Federalism and Levels of Government

Question 1

Reasons Australia decided to federate

Answer 1

• Before 1901 was not a nation but 6 separate British colonies
• Greater nation, coordination and consistency instead of 6 different ways of doing things e.g the railway lines could be uniformed
• More economic development - could develop more as a nation
• People felt government should look after defence, trade, immigration and foreign policies

Question 2

Outline key features of the Constitution

Answer 2

• It’s a set of rules for how a nation is governed
• Came into effect of 1st January 1901
• Describes how the federal parliament works, what it can make laws about and how it shares its power with the states
• Describes the roles of government and the High Court
• Responsible for providing the official interpretation and any disagreements with it
• 8 chapters - divided into sections
○ Parliament, executive government, judiciary, finance and trade, the states, new states, miscellaneous , alteration for the constitution

Question 3

What is Federalism

Answer 3

The idea that government and governments powers should be divided between a central government and smaller state governments.

Question 4

Federal

Answer 4

○ Power to make laws for whole country, listed in constitution
○ Meet in Canberra

Question 5

State

Answer 5

○ Meet in capital of state

○ Laws enforced within own state or territory not covered in constitution

Question 6

Local

Answer 6

○ Local roads, parks, rubbish collection, library services, street signs, pet control, streetlights, local security

Question 7

Example of federal

Answer 7

○ Immigration marriage communication taxation foreign affairs

Question 8

Example of state

Answer 8

○ School hospital roads railways electricity water mining and agriculture