exam pt2 civics and citizenship

Question 1

representative democracy

Answer 1

• This means that our government officials are democratically elected by citizens.
• These officials represent the citizens’ ideas and concerns in government.

Question 2

structure of federal Parliament

Answer 2

• house of reps
• senate
• governor general
• the queen

Question 3

bicameral meaning

Answer 3

• the practice of having two parliamentary chambers, consisting the house of reps and the senate

Question 4

main roles of the house of reps

Answer 4

• Consists of democratically elected 151 members
• members who can represent the views, values and desires of people from all over the country
• consider and pass new laws and amendments or changes to existing laws

Question 5

main roles of the senate

Answer 5

• examines the activities of the government: its spending, proposed laws and changes to the law, and its general administration

Question 6

four purposes of The Australian constitution

Answer 6

• Establish a federal system of government where the six states, each with the power to make laws for the residents of that state, and one central parliament with the powers to make laws applying to the whole country
• Outlines the structure of the Commonwealth Parliament so it must consist of two houses and the Crown
• Created the High Court of Australia to resolve disputes over the meaning of the Constitution
• Ensures the parliamentary system be based upon a responsible government and the separation of powers.

Question 7

four main principles of liberal democracy

Answer 7

• gov must protect the rights and freedoms of the individual
• gov must make laws the reflect the views and values of the people
• gov must be accountable to the people
• there must be a separation of powers

Question 8

eg of how rights and freedoms are protected in Australia

Answer 8

• same sex marriage

Question 9

explain the powers of the executive, legislative and the judiciary

Answer 9

Executive – administers and implements laws
Legislature (Parliament) – creates laws
Judiciary (Courts) – interprets and enforces laws

This ensures that no single group within our parliamentary system has power to make, implement, apply and interpret the law. No group has complete power.