 and 1-12+, respectively. If you fill both boxes, only the votes below the line will be counted. You also have the option to only vote above the line.

Question 14

What is the time of voting for the House of Representatives called?

Answer 14

Preferential voting.

Question 15

Explain the process of Preferential Voting.

Answer 15

Number the given boxes from 1 to however many boxes there are (e.g 1-5). Make 1 your first choice and 5 your last. A candidate must receive an absolute majority to be voted into the House of Reps, so if this does not occur during the first round of counting then the person with the least amount of votes is eliminated. The eliminated candidate’s votes are then given to whoever they have listed as number two. This process goes on until an absolute majority is reached.

Question 16

What is an informal vote?

Answer 16

A vote that is not counted because it has not been filled out properly.

Question 17

Why does Australia have three levels of government?

Answer 17

So that the views and values of people in each area of Australia are considered. Helps democracy come through in law-making -> the people have their opinions involved.

Question 18

What is the system of Australia’s government and why is it significant?

Answer 18

Australia’s system of government is democracy. This means that each citizen is given freedoms and rights, and the country is run in a way that is free and fair to all. This is significant as it allows everyone the basic human rights they deserve.

Question 19

What is the role of the Prime Minister?

Answer 19

To be responsible for all decisions and policies made in government. Appoint Cabinet members. Is head of the Cabinet.

Question 20

What is the role of the Cabinet?

Answer 20

To direct government policy and make decisions about national issues.

Question 21

What is the role of Ministers?

Answer 21

To be in charge of a certain government department, or assist with a specific department.

Question 22

What is the role of the opposition?

Answer 22

A political party who are opposed to the views of the Government of the Day; they question them and hold them accountable to the public.

Question 23

What is the Government of the Day?

Answer 23

The political party who have achieved a majority in the House of Representatives.

Question 24

What is the role of the Governor-General?

Answer 24

To give royal assent on behalf of the Queen and provide ceremonial duties.

Question 25

Why are the principles of government important?

Answer 25

They ensure that the government is managed in a way that is fair and just for all.

Question 26

What is a federal system of government?

Answer 26

A system of government in which a nation is divided into states, each one with its own government responsible for making laws for the residents if that state. There is one central/federal government that has responsibilities to make laws for the whole of the nation.

Question 26

What are Australia’s principles of government?

Answer 26

1) Governments must protect the rights and freedoms of individuals: places limits on the government’s control over citizens and ensures they don’t make laws that unnecessarily limit the activities of citizens. E.g we have laws that give freedom of speech and religion. 2) Governments must make laws that reflect the views and values of the people: a representative government - citizens elect people they think will make decisions they agree with. This is achieved by holding regular free and fair elections. 3) Governments must be accountable to the people: Government must be able to justify their actions and be held accountable to their decisions. This can be done through parliamentary question time. Also ensures that if politicians act in irresponsible ways they must resign from their position. 4) There must be a separation of powers: ensures no single group in parliament has full control over the country’s decisions. Government can’t abuse their power or make laws beyond what they are supposed to.

Question 26

Describe the Westminster parliamentary system.

Answer 26

An upper house, a lower house, and a reigning English monarch “Crown”. Still exists today within Australia.

Question 26

What were the problems that prompted Australian colonies to form one nation?

Answer 26

Different railway systems, different postage stamps, different tax/tariffs, different military and defence, no common immigration policy.

Question 26

Describe the structure of the Commonwealth parliament.

Answer 26

Consists of two houses and a crown, lower house is House of Reps and upper house is the Senate. All laws passed by Commonwealth parliament must be approved by majority of members in both houses and the Crown.

Question 26

What is the role of the House of Reps?

Answer 26

Consists of 150 members, one from each electorate in Australia, voted for by the people. WA has 59 electorates. Serve a three year term. Each person form an electorate is supposed to represent views of people from that specific area in Australia. Has to determine government of the day, and discuss debate and scrutinise proposals for creating and changing the constitution.

Question 26

Describe the role of the Senate.

Answer 26

Upper house, consisting of 76 members - 12 from each of the six states and two from each mainland territory. Is supposed to represent views of people from each state of Australia. Elected for a six year term. Is supposed to represent interests of the states, and initiate, discuss and review new laws.

Question 26

Describe the law-making powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Answer 26

Marriage and divorce, currency, taxation, social welfare benefits, trade and commerce, defence, customs and excise (taxes on production and export of goods). Commonwealth can only make laws in areas specifically stated by the Constitution.

Question 26

What are residual powers?

Answer 26

Powers that belong exclusively to state parliaments as they aren’t stated in institution as belonging to Commonwealth.

Question 27

Describe the specific law-making powers.

Answer 27

Exclusive powers: only the Commonwealth can make laws in. (E.g currency defence excise duties) Concurrent: areas of law-making shared by state and Commonwealth. (E.g marriage taxation and statistics)

Question 28

Describe the referendum process.

Answer 28

Proposed change to constitution must be drafted and approved by majority of members in both levels of parliament. Is then put to vote for Australian citizens and needs a double majority (meaning majority of votes throughout whole of Aus or majority of votes in at least 4 states). If it is approved this far, the Queen of G-G must give royal assent.

Question 29

Describe the role of the High Court.

Answer 29

Act as an independent and impartial umpire to check the Commonwealth Parliament doesn’t make laws that exceed its constitutional law-making powers.

Question 30

Gives examples of the High Court solving disputes.

Answer 30

High Court has been called to resolve whether Commonwealth laws have breached an existing Australian law. It has also solved issues around international human rights treaties and conventions that Australia has agreed to uphold. It has declared any contravening laws (laws that breach constitution) are invalid. This helps the High Court protect basic human rights of Aus citizens. The High Court must interpret the Constitution and imply that the various rights of Australian people exist, even though they are not expressly stated. E.g Constitution doesn’t directly state Australians have the right of political communication, the High Court suggests this is implied in the Constitution. 2012 High Court solved a disputed over Tobacco Plain Packaging Act (2011) when Commonwealth said Tobacco companies had to use plain packaging stating health risks. Tobacco companies argued the Commonwealth were taking control over their logos and intellectual property, but High Court ruled against this and said Commonwealth were only restricting the ways in which companies could use their logos and trademarks.