Glossary Flashcards
Anarchy
A system of governance that avoids coercion violence and authority and is still able to provide a productive and desirable society.
Accountability
Governments are able to explain their actions to the public
Arbitrary
A random act with no thought or legal basis for action.
Assent
Official or legal approval.
Assimilation:
A process of absorbing one culture into another to the point that it is no longer distinguishable from the other. This usually arises when a minority culture assimilates with a dominant one.
Australian Democrats
A minority party which existed in the senate from 1977 to 2008 and was the first party to represent environmental issues in federal parliament. The democrats were first led by Senator Don Chip.
Authority
The possession of a legitimate use of power.
Autocratic
Where power is vested in one individual who has the ability to dominate or control others.
Backbenchers
The place where members of parliament sit who are not ministers or shadow ministers.
Bali Process
A voluntary forum set up in 2002 with the aim of monitoring and controlling people smugglers and trafficking. Forty nations from across Asia and the Pacific participate in this process.
Bi-Cameral
A parliament of two houses, usually referred to as the upper house and the lower house.
Black September
Formed in 1970, was a group created after an event in September 1970, where Palestine refugees were expelled from Jordan by King Hussein after Palestinians had been implicated in a plan to seize his kingdom.
Budget
The annual statement of the costs of government policies and expenditure. This statement outlines the proposed policy agenda, together with costs for the ensuing year.
Bureaucratic
An over reliance on government process and decision making when formulating government policy.
Capital
The wealth available for production which is usually owned by individuals.
Caucus
A meeting of the parliamentary membership of a political party. In Australia, the term is usually only applied to the Labour Party.
Checks and balances
The mechanism of government which reduce the possibility of power becoming concentrated in one area or with one person.
Citizen
A citizen is a person who is a member of a particular political or social community. The term originated in Ancient Greece where people were members of city states.
Cold War
A period from around 1946 to 1989 when nations were divided along ideological lines in their support of a communist or capitalist system. Capitalist countries supported in the USA in a Western Bloc and communist countries supported the USSR in an eastern bloc.
Compulsory voting
Compulsory enrolment for federal elections were introduced in 1912. Compulsory voting for state elections was introduced in Queensland in 1915 and Compulsory voting at federal elections was introduced in 1924.
Conscription
The compulsory enlistment for military service enforced by a governed law.
Conservative
To maintain traditional ideas and a more gradual approach to social change.
Constitution
A set of principles and rules that outline the power of government.
Contact theory
A political theory that argues that In a modern state there is an implied contract between the citizen and the government (parliament and the executive). The government is entitled to act and restrict the freedom of individuals and groups based on implied consent through majority decisions in a freely and fairly democratically elected parliament.
Conventions
Informal rules of government that are not written down but developed through the practice of government and have become regular features of it.
Coup
A coup is generally considered to be an overthrow, or attempted overthrow, of a government by a smaller group within the state, who lacks popular support. When this coup originates from within the armed forces is called a military coup.
Democracy
Where power is vested in the people who make decisions collectively or through their representatives in a spirit of social equality.
Democratic
Where power is vested in the people who make decisions collectively or through their representatives in a spirit of social equality.
Dictatorship
Absolute rule by one person or a group without any legal or constitutional constraints.
Donkey votes
Votes which are not valid.
Economic rationalism
Policies that support a streamlining of the economy by reducing the amount of government intervention in market forces, both domestically and globally.
Equality
A condition in which individuals have the same rights, privileges and access to resources.
Executive
The branch of government consisting of the Prime Minister and their departments that formulate and administer laws.
Executive power
The power to rule or govern. It involves the daily administration of governmental functions.
Fiscal Policy
The use of government expenditure and taxation to direct economic development.
Franchise
A privilege or right officially granted a person or a group by a government, especially the constitutional or statutory right to vote.
Free enterprise
The freedom of industry and businesses to trade with minimal government control.
Freedom
The ability to act without constraint.
Full preferential voting
The elector must show a preference for all candidates listed on the ballot paper. In some electoral systems which use full preferential voting, the voter can leave one box empty if the voters intention with regard to the other preferences is clear.
Gag
A tactic used by the government to end parliamentary debate. A member of the government puts forward a motion that the questions now be put. The vote is carried because the government had the majority.
Green washing
Improving the environmental image or public reputation of a company by promoting its sponsorship of an environmental organisation.
Guillotine
A time limit placed on the length of parliamentary debate by the government. The opposition will be told in advance of this. Usually the debate is cut to two hours.
Human rights
Rights which apply universally to all people regardless of age, ability, gender, nationality, race, religious, or sexual orientation.
Influence
A subtle less overt use of power. It usually involves the use of a persuasive argument, incentives, or social connections to achieve a goal or objective.
Informal votes
Votes for which a numerical order of a preference cannot be deciphered. There may be other writings (it may even be offensive) but if a preferred order of candidates can be determined the vote is valid and counted.
Judiciary
The branch of government that interprets and administers the law.
Labour Party
In Australia the ALP uses the American spelling labour. Britain still preserves the English spelling labour in reference to the Labour Party.
Legislative assembly
The name given to the lower house of state parliaments. The upper house is called the legislative council
Legislative power
The power to make laws which provided the legal structure for government and society. The legislative function is carried out by members of parliament who make acts of parliament.
Legislature
The branch of government which debates and makes laws.
Legitimate
Actions which are authorised by, and used in accordance with, the law or accepted practices.
Mandate
Approval given by voters to the party that has won an election to carry out the policies outlined in their election campaign.
Martial law
Martial law is when, usually at a time of crisis or threatened rebellion, the government suspends the normal operation of the rule of law and allows the army within the country to use necessary force to control a situation.
Migration zone
The area recognised by the Australian government as a subject to the laws of the Australian migration act.
Mixed race
Refers to black people who were both Aboriginal and European descent
Monarchy
A government which is led by a hereditary ruler.
Native title
The recognition by Australian Law that some Indigenous people have right and interests to their land that come from their traditional laws and customs.
Nation state
A group of people who share a similar identity, language, culture or history and live within a specific territory governed by a state. Nation states are recognised by other states as having sovereign control over their citizens and territories.
Offshore refugees
Refugees who arrive anywhere outside of Australia’s migration zone and are therefore not able to apply for a visa for refugees status unless the immigration ministers intervenes.
Oligarchy
Rule by a small group that has a position of power or importance in society.
Onshore refugee
An asylum seeker who has come to mainland Australia and can therefore apply for refugee status through the department of immigration and Australian Citizenship.
Paradigm
A model, structure or method of operation.
Plebiscite
Where eligible voters cast their vote on an important matter. Expresses the opinion or will of the people.
Pluralism
A system of government that recognises more than one view point, interest or principle.
Politics
The study of the use of power by an individual group, organisation or government.
Populist
A politician or other person who claims to have the mass support of ordinary people.
Portfolio
An area of responsibility for which a minister is in charge, for example health or education.
Power
The ability to influence or control the actions of others.
Proportional Representation
Describes a group of electoral systems used to elect candidates in multi media electorates. Under PRESSURE, parties, groups and independent candidates are elected to the parliament in proportion to their support in the electorate.
Progressive taxation
A taxation system in which you are taxed as more as you earn.
Radical
To advocate social change often in an urgent or even revolutionary manner.
Referendum
When the Australian electorate is asked to vote on a question, or set of questions,that could lead to a change in the constitution. This requires a vote in the affirmative from both houses of federal parliament, a majority of voters and a majority of states.
Revolution
A revolution is generally considered to involve a significant level of popular support and participation in the overthrow of the government.
Rights
Rights are legal, social or ethical principals that outline what people are allowed to do, or are privileges owned by society. An example is the right to free speech.
Royal commission
An inquiry into a matter of public importance which is appointed by the Governor General on advice for the prime minister.
Secret ballot
Where a vote is cast in privacy to ensure the voter is choosing freely without coercion.
Sedition
A speech, organisation or behaviour that encourages rebellion or subversion against an existing government.
Separation of powers
The separation of powers is a model for the governance of a state. Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that no one branch has more power than the other branches.
Shadow ministers
A member of the opposition who is a spokesperson for a specific area of policy and present alternatives to the government minister in this area.
Sovereignty
The exclusive right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region, group of people or oneself. Sovereignty over a nation is generally vested in a government or other political agency.
Spin
The issue of public relations tactics to deceive, misrepresent or manipulate public opinion over an issue.
Standing orders
The written rules that govern the conduct, procedures and regulations of the House of Parliament.
State
The governance of a specific geographic area and the individuals within it. States usually have a monopoly of the use of force and may be externally recognised by other states.
Status quo
The existing circumstances and social or political relations within society.
Supply
The name for bills which, when passed by parliament, authorise the treasurer to lay their obligations.
Temporary protective visa
A TPV allows asylum seekers to remain in Australia until their application for refugee status has been accepted or denied.
Terra nullius
Land without owner
Transparency
In the political context this means that procedures and decision making are open to public scrutiny and review.
Tyrant
A person who governs oppressively, unjustly and arbitrarily. A tyrant can also be referred to as a despot or dictator.
UNESCO
The United Nations Enviromental, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is a specialised agency with a number of functions. One of these is to preserve sites of enviromental or cultural importance to humanity.
Unitary
Where there is one central government authority.
United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
There was a good deal of international embarrassment for Australia when, although it was one of the first signatories, it still had discriminatory laws regarding aboriginals in place.
Veto
To refuse or reject a proposed law or resolution.
Westminster system
A system of parliamentary government derived from Britan, which provides for government by debate. The executive, which is drawn from the parliament and remains part of it, proposes and justifies legislation with the opposition opposes and provides alternatives. Parliament is supreme and minsters are directly responsible.
World Heritage Site
A location that UNESCO declares of significance and worth of protection for the international community.
