Democratic Principles and Practices in Australia Flashcards
What are democracies?
Complex structures built on complex ides and upheld by complex institutions.
What makes a democracy ‘health’?
Dictators restrained by checks and balances.
What 5 pillars uphold a healthy democracy?
- Institution
- Free media
- Accountability
- Free and fair elections
- Human rights
Free and Fair Elections: what does free mean? (3)
- freedom of speech, assembly and movement
- freedom from fear in relation to the election
- equal and universal right to vote.
Free and Fair Elections: what does fair mean? (3)
- transparent electoral process
- no special privileges to any party, person or group
- Independent and impartial officials conduct the election
Free and Fair Elections: How is regularity demonstrated (3)
- Max term in HOR (3 years)
- Election must be ordered within 10 days of parliament being dissolved
Free and Fair Elections: Who is the impartial umpire and what is their purpose.
- Australian Electoral Commission (AEC)
- Minimal influence by governing parties
Free and Fair Elections: How is one vote, one value achieved?
- AEC redrawing boundaries so that HOR has approximately equal number of voters
Free and Fair Elections: What voting does Aus use?
Preferential voting
Free and Fair Elections: How do campaign make it free and fair? (3)
- laws
- ads have name of person authorising
- ban on broadcast 3 days before election
Free and Fair Elections: How does public funding impact free and fair elections? (3)
- proportional to no. of primary votes
- help minor parties and independents
- bolster finances of major parties
Free and Fair Elections: What is transparent vote counting?
- counted by AEC staff
- parties/independents can have scrutineers
- Live commentary
- Results are broadcasted
What makes Australia’s elections free and fair?
- Regularity
- Impartial umpire
- One vote, one value
- Preferential voting
- Compulsory voting
- Conduct of Campaigns
- Public funding
- Transparent vote counting
What are human rights?
set of principles concerned with one’s equality and fairness.
What does human right include? (3)
- protection for expression of views
- power check or balance for state
- legal protection against being locked up without trial
- protection of individuals in society
- right to trial by jury
- independent courts
Human rights: Who is the commission?
Australian Human Rights Commission
Human rights: What does Australia do?
International treaties and resolutions on HR under UN
A and T: What upholds these (7)
- Question time
- Freedom of info
- Press Galleries
- Free media
- Voting
- Watchdogs
- Engagement with votes
A and T: What are watchdogs? (4)
- Scrutinise gov decision-making
- NGOs
- Anticorruption commissions
- protect citizen and gov overreach
ROL: Features(3)
- Presumption of innocence
- Right to a fair trial
- Natural justice
ROL: Changes to system?
- Must be within the constitution
What is active participation?
If people are involved in democratic processes
Examples of active participation? (3)
- voter turnout
- peaceful protest
- reading about politics
Equality: What act covers equality?
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Equality: How is it shown in elections?
One vote, one value
Equality: What is a challenge in maintaining equality?
Economic equality
Equality: Why is it a challenge?
- economic resources -> political power
- undermines legitimacy
- ppl in poverty, unhappy with parts of the system
DOP: what is exclusive power?
Federal only
DOP: What is concurrent powers?
power shared between states and federal
DOP: What does the fed have exclusive power over?
Defence, foreign policies
DOP: What are examples of concurrent powers? (2)
- Education
- Health
DOP: How is education under concurrent powers?
Federal gov: Controls universities
State gov: Operates primary and seconday
DOP: How is health under concurrent powers?
Federal gov: Pays doctors, charge of Medicare
State gov: manages hospitals
DOP: What is an issue with DOP?
Tussles between state and fed are everlasting
DOP: What is an issue between state and fed gov?
Taxes, as fed can raise them, and influence how states govern by attaching conditions to fundings.
