Exam Rivision Flashcards
For a democracy to be functioning what needs to be protected?
Individual rights and freedoms: People should have the freedom to express their opinions, assemble peacefully, and participate in the decision-making process without fear of persecution or discrimination.
Rule of law: The rule of law means that laws are applied equally to all individuals and institutions, including the government. It ensures that no one is above the law and that legal processes are fair and impartial. Upholding the rule of law protects citizens from arbitrary actions and promotes a just and stable society.
Free and fair elections:
Elections should be conducted in a transparent and fair manner, allowing all eligible citizens to freely choose their representatives.
Goverment principles
Responsible government
The government is always answerable to the parliament and people
Ministerial responsibility
Ministers must take full responsibility for decisions
E.g. the Minister for Health must answer questions about the government’s handling of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Parliamentary Sovereignty
the government must always seek approval from the Parliament for its decision making
australian democracy
Australia’s main political ideology is Parliamentary Democracy
This means that power in Australia is centred on an elected assembly or ‘Parliament’ – that makes decisions on behalf of their electorate (the people).
Australia can also be called a liberal democracy
Liberalism is a concept which basically states that society should be made up of individuals who should be free to pursue their interests.
how does a democracy give to the ordinary people of a country?
Voting: One of the fundamental aspects of democracy is the right to vote. In democratic elections, all eligible citizens have the opportunity to cast their votes and choose their representatives.
Participation: Democracy encourages active participation from ordinary people. Citizens can engage in various activities such as attending public meetings, joining political parties, expressing their opinions, and engaging in peaceful protests.
Freedom of Expression:
Democracies uphold the freedom of speech and expression, allowing ordinary people to voice their opinions and concerns openly. This includes the right to criticize the government, advocate for change, and share ideas.
How is socialism similar to communism
Socialism and communism both advocate for public or collective ownership of resources, seeking to reduce inequality. However, socialism allows for some private ownership and maintains democratic governance, whereas communism seeks to abolish private property entirely and often involves a centralized, authoritarian government. Socialism is more flexible and often coexists with capitalist elements, unlike communism’s more rigid structure.
Australia is a democracy that practices capitalism. How is this different to a communist society?
Australia’s capitalist democracy is fundamentally different from a communist society. In Australia, private ownership and free markets drive the economy, allowing individuals to own property and businesses. Democracy ensures political freedoms and rights. In contrast, communism involves collective ownership of resources, with the state controlling economic activity and limiting individual freedoms.
How do democratic systems differ from authoritarian government’s
Power and Decision-Making:
In a democratic system, citizens have the right to participate in decision-making through elections. In contrast, authoritarian governments concentrate power in the hands of a single leader or a small group, and decisions are made without consent from the general population.
Freedom and Rights: Democracies protect individual rights and freedoms. Citizens have the freedom of speech, assembly, and expression, as well as other fundamental rights. Authoritarian governments often restrict or suppress these rights, as they aim to maintain control and limit dissent.
Rule of Law: Democratic systems uphold the rule of law, meaning that laws apply equally to everyone, including government officials.
Independent judiciary ensures fairness and justice. In contrast, authoritarian governments may manipulate or ignore the law to serve their own interests, and the judiciary is often subject to political interference.
what type of democracy would Australia be categorized under
A system of government is the structure and systems by which a country is run. Australia is a democratic country that has a mixed system of government.
Australia’s system of government is based on the British Westminster system.
Australia has a mixed system of government. It is a:
Representative democracy—Australians vote for members of parliament to make laws on their behalf.
Constitutional monarchy—The King is Australia’s head of state but does not have absolute power and is required to follow theAustralian Constitution. The King gives his powers to the Governor-General.
Federation of states—A Federation is a group of states who have given some of their law-making powers to a national government and kept some law-making powers for local matters.
An important feature of Australia’s system of government is how the power to make and manage laws is shared between the parliament, the government and the courts. This is called theseparation of powers.
what is a political spectrum and what is it used for?
A political spectrum is a way to categorize and understand different political beliefs and ideologies. It helps us visualise the range of political views that people can have, from left to right or liberal to conservative.
This helps us understand the general positions and values associated with each side.
what is one thing people on the economic left support
One thing that people on the economic left support is the idea of reducing inequality. They believe in creating a fairer distribution of wealth and resources in society, so that everyone has more equal opportunities and benefits.
This can involve policies like higher taxes on the wealthy, and government programs aimed at helping those in need. People on the economic left generally want to address the disparities between the rich and the poor and ensure that everyone has a decent standard of living.
what is one charetstic of the economic right and how does it differ to the economic left
One characteristic of the economic right is a belief in limited government intervention in the economy. Those on the economic right tend to advocate for free markets and minimal government regulation in economic affairs.
what is the seperation of powers
To avoid any part of government from having too much power, Australia’s is divided, or separated into three parts. Each part has its own responsibilities and stops the others from dominating Australian society.Each part is mostly independent from each other, meaning that they have little influence over the others and can effectively.the Separation of Powers in Australia is based on: the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary
why does a country have general wish
1) It ensures that the government acts in the best interests of the whole community, not just a few individuals or groups.
- It upholds the idea that the government gets its power from the people and should respect their wishes and values.
- It promotes social harmony and stability by addressing the needs and concerns of the majority.
4.It makes the government accountable to the people and encourages transparency in decision-making.
By following the general will, the government can be seen as fair, legitimate, and responsive to the needs of its citizens.
why do we need to change the constitution
May need to be revised and updated due to changes in society
Certain clauses or sections may become irrelevant or inappropriate
There may be imperfections that need to be corrected
To include a rule to make it more difficult to change
Establish a procedure for Constitutional change
Steps of a referendum
Step 1 – Approval of Proposal in Parliament.
The proposed amendment must be approved by an absolute majority vote (more than 50% of members) in BOTH houses of Parliament. This proposal must clearly outline the change proposed.
Step 2 – The Factors
Members of Parliament who are both for and against the change will meet to decide on their ‘case’ or arguments (debating the issue).
Step 3 – Referendum Booklet
Prior to the vote, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will publish a booklet with the arguments for and against the proposed change and will mail it to every household in Australia.
Section 4 – the Vote
All Australians above the age of 18 are required to attend a vote on a specified day within six months of the referendum bill passing Parliament. There are currently 17.5 million registered voters who are mandated to vote in Australian elections and referenda.
