Glossary

Question 1

specific mandate + example

Answer 1

power to implement specific policies and work their platforms that one has campaigned/selling points on. E.g. Morrison implemented $4.6b for Catholic and independent schools once elected.

Question 2

general mandate + example

Answer 2

power to act in a way that the politician or party usually acts in. E.g. LNP was given the mandate to implement its policies on climate change via their win in the 2019 election.

Question 3

What is a mandate?

Answer 3

the power given to an entity by the people to do something/act in a certain way.

Question 4

What is the ‘Will of the Majority’ mandate?

Answer 4

the mandate claimed by the govt. when they have won an election which allows them to govern based on the people’s will to delegate their sovereignty to them.

Question 5

Give an example of the ‘Will of the Majority’ mandate in action.

Answer 5

in 2016, Turnbull launched a DD due to the failure of the ABCC bill. Confident in his ability to maintain his mandate, he, unfortunately, was blockaded by conservative backbenchers who made him lose a seat and show that the people don’t like him. He internally (within the party) struggled.

Question 6

What is the ‘Senate Balance of Power’ mandate?

Answer 6

a mandate claimed by Independents and minor parties in the Senate that justifies amending, passing, or repealing bills in the legislative process; gives others the power to balance the govt. and opposition’s power.

Question 7

Give an example of the ‘Senate Balance of Power’ mandate?

Answer 7

the govt. needed Jacqui Lambie’s vote in July 2019 to pass its income tax cuts package. Lambie only agreed if the govt. would forgive the housing debt Tasmania is in. Here, she had the power to dictate the govt.’s actions, despite having only one seat in the Senate crossbench.

Question 8

What is the ‘Opposition’s Right to Oppose’ mandate?

Answer 8

a mandate given to the Opposition by being the party with the second most number of seats to fulfill their role as Opposition.

Question 9

What is a minority government?

Answer 9

a govt. formed by a party with less than 76 seats in the HOR. It must rely on other parties to get their legislation passed as it does not have a big majority.

Question 10

How did Gillard’s minority govt. (2010-2013) work?

Answer 10

Gillard (ALP) formed govt. in 2010 through the support of a Greens member and three Independents. Both ALP and LNP had 72 seats, but Gillard was able to form govt. with the help of the others.

Question 11

What did the 4 cross-benchers want from Gillard?

Answer 11

they all declared their support for ALP on confidence and supply bills, in return for a $9.9b package for funding regional areas and other things.

Question 12

What problems existed because of Gillard’s minority govt.?

Answer 12

they were one seat away from losing power; all MPs needed to be ‘on board’ for legislation to pass; leg. process is therefore slower and often halted.

Question 13

What is the role of the Opposition?

Answer 13

to fulfil the debate/scrutinising function needed in parliament; and to form a viable, alternative govt.

Question 14

What is the shadow ministry?

Answer 14

the Opposition front bench composed of opposing ministers for each Cabinet member; each shadow minister has the role of scrutinising the govt. minster’s role and actions.

Question 15

Name one shadow minister and their role in the shadow ministry.

Answer 15

Senator Penny Wong is the LoOp in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Question 16

Outline 3 methods/strategies of the shadow ministry and Opposition in scrutinising the Govt.

Answer 16

Question time - occurring at 2 pm every sitting day, any private member may ask a question to a minister regarding their portfolio area.
Refusal of pairs - a convention by which the Opposition chooses not to withdraw one of its own MPs in keeping Parliament’s composition equal. It often frustrates govt. by forcing them to call one of their MPs back or suffering a temporary loss of a seat.
Motions of no confidence - a motion moved by the Opposition which displays the current parliament’s disapproval of the Govt.’s actions. This motion is often unsuccessful but allows the Opposition to speak about the Govt.

Question 17

List two ways in which Parliament should function in representation in theory.

Answer 17

By having delegates and trustees; and allowing states to be represented equally in the Senate.

Question 18

List two ways in which Parliament should function in legislating in theory.

Answer 18

By allowing legislation to be initiated by any member; having a heavily scrutinised process; allowing a diversity of input (MPs and parties); and having a well structured process.

Question 19

List two ways in which Parliament should function in responsibility in theory.

Answer 19

By having a collective ministerial responsibility; individual ministerial responsibility; question time; allowing govt. spending to be scrutinised; introducing standing and select committees; and keeping cabinet secrecy and solidarity.

Question 20

List two ways in which Parliament should function in debate/scrutinising in theory.

Answer 20

Allowing multiply opportunities to impact process; and parliamentary privilege allows MPs to raise genuine concerns without fear of legal prosecution.

Question 21

How does Parliament function in actuality (representation)?

Answer 21

It presents a leader-centric basis, rather than a policy-centric election basis; parties are identified with more than candidates; the public side with major parties more; Senate is actually partisan (despite s.7); the Senate voting system amendmends have reduced the no. of Independents present; MPs don’t usually speak against their own leadership; and Parliament does not mirror society as it is.

Question 22

What is the 46th Parliament’s composition currently?

Answer 22

Currently 2/3 men, 1/3 women, and 5/227 Aboriginals. Not relative to the population of Australia (is this for the best though?). LNP - 36, ALP - 26, Greens - 9, PHON - 2, JLN - 1, Independents - 1.

Question 23

How does Parliament function in actuality (legislating)?

Answer 23

Parliament doesn’t sit everyday (can’t combat everchanging world); Parliament can be efficient (or not); and purpose can be detracted and time can be not spent properly.

Question 24

How does Parliament function in actuality (responsibility)?

Answer 24

Executive dominance in the House in numbers and time; motions of no confidence don’t always work; and ministers are a part of govt. too.

Question 25

How does Parliament function in actuality (debate)?

Answer 25

Govt. business takes a lot of time; gags, guillotines and floodgates are used; adversarial approach to debate; committees; and there more opportunity in the Senate with time to debate.

Question 26

What is a gag?

Answer 26

An immediate curtail on parliamentary debate passed by the Govt.’s majority.

Question 27

What is a guillotine?

Answer 27

A pre-set curtail to impose time limits on parliamentary debate.

Question 28

What is floodgating?

Answer 28

It occurs when there is an introduction of a large no. of bills into Prlt with the aim to pass them all with little or now scrutinising from the Govt. to apply political pressure to non-govt. MPs.

Question 29

What is the purpose of the legislative process?

Answer 29

It is the process by which Parliament initiates, amends, and passes bills into legislation for them to be enacted into society.

Question 30

What is a portfolio?

Answer 30

A portfolio is an area of government responsibility.

Question 31

Who is the ministry made up of?

Answer 31

The Prime Minister and the Senior Ministers.

Question 32

Who is the outer ministry made up of?

Answer 32

Junior ministers.